Haunts at Camden’s Barfly

Walking into the Barfly in Camden and seeing the crowd awaiting the first band, Haunts, at the front of the stage was a good sign. It displayed an intention, a collective desire to kick the night off with gusto. From the start, Haunts rocked the shit.

Their first song London’s Burning, from what I could tell had little to do with The Clash number of the same name. It was heavy and loud, and low, and in parts, when I expected a drop into some grinding metal, the whole band would lighten up and play something quick and rhythmic. That’s where The Clash song was, I thought…if it’s there at all.

Track two had possibly the meatiest bass sound I have heard in a year. Meat! Giant sonic joints of dead animals hanging from the roof of the stage, battered by the skinny bass player with his cleaver.

The vocals ranged from Marilyn Manson – a low timbre, etched in sinister poetry – to a less heavy pop-rock sound. I found this strangely appealing. I have to say, the vocalist’s originality is in his low voice. The rest of the band contributed surfer-esque back-up vocals throughout, which sounded a little odd at times of contrast, but when they were all singing ‘We’re gonna die in here tonight’ it worked, and it got right under my skin.

The drumming was spot on, tight as you like, as indeed they all were. The music continued much in this vein throughout the whole set, heavy, light, heavy, light. I was very happy to notice some savvy use of switching time signatures, most emphatically realised in their last song of the evening. A monster to walk you home. That’s not the name, just how I felt.

I like Haunts. I have to say though, just before the gig, I became quite ill and delirious. My solid recommendation, as always, is to go and see them yourself, and be in good health when you do. If I told you they all turned into bats at the end of the set, and casually walked across the ceiling out of the bar, you’d definitely go wouldn’t you? Seriously though, they did.