Crossfaith @ Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, Denmark (Support: Blood Youth)

I went by a Crossfaith and Blood Youth concert in Denmark recently, and it was a sick experience! I have thought a bit about what made the show with these acts stand out from others, and you can read about that right here. I have also collected a heavy bunch of photos from the moment I went on stage with support Blood Youth and into the wild crowd during the performance from main act Crossfaith, before handing my thanks to them backstage after the show. Read along if you want to relive this a bit, wish to see some good moments behind the scenes, or am curious of what you just missed out on.

First off was the UK band Blood Youth. I met up with them shortly before the show and followed along as they hit the stage, which you can see more of in a photo gallery below. Watching the hardcore act perform live then became an outstanding experience on it’s own. The four guys made sure to serve a fresh sound, with quality material and non-stop energy. Up in your face. Wherever you looked on the stage you found great entertainment in the live play and well connection with the crowd. Besides the moments when vocalist Kaya Tarsus also decided to go for a jump into the audience and made some rolling in the hands of the front row back on the stage floor. I’ve seen various support acts much aware of the fact that they can’t take too much attention, but they would still like to rock the gig and show off their best. Blood Youth made a great balance in this. They succesfully cheered up the crowd and made a great impact for future concert expectations. Look out for the next move from their side.

Then it became time for one of the most highly anticipated metalcore bands here around. Crossfaith. The Japanese band had already made a hugh impact on the Danish metalheads with a strong performance at Copenhell Festival here in the Summer. It was a festival slot that put some right attention to their well-functioning fusion of metalcore and electronica, but definitely also surprised with their charismatic stage presence. It excited both the attending crowd plus local music critics afterwards. Not forgetting to mention myself as well. So, I enjoyed having some random chats about it while waiting at the venue for their headline show. Each person I talked to had either watched Crossfaith perform here in the summer or become aware of what they missed out on, and without doubt had to see them now at this opportunity. An excitement I could only share. No wonder the show sold out!

Their headline show did not disappoint either. It was every bit of what we saw at the European festival tour earlier on this year added with tougher sound, closer connections, plus plenty of water, Jack Daniel’s and Jägermeister splashes. Drummer Tatsu Amano had strained his right arm a few days ahead of the show, but gave it an extra effort to keep on playing the kit with one arm only and the other wrapped in for some kind of rest. It was clear that something like that won’t hold this band back from performing. Other members helped out and you can only salute the results. All five of them seemed to present their core energy and had fun while at it. Each member at the time stopped by the very edge of the stage to reach out and encouraged the active crowd to go on as well. If you couldn’t handle a fair share of pushing, mosh pits and crowd surfers that followed up with this, then the middle of the wild audience wasn’t the right place for you to stand. That was the reason I moved slightly to the side. I only got pushed way forward a few times and had my hair pulled back once. It was tough, but fun. You can see photos in the gallery below that I worked a little extra on capturing this time, while trying to stay on my feet in the dynamic crowd. No matter where you watched the show though, you could feel the heat and crazy commitment to take part in the moment. That’s how live shows with Crossfaith stands out.

If you think it sounds like something worth experiencing after reading this, then right on! The band has currently moved on for a Japanese tour with show dates here in December plus an Australian concert in January, and I will say go for it if you are based around there. Otherwise take a look on when the band will return to your place. You can find more info on this on their website: www.crossfaith.jp

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