Simon Rushworth
@ Newcastle o2 Academy, June 1 2010
InMe have always been there, at least lingering in your CD collection, sometimes at the back without you knowing it. But with new album Herald Moth arriving with a new vigour and touring with a new guitarist, it was going to be an interesting night for the Newcastle audience.
There were no delays in getting things started with Envy Of The State, who were lively from the start onwards. Some confident frontman-ship and crushing breakdowns set the mood for more.
When five piece band Fei Comodo came onstage, their movements were so flamboyant that it did look initially that they were trying too hard to impress. However, as the set went on it was clear that this level of energy was standard procedure for them. With some beautiful harmonising at one end of the scale and hardcore thrash at the other, Fei Comodo continued to effectively contrast differing sounds, making it look all too easy. Break The Ice epitomised the intensity of their performance with melodic waning and curdling screams, before finishing with an above stellar applause.
InMe took some time to get going and unfortunately it was to be that way for much of the set. As Cracking The Whip started, Greg McPherson stood by his brother Dave as he plugged at a deep, heavy bass line. Two walls of death during the set helped to keep the crowd alive, but it was the consistent ramblings of the two brothers that did nothing but slow the musical flow. If it’s clever and comical then it can be pulled off but they simply came across as two immature schoolboys baffling on in a cringe-worthy awkwardness.
With that aside, most of the songs were tight, even though there did seem to be a level of monotony and repetition to the performance.
Nevertheless, the All Terrain Armada tour saw some fine musicianship from newly acquired Gazz Marlow. He picked at higher notes throughout, complementing the sound.
Standout song of the night was undoubtedly Captain Killjoy. Dave McPherson’s technical shredding ability was controlled in succinct bursts, as the song trailed from rioting heavy riffs to slower melodic sections with clean vocals. The result was a thicker and slightly more progressive sound that was more rewarding.
For InMe, it’s hard to see where they’re going to go next. There’s talk of a new album already, but is it just the same old tricks or will it be something more refreshing? There are glimpses of potential for more, but at the minute they stand on a fine borderline. They will have to evolve their sound or face falling into bland mediocrity.
Calum Robson