German techno Metallers Electric Callboy have brought a mad, Eurovision chic to the Heavy Metal world. Judging by the crowd inside The Great Hall, Cardiff, their technicolour energy on the Tekkno World Tour is being welcomed with open arms.
Electric Callboy – As Everything Unfolds – Monuments
The Great Hall, Cardiff – 27 October 2023
Words: David Curle
Photography:Â Georgia Brittain
With support acts from the UK, this tour has highlighted the kind of talent that is blossoming on these islands. They do things differently in Germany, though. From Electric Callboy’s opener of Tekkno Train, it’s clear that what matters in their world is not whether you’re cool or playing the right music to please the critics. It’s about energy, attitude and, above all, gloriously silly fun.
Nico Sallach and Kevin Ratajczak are in charge of the party, leading the singalongs in Spaceman. They encourage the mad moshing and crowd surfing through Arrow Of Love. They just keep the Welsh capital in a state of delirious hypertension.
The energy levels don’t ever drop. These guys can even take the dinosaur rock anachronism of a drum solo and make it about David-Karl Friedrich getting his turn leading the party. Getting the crowd bouncing to that was one thing. The explosion caused by the intro to Hypa Hypa was on another level. Voices were raised and subsequently lost in exhaustion at the frantic breakdowns.
By the time we got to the final encore of We Got The Moves, all the band had to do was stand on the platforms lining the front of the stage, and the crowd were already moving. The final chance to groove along with the madness was embraced massively by an ecstatic crowd. The a capella singalong at the end was a nice touch. The band and crowd join as one.
Electric Callboy made the madness a glorious reality, even if Electronicore is a bit of a mouthful. Tonight’s sold-out crowd have the sweat and the smiles to prove it. Electrifying!
Monuments
The UK’s own Monuments have more of a Progressive Metal vibe as they open up the night. Opening the night with A.W.O.L from 2018’s Phronesis, they quickly dispel any thoughts that they can’t match the headliner’s energy levels.
Monuments have a sound resting solidly on the bass lines of Werner Erkelens. Their expert musicianship wraps around a selection of twisting, turning, lusty Metal tunes which generate frenetic moshpit action.
Vocalist Andy Cizek leads from the front, switching effortlessly between his two contrasting styles. By the time the power and emotion of Degenerate closes the set, everyone is well aware this is a band on the rise.
As Everything Unfolds
As Everything Unfolds follows with a different approach to keeping the energy in the room high. With a punky vibe and Charlie Rolfe’s melodic voice mixed with a Metalcore ethos, they have a rock/pop edge to them. Yet, their breakdowns are as heavy as anything else played this evening.
Ultraviolet’s infectious grooves show how they can make their mixture work in a memorable way. Slow Down has a delicious intensity. Songs like Flip Side show it’s possible to get feet tapping, heads banging, and moshpits moving all at the same time.
