Advantages | Hold Linton
The Attic, Leeds
thirtieth April 2025
Andy Brown heads to The Attic in Leeds to look at Advantages. He opinions the noise, beats and strobe-lit fury for Louder Than Conflict.
As a stay act, Advantages have advanced each time I’ve seen them; their sound in a relentless state of inventive flux, by no means too settled or snug. After Fixed Noise – the slightly revelatory new album – I’m notably psyched for tonight’s present.
Accompanied by his guitar and a desk of pedals and electronics, hometown hero Hold Linton leads the cost. Taking a gleefully eclectic method, his model appears to shift with almost each music: one second it’s dreamy Lynch-like guitars and “peace for all mankind” and the subsequent its “settling scores” with some defiantly glamorous lo-fi hip hop. If that wasn’t thrilling sufficient, tunes like Radiator are underground publish punk classics in ready.
The one-man present quickly turns right into a double act as his younger daughter runs to his aspect: dancing round and staring adoringly at her dad as he brings the noise and publish punk positivity. It needs to be probably the most healthful and genuinely heart-warming issues I’ve seen on stage. The entire present – and impromptu household gathering – is delivered with an endearingly infectious sense of enjoyable and enthusiasm. I imply, one music has us all barking and howling alongside like canine. Music actually does convey individuals collectively.
Linton explains that he’s right here to unfold his message: standing in opposition to racism, capitalism and transphobia – amongst different curses – with kindness and empathy. That’s the sort of political messaging we’d like. “Converse to your neighbour, particularly the brown ones” he asks us close to the top, “you’re laughing however I imply it, make them really feel snug.” That basically doesn’t seem to be an excessive amount of to ask. He ends on a rabble-rousing hip hop banger earlier than taking a well-deserved bow along with his daughter.
The sinister strains of The Walker Brothers monitor The Electrician used to herald the bands imminent arrival however when the lights go down tonight, Advantages stroll on to the sounds of Wings traditional Stay and Let Die. Properly, on this ever-changing world through which we stay… it’s a strong choose. It makes the quick shift into the droning, melancholic embrace of Fixed Noise all of the more practical because the rock fades and Kingsley Corridor solemnly sings, “What’s going to I be required to hate at the moment?”
Abruptly, noise, beats and strobe-lit fury fill the room as Land of The Tyrants kicks in. Corridor is immersed in each second; pacing and sometimes whacking a drum pad as a heart-racing digital pulse emanates from the stage. His associate in crime, Robbie Main, giving us jarring blasts of Merzbow-level noise. There’s no time to catch our breath both because the disorientating, Ibiza-ready beats of The Victory Lap rattle via the room.
If it wasn’t blindly apparent from the brand new album, the band’s sound has expanded and absorbed a wealth of latest influences. Nonetheless offended however extra vibrant in its sonic scope. On stage, each members utilise the electronics at their disposal whereas Main sometimes whips out a violin and a thriller instrument identified solely as “the pipe.” Like all bands within the throes of experimentation, it seems to be like plenty of enjoyable.
Fixed Noise is refreshingly unambiguous in its anti-war sentiments and it’s a ardour that doesn’t abandon them on stage. Lies And Concern is feral and totally coronary heart wrenching similtaneously it describes a scene of flattened faculties and hospitals and the deafening silence from “company vocal cords.” It’s unquestionably highly effective nevertheless it nonetheless doesn’t put together me for the uneasy drones of Missiles. A searing indictment of Western complacency, Corridor is totally dedicated to the songs gradual movement depth. Dripping in sweat, I shut my eyes and clutch my chest because it swallows me complete.
I’m snapped again into the room by the excessive vitality electronics of Blame and despatched flying into the stratosphere by the actually explosive stylings of Divide. North East rap legend Shakk joins the duo for the latter and brings lashings of pure, undiluted fireplace to the stage. The 2 vocalists effortlessly bounce off one another because the music reaches its insanely cathartic conclusion: “FOR POWER/ FOR GREED/ FOR OIL/ FOR ME!”
Dancing on The Tables gives a uncommon – virtually poppy – second of reprieve earlier than Relentless creates a hypnotic ambiance of woozy, post-club nervousness. Total, the band’s sound is a near-perfect steadiness between pummelling sensory overload and elegant subtleties. I get a definite shiver with The whole lot Is Going to Be Alright as Corridor gently sings/ speaks about, “The face on the muted TV display silently screaming away.” A lot reality, ache and subtlety caught in a single picture. Burnt Out Household House comes subsequent and it’s so lovely – so infused with empathy and a relatable sort of exhaustion – that it breaks me.
“We’ve had our enjoyable,” Corridor jokes earlier than the duo launches right into a beefed-up model of Flag and the energetic, noise-ridden gallop of Warhorse. When it looks like they’ve pushed every thing so far as they’ll, they end us off with a totally sudden – but a lot welcome – mash-up of Dream Child Dream and Born Slippy. On an unsuspecting Wednesday, my night time has morphed right into a sweaty, cinematic membership scene. We’re all Ewan McGregor now. Euphoric, nostalgic and completely fucking incredible.
“Lengthy stay Palestine and lengthy stay Gaza” Main says as he borrows the mic to say due to the group. It’s reassuring to listen to each statements met with cheers and applause. Stood amongst the sweaty throng, he proceeds to share his remaining thought for the night time, “the factor I didn’t say was Keir Starmer’s a wanker… as a result of he’s.” In a world gone mad, I believe this band would possibly simply be holding me sane. Free Palestine and lengthy stay Advantages!
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Hold Linton is on Fb, Instagram and Bandcamp. Be a part of his mailing record HERE.
Advantages are on Fb, Instagram, Bluesky and Bandcamp.
All photographs by Jim Mumby | You could find him on Fb and Instagram.
All phrases by Andy Brown. You’ll be able to go to his creator profile and skim extra of his opinions for Louder Than Conflict right here.
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