BILMURI PERFORMING LIVE AT BRISTOL’S SWX WITH SUPPORT FROM SOUTH ARCADE

★★★★☆ (4/5)

BILMURI PERFORMING AT BRISTOL’S SWX
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

As their penultimate stop of their UK headliner Motor Tour (II Lap of Honour), Bilmuri graced Bristol for the first time, selling out the venue just like they did for all the other dates. There was a big queue going around the block early on, as old and new fans of Bilmuri gathered for a night promising a lot of fun.

For those who have not listened to Bilmuri, it is difficult to ignore that they have risen to fame because of their tour supporting metal’s hottest band right now, Sleep Token, amassing many fans on their own right. They describe their music as deathcore, ambient and post-jazz with an American twist – and they are exactly that. With anticipation high, fans eagerly waited for the band to hit the stage.

First up were local talent, South Arcade, a band of youngsters from the UK who became viral for videos of their band practices, having also performed at BBC’s Radio 1. The band’s stage presence is magnetic, with the ambient lights exaggerating their unique musical style that comprises of heavy riffs, clean female vocals and mosh-tastic hooks. People on the barrier were not only signing along to the lyrics, but were also joining the moshpit in the middle of the room. Brining a pop-punk Y2K energy and vibe to the mix, their setlist comprised of ‘2005’, ‘Nepo Baby’, a Justin Timberlake cover of ‘SexyBack’ and ‘Moth Kids’ with the audience chanting along to the words ‘misunderstood, overlooked, tired and hopeless’. The set ended on a bang with ‘Stone Cold Summer’, as the room was getting fuller and hotter ahead of the main event of the night.

It is very difficult to put into words what kind of a show Bilmuri do. This was my third time watching them and there is only one phrase that pops to mind: ‘pure entertainment’. The band jumped on stage with an energy of their own, like they had just run around the block before they came to perform, hopping around in the strobes in a way that made them feel out of this world. Dressed in appropriate American racer attires, their style is so unique that there is no other way to describe this – you just had to be there.

The sound mixes a bit of everything – deathcore with growls and flexy guitar breakdowns, clean vocals on top of punk-rock melodies, country notes incorporated into a saxophone, drum-n-sax beats and chants, as well as dual guitar solos, Bilmuri have something for everyone. Whether it is the wildness and energy they have on stage, the inside (and slightly sleezy) jokes the band has with their fanbase, the all-out American vibe and the seamless blend of music genres that do not necessarily go together but somehow work brilliantly for the band, they are a sight to behold. Their stage presence created an amazing energy in the venue, with people enjoying every single song of the set. And whilst the Bilmuri discography is not extensive, they still made space for some of the ‘bangers’ – opening with ‘EMPTYHANDED’, ‘ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF’INHOG’, ‘ACOWBOYSHEAVYLOAD’ and ‘SPINNIN’ YOU AROUND’.

Beyond the music, the banter from the stage was also incredibly entertaining. Phrases such as ‘goblin hours’ and ‘crankin’ the hog’ found high cheers from the people who recognised them, whilst the audience kept asking for more when the set reached its end. Finishing off with ‘BETTER HELL (Thicc boi)’ and ‘CORN-FED YETI’, not only was the audience buzzing but we were also met with a promise – that Bilmuri need to write more bangers. And the UK will be eagerly waiting for another lap of hope from the band (this means they need to do another tour).