LONDON, DUKE OF CLARENCE: 30.04.05
Sitting pretty in the epicentre of the much-hyped Leeds scene (guitarist Whiskas runs the achingly-cool Dance To The Underground label), ¡Forward Russia! are hot property. As the indie cognescenti begin to tire of the increasingly staid post-punk-funk-whatever genre, they bring something new to the table. Wearing matching t-shirts emblazoned with their own logo might seem a little arrogant, a tad self-hyping, but by the end of this highly-charged performance, I’m almost tempted to ask for one myself.
Frontman Tom Woodhead oozes passion; face full of tortured anguish, he jerks around the stage seemingly unable to contain the power of the tunes (wrapping the mic cable around his forehead, Rambo-style, one of the more comical ways he chooses to deal with it). If at first their sound is a little heavy for your palette, don’t let that put you off. There is a complexity and freshness here (how many other heavy bands can claim to feature mid-song group-handclapping?) and even moments of tranquil beauty to be found amongst the deliciously noisy racket. They carry off the old seven-songs-in-one schtick with real aplomb and the squeezed-in crowd lap it up (even Steve Lamacq is jiving down the front).
By no means the finished article, ¡Forward Russia! have a real conviction about them that leaves you pondering just how special they’ll be when they are.
Review by David Exley
www.forwardrussia.com
www.dancetotheradio.com
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