TURBOWOLF, Black Moth, Cytota @Birmingham Institute Library, 14/10/12

The last time RTM saw Cytota, buried deep on the Rise To Remain bill in the spring, we predicted big things for them. That remains the case after our second viewing of the band. In fact, they have come on leaps and bounds in terms of confidence and stage presence. “Between Jokers And Jesters” is heavier than they have been before, while “Scars” puts us in mind of Exit Ten. The suspicion remains that, despite a somewhat lacklusture crowd response here tonight, Cytota might be ones to watch.

As are main support on this tour, Black Moth. They too suffer from a poor response from the crowd, but while it might be forgivable that this predominately stoner based audience might not have been totally into Cytota, it is less clear why Moth didn’t create a buzz.

Singer Harriet Bevan, explains that she is delighted to be here as Birmingham is the home of some of her heroes. You would guess she just meant Black Sabbath, as pretty much immediately we are transported to the 1970s in the back of some heavy and dense riffing. Debut single. “The Articulate Dead” is typical of their sound and we can expect to see a lot more of them when the magazines pick up on them.

Of all the things RTM expected to see when we turned up to watch Bristol hippie-types Turbowolf was a moshpit, but it was time to leave preconceptions at the door as the four piece are a much different proposition live than you might expect.

In fact, while the inflatable sphinx backdrop is a bit naff, it is the only thing about the 50 stunning minutes that Turbowolf give us that is. Their self-titled debut album has bothered our iPod for a while, it says much, therefore that live they manage to take things up a few notches.

Monstrously heavy, there beats a real metal heart to songs “Seven Severed Heads” and “A Rose For The Crows,” in fact the speed of a number of the songs is picked up from the album versions.

Of course, there is nothing straightforward about this particular band of 70s enthusiasts, as their choice of covers show. Lightning Bolt’s “Captain Caveman” takes on almost thrash overtones in their hands, and Jefferson Starship’s “Somebody to Love” has never sounded quite like this before.

But it is their own compositions that really showcase the bands formidable talents. “Read And Write” is perhaps the catchiest weapon in their arsenal, with its massive chorus and stabs of synth from frontman Chris Georgiadis, but new song “12 Houses,” from an album due next year, runs it close.

It is said that critics struggle with the band as their influences are too diverse. However, one thing appears to be clear. By the time that “Let’s Die” brings things to a close, mere pigeonholing is not required.

How about this instead: Turbowolf are just brilliant.

RISE TO REMAIN, Adept, Malefice, Cytota @ Birmingham Academy 2 8/3/2012

It’s a sign you are getting old when support bands at gigs are so young they probably weren’t born when you left school, and this is definitely the case with Cytota.

Impossibly fresh faced, the foursome have been creating a buzz recently and its easy to see why. First of all they are actually a pretty good metalcore act, with the tracks “Absorption” and “The Prosecutor” showing they have the potential to rise above the slew of bands ploughing this furrow. Second because drummer Harry Jennings dad, Craig, manages Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon and Rise to Remain amongst others, which is hardly a hindrance. Expect to see a lot more of Cytota in the coming years.

Reading’s Malefice have been gigging incessantly over the last couple of years and in 2011’s “Awaken The Tides” they landed one of the best modern thrash records of the year. The last time they were in these parts they supported Sylosis and saw their set cut short and oddly, tonight the same fate befalls them. This is a tremendous shame because in opener “Delirium” they posses the best song played tonight. The best, you feel, is yet to come for the group.

Sweden’s Adept are the main support for this early part of the tour – with German thrash mob Heaven Shall Burn not joining until later -  and it’s a role they fill with confidence and relish. The likes of “Shark! “Shark! Shark!” from debut album “Another Year of Disaster” and “The Ivory Tower” from last years leap forward that was “Death Dealers” sit comfortably side by side and the moshpit loves them. “We’ve never played Birmingham before, so thank you,” says singer Robert Ljung, it’s a safe bet that considering their reception tonight, they will be here again.

In contrast Rise To Remain have been here before. In fact it was only September when they last played in the second city. That gig was next door at the smaller Academy 3. Not for nothing is this trek named the “Progression” Tour.

It has been interesting to chart the, ahem, rise of rise of Rise To Remain. When they first came onto the scene it was too easy for the cynics to snipe that they were only getting anywhere because their singer Austin Dickinson was the son of Bruce. It was against this backdrop that RTM clapped eyes on them in the Bohemia tent at Sonisphere in 2010- and their performance was astonishing.

That seems to be the way, as they have criss-crossed the country supporting anyone and everyone. Any cynicism is washed away by their talent and just in case there were any lingering doubts their debut full length record “City of Vultures” is damn good too.

Not that it has been totally plain sailing for the group and tonight marks the debut of new rhythm section Josh Hammond and Adam Lewin, who are the replacement bassist and drummer respectively as the last two quit on the eve of a major US tour with Machine Head which had to be cancelled.

The duo slot in seamlessly, with “The Serpent” sounding as crushing as ever, carried along on the back of Ben Tovey’s intricate lead playing. New single “Talking In Whispers” gets its first live airing and “Nothing Left” is as good now as it was two years ago.

Indeed the only worrying moment comes during the encore of “Bridges Will Burn.” Such is the excitement at the front there are too many crowd surfers for the security to cope with.  One lad comes straight over the front and crashes into the barriers. The band immediately stops the song to check on the welfare of the fan and with his health confirmed they resume normal service.

Crowd surfing near disaster apart it is yet another triumphant evening in the recent history of Rise to Remain. Indeed, you might say the rise continues unabated.