Live review from Underground Heavy #20
1. 映現 (Show Up)
2. 井底蛙 (Frog in the Well)
3. 墨 (Ink)
4. 故土 (Homeland)
Third act 曰．央Yeuk Yeung certainly didn’t overstay their welcome, performing just four very polished songs at Heavy 20. The band, whose name means “Reflection” and whose sound loosely falls within post-hardcore, emerged to the atmospheric opener 映現 (Show Up), which dealt crushing strikes with high-pitched screams and guitar violence.
Soft melodies at the start of 井底蛙 (Frog in the Well built) to a heavier song, although the lyrics were at times hard to make out. A highly versatile lead singer in a night of vocal powerhouses, frontman JR paired sinister pterodactyl-style “scraaaaws” alongside spuming snarls. At the end of the song, he apologised for not singing in English, though it’s hard to imagine this being too much of gripe for any concert goers.
On 墨 (Ink), he charged clean singing with emotion amid blowtorch guitar effects and imposing rhythms, before the group got patriotic on final song 故土 (Homeland). “We live here, we were born here,” said JR. “We love Cantonese and that’s why we promote it,” he added to a round of applause.
An Enter Sandman-style opening melody and military drum rolls built to buffeting effect as the song quickly became much heavier. Smashing cymbals and a bouncing beat signalled a thick breakdown, involving a low, sinister riff and screams to close. Although 曰．央 Yeuk Yeung impressed with their well-rehearsed show, four tracks didn’t really give them enough time to develop. A couple of extra songs in the setlist would have been welcomed.
– El Jay
