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Music: A review of Avalanche at Baybeats 2011
Avalanche at the Baybeats 2011 Powerhouse stage (photo by Baybeats Budding Photographer 2011: Joshua Hoong)
by Han Tingyan, EY Baybeats Budding Music Writer
It was the last day of Baybeats 2011. The sun was etching its rays all across the beautiful grounds of Esplanade at sundown and discerning members of our music-loving populace had returned for Avalanche’s kickoff at the Powerhouse stage.
It didn’t matter if it was almost time for break-fast for Muslims; the odd kid with the Avalanche t-shirt had it in him every intent to welcome it with a mosh of a celebration.
Avalanche at the Baybeats 2011 Powerhouse stage (photo by Baybeats Budding Photographer 2011: Alvin Ho)
It was first to our ears a symphony of opening strings, pleasantly disrupted as Kammal, Cashvin, Charlie and Ash jolted across stage, guitars jangly and ready to reclaim hearts after their recent stint in Australia. Going full throttle right off the first riff, Cashvin’s unbelievably menacing eyes were ready to eat out the crowd. Kammal’s sinister growl opened the set with “Vena Cava”. The band was admittedly less tight than I had envisioned. But their energy was honest and malicious and the mosh pit opened up immediately, arms flailing all around with reckless abandon.
The band followed with “In Echoes”, particularly impressive was Charlie on clean vocals, all the while keeping the band’s raw unfettered energy in check with consistent drumming. The standout of the set was probably “Building Towers, Unsighted Colors”. The band excels when combining great melodies with guttural breakdown sections in equal measure, and this number was a great display of their potential. By the end of Kammal’s very last chest scream, the crowd had their hands raised, the applause resounding and legitimate.
Avalanche is currently writing their new record and carving an identity for themselves. Check out their recently self-released music video at their YouTube channel if you like their music. There are artists who are dedicated and capable of shaping a scene worthy of attention. Our local bands have had to balls to go at it, rather than having to resort to caricatured self-parodies over Richard Clayderman sentimentalisms. If you missed out on this Baybeats, don’t wait out a year. Start supporting your favourite acts now so they’d play at the next!
Avalanche played at the Baybeats Powerhouse stage on Sun 21 August 2011 at 6.30pm.
Han Tingyan is one of eight young scribes who was mentored by established local music writer Kevin Mathews as part of the Esplanade Youths Baybeats Budding Music Writers Mentoring Programme 2011.
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