Advantages | Hold Linton
The Attic, Leeds
thirtieth April 2025
Andy Brown heads to The Attic in Leeds to observe Advantages. He opinions the noise, beats and strobe-lit fury for Louder Than Battle.
As a reside act, Advantages have developed each time I’ve seen them; their sound in a relentless state of artistic 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 type appears to shift with practically each track: one second it’s dreamy Lynch-like guitars and “peace for all mankind” and the following its “settling scores” with some defiantly glamorous lo-fi hip hop. If that wasn’t thrilling sufficient, tunes like Radiator are underground submit punk classics in ready.
The one-man present quickly turns right into a double act as his younger daughter runs to his facet: dancing round and staring adoringly at her dad as he brings the noise and submit punk positivity. It needs to be one of the crucial 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 track has us all barking and howling alongside like canines. Music actually does convey individuals collectively.
Linton explains that he’s right here to unfold his message: standing towards 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 actually doesn’t appear to be an excessive amount of to ask. He ends on a rabble-rousing hip hop banger earlier than taking a well-deserved bow together with his daughter.
The sinister strains of The Walker Brothers observe The Electrician used to herald the bands imminent arrival however when the lights go down tonight, Advantages stroll on to the sounds of Wings basic Reside and Let Die. Effectively, on this ever-changing world wherein we reside… it’s a stable decide. It makes the fast shift into the droning, melancholic embrace of Fixed Noise all of the simpler because the rock fades and Kingsley Corridor solemnly sings, “What’s going to I be required to hate as we speak?”
Out of the blue, noise, beats and strobe-lit fury fill the room as Land of The Tyrants kicks in. Corridor is immersed in each second; pacing and infrequently whacking a drum pad as a heart-racing digital pulse emanates from the stage. His accomplice 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 by 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 appears like lots 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 completely coronary heart wrenching concurrently 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 sluggish 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 power electronics of Blame and despatched flying into the stratosphere by the really 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 track reaches its insanely cathartic conclusion: “FOR POWER/ FOR GREED/ FOR OIL/ FOR ME!”
Dancing on The Tables offers a uncommon – virtually poppy – second of reprieve earlier than Relentless creates a hypnotic environment of woozy, post-club anxiousness. Total, the band’s sound is a near-perfect stability between pummelling sensory overload and stylish subtleties. I get a definite shiver with Every little thing 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 stunning – 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 part so far as they will, 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 implausible.
“Lengthy reside Palestine and lengthy reside Gaza” Main says as he borrows the mic to say because of the gang. It’s reassuring to listen to each statements met with cheers and applause. Stood amongst the sweaty throng, he proceeds to share his last 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 feel this band would possibly simply be holding me sane. Free Palestine and lengthy reside 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 will discover him on Fb and Instagram.
All phrases by Andy Brown. You possibly can go to his writer profile and browse extra of his opinions for Louder Than Battle right here.
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