Deafheaven / The Secret / No Island @ Ivory Blacks, 7 May

No Island's simplistic approach to aggressive music is at odds with the heavily textured nature of our headliners, but these local noisemakers aren't fazed; vocalist Chris McGlynn throws himself around the floor space, rhythm-section in full swing. Highlights from the recent EP Let Glasgow Perish are faithfully delivered, but this is a band that feeds off the fervency of the audience. Unfortunately for them, the vibe at this point is fairly static.

 

The Secret frontman Marco Coslovich encourages the assembled few to move forward as his band gets their set underway. It's a dark, brooding experience, equally inspired by extreme metal, grind and crust: it's modern Southern Lord in a nutshell. Frantic drum blasts never let up, guitars emit filthy, brutal tones and Coslovich's tireless growl is assuringly destructive. Headbangers struggle to adapt to the ever-changing tempos right up until Seven Billion Graves closes the set, leaving fans suitably disturbed.

 

Deafheaven immediately induce a blissful collective trance with an emotionally stirring blend of black metal, shoegaze and atmospheric rock. Vocalist George Clarke is a true showman; he writhes around, microphone stand in hand during Dream House, the opener to their upcoming LP Sunbather, spewing wretched bile to balance out the glittery sonics. Freshly enlisted drummer Daniel Tracy's intricate playing style on the new material trumps the straight-up blastbeat attack of old, but Violet and Unrequited aren't any less thrilling for it. A gloriously cacophonous cover of Mogwai's Punk Rock / Cody is performed as an encore; a fitting closer to a set built on equal parts beauty to intensity.