Picture this. There’s a buzz in the air. A sea of thick black eyeliner and Halloween costumes. The stomp of Doc Martens on the cobbled pavements of Womanby Street. The sound of heavy guitar and cheers waft through the doors of Clwb Ifor Bach and the Moon.
Saturday 29 th October saw the 2022 return of Throwfest, Cardiff’s favourite heavy music festival. This year’s line-up featured an impressive roster of bands and music acts, including headlining act As Everything Unfolds returning to Clwb Ifor Bach immediately following the release of their new single, Felt Like Home.
As Everything Unfolds have been my favourite band since the first time I saw them live, so as you may imagine I was thrilled to hear that they were returning to Cardiff before the end of the year.
Based in Buckinghamshire, England, As Everything Unfolds have been on the scene since 2013, but shot into popularity following the release of their 2018 EP, Closure, which had overwhelmingly positive reviews. However, it was their 2021 album, Within Each Lies The Other, that solidified As Everything Unfolds as a well of potential in the alternative scene. Incorporating elements of progressive metal and post-hardcore, the band have garnered a diverse following of die-hard fans.
As Everything Unfolds featured on the downstairs ‘Tiny Rebel’ stage at Clwb Ifor Bach as the headlining act, gathering a decently sized crowd when considering the format of the festival and the overlap of acts. However, while the crowd may have lacked in number when compared to an exclusive gig, they made up for it in their enthusiasm, screaming the lyrics to each and every song, including the brand-new single, Felt Like Home. An impressive feat, considering it had only been released just over a week prior! The intimacy of the venue also meant that we, as fans, could interact with the band before, during and after the performance, creating an atmosphere that you really don’t get with larger spaces. I had the opportunity to chat to multiple members of the band one-on-one after the show, which was a wonderful experience as I was able to express my love for their music personally – and receiving a signed copy of my favourite album was also a plus!
A highlight for me was my personal favourite song, Greyscale – a softer, slower song seemingly, from my perspective, detailing the experience of living with depression and finding the beauty in smaller things. Greyscale, being less heavy, gives lead singer Charlie Rolfe the chance to show off her voice, which has been likened by critics to fellow alternative singers Hayley Williams (Paramore), Amy Lee (Evanescence), and Becca Macintyre (Marmozets). Greyscale is a standout amongst the heavier songs of the album, in my opinion, a breath of fresh air amongst a plethora of loud, energetic beats. I found as well that it was a total people pleaser, the crowd knowing every word almost as well as Rolfe herself.
Rolfe got the chance to display her impressive range with the performance of one of my personal favourite songs, Wallow – perhaps the song that made me first fall in love with the band when I saw them first as an opener for Holding Absence. This passionate, raw depiction of the feeling of love and betrayal features the juxtaposition of Rolfe’s guttural metal scream set alongside her soft, ethereal melodies, backed against a soundtrack of heavy guitar and percussion.
The energy in the room changed when the crowd heard the distinctive opening scream, a mosh pit immediately opening in the centre as fans chanted along. What followed was an intense performance of jumping, pushing, and overall fun – the sort of high-powered energy that any experienced gig-goer knows and lives for.
The feeling of being in amongst this crowd was incredible, creating a buzz that can’t be recreated by any other experience.
It was a true display of how amazing it is to be in an intimate crowd of like-minded individuals, caught up in nothing but music.
Perhaps one of the best parts of the show was the live premiere of the new single, Felt Like Home. I had personally avoided listening to the song in the week leading up to Throwfest, finding myself a big fan of experiencing new music for the first time live. However, I can safely say that the single has been playing on repeat in my head ever since.
Speaking on the song, Rolfe says “This song is a more personal story. It’s about embracing those most vulnerable moments in your life and making yourself feel comfortable in them, making them feel like home. Don’t ignore things that have made you who you are, leave those worlds open ever so slightly and learn to grow from it,” Felt Like Home is the first insight into their highly-anticipated second studio album, which is slated for a 2023 release – if we can wait that long!
Two things are for certain – firstly, wherever they bring the sound next, it’s sure to be amazing. Finally, they sure know how to put on a show!