VENDED + THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER + PROFILER @ THE ARCH, BRIGHTON, 31ST MAY 2024
Vended are a burgeoning force in the metal scene, hailing from Des Moines, Iowa. This dynamic band, formed by Griffin Taylor on vocals, Simon Crahan on drums, Connor Grodzicki and Cole Espeland on guitars, and Jeremiah Pugh on bass, has quickly ascended the ranks with their unique blend of aggression and melody. The legacy of metal runs deep in their veins, with Griffin Taylor, son of Corey Taylor from Slipknot and Stone Sour, and Simon Crahan, son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan of Slipknot. Despite their lineage, Vended is set to carve out their own identity.
With its all-black decor and proximity to the beach, the Arch in Brighton is the perfect setting for a night of intense metal music. Arriving just after 7 PM, I catch the tail end of Profiler’s set. They’re the first support act, already captivating the early crowd with tracks from their debut LP, A Digital Nowhere. The atmosphere is electric, and the audience, primarily young, sports a good mix of Slipknot and Vended t-shirts, a testament to the anticipation building for the headliners and the long queues for the merch stand.
At 8 PM, The Gloom in the Corner, an Australian metalcore band known for their conceptual storytelling and heavy sound, takes the stage. Their mix of melody and all-out assault goes down a storm. Frontman Mickey Arthur effortlessly switches vocal styles along with the music, and each bludgeoning track gets the moshpit moving, and the crowd laps it up. After the swift 30-minute set, the band goes straight to the merch stand, posing for photos with the newfound fans.
By 9 PM, the excitement reaches its peak as the iconic Tainted Love plays over the PA, signalling Vended’s imminent arrival. The band bursts onto the stage under a blue glow, with Griffin Taylor’s painted face in white and blue setting a dramatic tone. They dive straight into their recent single, Nihilism, igniting the crowd into a frenzy of bouncing and headbanging.
Taylor commands the stage effortlessly, backed by crushing riffs from Grodzicki and Espeland, a thunderous backbeat from Crahan, and Pugh’s booming basslines. Guitarist Cole Espeland, in particular, gets a lot of attention from the young females down the front, with his name frequently called out between the enthusiastic cries of “VENDED, VENDED, VENDED.” The venue lighting raises the intensity, with strobes and darting coloured searchlights highlighting the action on stage and in the crowd.
Taylor’s connection with the crowd is palpable. He leans into the front row, fist-bumping fans and feeding off their energy. The venue and the show exude an intimate vibe akin to a legendary band playing a secret gig. Despite the photo pit, the stage feels tantalizingly close, within arm’s reach of the electrified fans.
The setlist for the night is short but sweet. Burn My Misery and The Far Side are standout moments. They deliver a brutal yet exhilarating performance, leaving the crowd drenched in sweat but craving more. The night culminates with a two song encore Ded to Me and the intense closer, Asylum, driving the mosh pit into a wild frenzy and extracting every ounce of energy from the fans.
Tonight’s show more than solidifies Vended’s status as a formidable force in the metal scene. They prove they are more than just the offspring of metal legends, standing as a potent and authentic band in their own right. With their immense stage presence and musical prowess, Vended is poised for larger venues and mainstage festival appearances in the near future. Tonight at The Arch is just a glimpse of what’s to come from Vended!
Setlist:
- Nihilism
- Am I the Only One
- Bloodline
- Burn My Misery
- Overall
- Serenity
- Where the Honesty Lies
- The Far Side
- Ded to Me
- Asylum
Vended + The Gloom In The Corner + Profiler Gallery
