Liars @ Nice n' Sleazys, 24 Feb

A terrifying hybrid of the debauched anarchy of The Birthday Party and the industrial stealth of Kraut-rock.

Article by Billy Hamilton | 16 Apr 2006

There's a cohesive sense of chaos surrounding Liars tonight. Fresh from the release of 'Drum's Not Dead' this is an utterly hypnotic and aurally discordant affair. Vocalist Angus Andrews is a shamanic culmination of flailing limbs and sporadic snarls, capturing the druid psychedelia of Frank Zappa with alarming ease. The barbaric beats of two drum kits pulsate like tribal warfare, creating a terrifying hybrid of the debauched anarchy of The Birthday Party and the industrial stealth of Kraut-rock. The all-encompassing sound is never fully captured in this small setting - the incessant bass shudders thunderously throughout the venue - but this detracts little from a mesmerising display. Closing with an insipid cover of Nirvana's Territorial Pissings is a baffling choice but the gnarling electronica that follows is so gloriously demented you can forgive Liars anything. This was a magnificently unhinged performance and that's no word of a lie. [Billy Hamilton]