SYLOSIS, Malefice, Anterior, Chapters @ HMV Institute Temple 30 Sept 2011

There are many problems with the gig tonight.

First it’s in the hottest place on the planet, the upstairs room The Temple. Second the mighty Evile are just up the road playing the opening night of the UK tour – a fact that Sylosis frontman Josh Middleton acknowledges in his bands set. And last but not least, there is a ridiculously early curfew time.

Which makes it even more baffling therefore that come 6.30 (the scheduled start time) opening act Chapters still haven’t appeared. When they are finally allowed on the young Berkshire band show some promise. They are very much a work in progress and their attempted Prog/Thrash epics don’t quite work yet, but if they had the confidence to pull off their vision they might have something to offer.

Confidence is something Welsh metallers Anterior don’t lack. New album “Echoes of the Fallen” has finally seen them at the top of their game and they seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough of sorts. Singer Luke Davies is a charismatic presence, and drummer James Cook looks to settled their problems behind the kit. The only way – at last – is up.

Malefice aren’t hanging around either. Singer Dale Butler explains that the last time they were here their van was broken into and, after apologising for being late (a fact blames on some unexplained “issues tonight”) they race through a 25 minute set as if eager not to be parted form their valuables again. New album “Awaken the Tides” is a masterclass in modern thrash and its title track is rapturously received.

Yet more delays – the soundmen are clearly arguing – mean Sylosis are half an hour late on stage, which is a tremendous shame. This is their second headlining trek of 2011, having been the star turn on the Metal Hammer Razor tour, and with second album “Edge of the Earth” attracting rave reviews they know this is very much their time. Gargantuan riffs abound, with the unexpectedly catchy “Sands of Time” an obvious highlight, but just 40 minutes in and it’s all over. The plug is pulled and its time for the ravers waiting for the club downstairs to come in.

We have free tickets for that, so we are informed. We don’t take them up on the offer. Reflecting instead that what could have been an almost perfect night was flawed through no fault of the bands themselves.

I’ll bet Evile didn’t have this problem.