It gives me the warm and fuzzies when I see The Fleece in Bristol so packed out. For a venue that was once under threat, it’s great to see it thriving again. The reason for tonight’s packed house is for the visit of post hardcore/metalcore heroes Dayseeker and as the Orange County 4 piece take to the well-trodden stage of this fine old venue, the atmosphere is absolutely electric.

The boys launch into the opening track of last years ‘Dark Sun’ album complete with it’s synthtastic opening and we are underway. The first thing that takes you back is just how much heavier the band are in the live arena, from the guitars right through to the vocals. ‘Gates Of Ivory’ is up next which pummels and seduces in equal measure, with Rory Rodriguez quickly addressing that the band haven’t been here in almost 10 years. One of the stand out tracks on 2017’s ‘Dreaming Is Sinking//Waking Is Rising’ album was ‘Vultures’, a song that talks about victims of sexual assault and is delivered with all the passion an emotion that the subject evokes. An eager and willing crowd participate in the sing along that is ‘Without Me’, while a mostly acoustic rendition of ‘Paperheart’ clearly stirring up painful emotions in Rodriguez and members of the audience. For better or for worse ‘Drunk’ was dedicated to the singer’s father, before the last full blown explosion from the crowd during the latter stages of ‘Sleep Talk’ seemed to zap any last bit of energy from the crowd….or so I thought. ‘Neon Grave’ proved me very wrong. The encore of ‘Afterglow (Hazel’s Song)’ proved too much for both band an audience and with all emotions and energy well and truly spent, the crowd dispersed into the Bristol night. In heavy music there’s a fine between passion and brutality, but that is exactly where you will find Dayseeker….Chris Andrews