The crowd in Glasgow were out in force to see New Years Day on the only Scottish date of their first UK tour in five years. The audience welcomed Fearless Vampire Killers, a five piece alt rock band from Suffolk, to the stage and they succeeded in getting the room suitably warmed up on a cold January night.
They were followed by metal core American/UK/Canadian band Conquer Divide, who were a revelation to many in the room with their fierce and energetic performance of songs from their 2023 album Slow Burn (Mascot Records).
The combination of Kiarely Castillos searing vocals and tour guest Spencer Maybe (providing the harsher vocals and bass guitar) with the incredible musicianship of Kristen Sturges (guitar), Isabel Johnson (lead guitar) and Samantha Landa (drums).
By this point the audience were in full voice awaiting the arrival of New Years Day to the stage.
The band first formed in California in 2005, and have developed a large fan base crossing the Atlantic throughout the following years. First to come on was drummer Tommy Rockoff, followed by lead guitarist Nikki Misery and rhythm guitarist Jeremy Valentine. Launching into ‘Vampyre’, the first song from their 2024 Half Black Heart album (Century Media) and with the crowd roaring their support lead singer Ash Costello appeared, their command of the stage immediate.
So began a relentless set that had every single person in the venue transfixed, and the band followed up with title track ‘Half Black Heart’, then ‘Come for me’ and ‘Fearless’, with Ash’s lyrics weaving tales of defiance, strength, resilience and with a warning to anyone who would dare try to control them.
A powerful cover of ‘Gansta’ by Kehlani showcased Ash’s wide vocal range, and the pulsing drums from Tommy and guitar riffs from Nikki and Jeremy lifted this song to another level. ‘Disgust Me’ had the crowd with their hands in the air, and Ash quickly admonished them when they started to drop them.
“Did I tell you you could lower them?”
she asked, and just like that, order was restored. The tone got meatier again with ‘Hurts Like Hell’ and their cover of ‘Fucking Hostile’ by Pantera would surely pleased the metal gods any night of the week.
The sheer energy emanating from Ash and the band was palpable as they launched into ‘So Sick’, so much so that Ash decided that she wanted to connect with everyone at the back of the room, and accompanied by Nikki on guitar, they made their way into the crowd and launched into ‘Skeletons’, with an eager mosh pit surrounding them.
It was back to the stage for ‘I’m About to Break You’ and ‘Defame Me’, and a finale of ‘Kill or Be Killed’ which literally left the audience chanting for more. It was to be the final song of the night though, and for a crowd used to New Years Day celebrations this one was one to remember.
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