Eerie blue stage lights illuminate the Moon Club.┬áThe floor is sticky with its carpet of spilled lager. An audience clad in black overcoats and leather boots lie in wait, eagerly anticipating the werewolves of CardiffÔÇÖs rock scene.
Howl breathe new life into a genre that has become somewhat stagnant in South Wales.┬áThe problem is not a lack of heavy rock bands; the problem is the abundance of them.┬áThey are indistinguishable from each other.┬áYet, Howl are intriguing.┬áThey stray from common time signatures, but subtly enough that head banging is still comfortable.┬áDrummer Tom ReesÔÇÖ playing is controlled. He keeps the groove tight, but loosens to Cadbury-Gorilla-crazy in choruses and solo breaks.
Originally a two-piece, the introduction of bassist Marc├½ll Davies has added warmth and texture to their sound.┬áHe plays with melodic simplicity, a sensitive touch and musicality that fits perfectly into the ensemble. Vocalist Grant Jones balances a gritty falsetto with crunching undertones, straying from the conventional Welsh ÔÇÿscream until your lungs bleedÔÇÖ.┬áTheyÔÇÖre dirty. Jones┬ásays ÔÇÿItÔÇÖs dark in here. Do inappropriate things with your friendsÔÇÖ.┬áTheir music makes you want to.
Howl is a hard band to follow, especially if youÔÇÖre a three-piece rock band.┬áAn electric organ sits on stage, dark and looming, a figure of Elton JohnsÔÇÖ worst nightmares.┬áGertjan Gutman perches on an old bar stool, hunched over the keys as he waits in the shadows.┬áAs Birth of Joy materialise on stage, Howl push to the front of the audience.┬áTheir appreciation for the Dutch trio is unreserved, and HowlÔÇÖs singer moshes throughout their set.
They blend ÔÇÿ70s psychedelic rock with blues and metal. Each song is upbeat, diverse, emphatic.┬áBirth of JoyÔÇÖs resemblance to Led Zeppelin is uncanny, and┬ádrummer┬áBob HogenelstÔÇÖs manic, zealous beating of the kit is almost frightening to watch.┬áThey play for over an hour, but individual songs can last for ten minutes, filled with improvisation and feel changes.
Their music is energetic; the audience tires but continues to dance. Singer Kevin Stunnenberg flirts vivaciously with a lady at the front.┬áItÔÇÖs entertaining at first, but becomes cringe-worthy when he starts dedicating songs to her.┬áDespite this embarrassing display, his vocals are impressive, powerful and alluring.┬áHis Dutch accent adds flavour to English lyrics, and helps diversify them from their influences.
The bar is empty; the staff are rocking out. Birth of Joy hypnotise Moon Club with their eerie, crude adaption of rock and roll. Their set is astounding, and they close an excellent night of live music in Cardiff.