Like all before you / The Voidz

Like all before you
Spotlight on The Voidz concert at the Troxy

Jamie Macleod Bryden attends The Voidz at the Troxy in support of their new album “Like all before you”.

Julian Casablancas once described the Voidz music as “Prison Jazz”. Something about this description really nails the woozy mutability of their music. Even the timekeeping tonight feels quite “jazz” when they come on stage closer to half 9. What would you rather have though? Punctual timekeeping or cosmic catharsis. You can’t have it all.

They set the scene with a looped projection of a psychedelic Russian cartoon. The stylistic range of their outfits mirrors that of their music. Jeremy has a perm with neon tips, plus a moustache and cape. He looks like a medieval courtier from out of space with the cape accentuating his every move. Front and centre, Julian is…Julian, emitting his own unique centrifugal energy in his shades.

The anticipation is heightened as the Middle Eastern tinged “Blue Demons” ; synths oscillate beside Julian’s vocoder chant. It’s an instant injection of energy that helps the crowd ignite. “Eternal Tao 2.0” is similar but has an ending that feels almost like classical music lending it an epic feel.

All the influences that the Voidz absorb get put in a blender and then come out better, sounding like…the Voidz. It’s what makes “Prophecy of the Dragon” so good.

It goes hard with a metal riff before cutting into an arpeggiated reverie that feels like some cosmic revelation lifting you off your feet. Within this duality lies its beauty. This is augmented by Jeremy’s infectious energy. Who doesn’t want to see a medieval courtier head-bang whilst soloing.

Their chill is just as engaging. “Flexorcist” shows them at their prettiest with a hazy synth that sounds like summer in a song. Followed by the absolute eruption that is “QYURRYUS” an eastern tinged stomp topped with a wailing vocal from Julian that is the most danceable song of the set. It is sheer joyous infectiousness.

After the New Order esque guitar of “Square Wave” the band go hard with “Johan Von Bronx” which sounds like a it’s been drummed on a bin – in the best way possible. The genius of the Voidz is that just as you think you’ve figured out what that song is – it transcends to another plane. Lifts off further than you thought it could go. It’s an energetic end to the set with “Pyramid of Bones” calling the audience back to the pit too.

They finish with two songs from their debut and you leave the concert feeling like a kid in a candy store. Like music itself is an infinite galaxy and it’s the Voidz who are going to find the best of of it and bring it back to show you.