Back in the fall of 2013, Germany’s We Butter The Bread With Butter embarked on what was to be their first North American tour. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of the band’s control the tour was cut short before they could reach the east coast. On the heels of the successful run along the west coast, a full North American tour was immediately announced in November 2013 with special guests Honour Crest, and Lions Lions. The tour kicked off on Wednesday February 12th in front of a full room at the Studio at Webster Hall in NYC.
First up from Virginia Beach, VA were Honour Crest. Combining electronic elements with hard hitting metalcore, the five-piece consisting of Luke Borza (vocals), Chad Orange (guitars/vocals/programming), Zack Fitzpatrick (guitar), Jimmy Dillon (bass), and Cory Beaver (drums) took the stage, slamming from the start. The mix of harsh vocals and soothing clean singing electrified the floor of Webster Hall with some enticing guitar breakdowns which had everyone dancing in a crazy mosh pit. Showing a classy side with concern for the audience, when a few attendees looking to ruin the fun with a fight, Orange insisted they stop and allow others to enjoy the show. It is refreshing to see a band take responsibility like this for their fans in such a fashion, and with that the show went on with no more issues. There was even a point Orange joined in the party jumping off the stage, guitar still strapped on, into the pit interjecting excitement and energy to the fans. Honour Crest unquestionably impressed during their opening slot and with their recently released of debut album, Spilled Ink, they will continue to show audiences what they are made of.
Up next were Boston, MA post-hardcore band Lions Lions. The band formed back in 2008, when Vanna drummer Brandon Davis left the band to delve into a new musical venture as the guitarist. With a line-up rounded out by Joshua Herzer (vocals), Chris Pulgarin (bass), Isaac Vigil (guitar/vocals), Brian Cauti (drums) the band has taken a grass roots approach to spreading the word of their music across the country with steady touring. The band has toured North America with the likes of For Today, Sleeping With Sirens, We Came As Romans, and have played Bamboozle as well as Warped Tour 2011. An amped up crowd gathered around the stage as Lions Lions delivered an relentless emotional performance. With Davis, Vigil, and, Pulgarin providing a tight rhythm section as they jumped about the stage, Herzer gave Webster Hall all he had to offer and you could feel it deep down in your gut. The stick work of drummer Cauti’ was solid, and if you were tuned in, could see and hear how precise his playing is. The audience appreciated every moment of the set moving about the floor with each passing song. Lions Lions showed why their energy and strong social message makes them one of the more exciting bands on the scene today.
It was now time for We Butter The Bread With Butter to take the stage. Having formed back in 2007, the German band has released three studio albums, including their most recent which the tour is supporting entitled Goldkinder (2013). Best described as a hybrid between metal, rock, hardcore, and industrial, these guys bring a sound unlike anything the scene has witnessed before. The entire line-up of Marcel Neumann (guitars), Maximilian Pauly Saux (bass), Paul Bartzsch (vocals), and Can Özgünsür (drums) made the trip to North America for this tour, and New York fans were clambering to finally get to see the band live in the flesh.
By the time We Butter The Bread With Butter came on, almost the whole crowd rushed the stage leaving not very much room for a mosh pit. Coming out hard and heavy the band shook the floor of Webster Hall. Their music brought an ambiance as well as an aggression that demanded the audience’s attention. As the band played songs like “Pyroman & Astronaut” envision a nightmare you can’t wake up from drenched in dark sounds and imagery that would make any Marilyn Manson fan grin infectiously. Bartzsch had total control over the audience with a devastating mix of unholy growls, whispers, and cleaner vocals. Pauly Saux and Neumann enhanced the domination with an equal energetic output jumping and playing flawlessly through songs like “Breekachu”, “Mayday Mayday”, and the enchanting sound of “Ohne Herz”. Adding depth and force to each song, Özgünsür provided a dance like beat at times and a battery of hard hits at others behind the kit.
To go along with the band’s pulverizing set they showed a theatrical side, wearing jackets with lights beaming off them during “Alles Was Ich Will”. The band proved to portray a strong stage presence and vibe in the vain of industrial metal leaders Rammstein. Their amazing twenty song set closed out with fan favorite “World of Warcraft” to an overwhelming positive response. On the opening night of the tour in New York City, We Butter The Bread With Butter prove to be a force which can not be contained and set the tone for the rest of the dates to follow.
No comment