Kent’s Coldbones stage a performance to remember during hometown show - words by Elliot Grimmie

Coldbones at Elsewhere Margate 02-04-2022 - Images by Elliot Grimmie

“Come quickly! Come quickly!” Heralds the robed apostle from front and centre stage, brandishing a tome featuring the bands logo in glimmering gold print.

A shroud of fog envelops the stage as the lights begin to brighten. The hooded figure steps away to reveal Max, Jordan and Nick, all clad in black jumpsuits, and the delicate tones of ‘The Flooding Of The World’ begin to fill the crowded space.

A hometown show is always something special, the people filling the room more likely than not have been supporting the artist from day one, an assumption more than justified tonight as the band play to a wide selection of their early day supporters and friends from around the area. And yet, instead of taking ease in this comfort, Coldbones (@coldbonesuk) have gone all out here, evident from the theatrical inclusion of the apostle, to the extra lighting equipment they’ve brought to the venue. As the heavier instrumentation of ‘Collapse’ encourages further movement from the crowd, the lighting begins to strobe, and the atmospheric approach of a band soundtracking the events of an apocalypse event become evermore prominent.

Given the band’s history in recent years, having been booked multiple times now for ArcTanGent festival, played supporting slots for bands like Palm Reader and God Is An Astronaut - and even opening the stage for the coveted Heavy Music Awards in 2018 - Coldbones are for certain one of Kent’s most exhilarating live music acts right now, making their appearance at Margate’s Elsewhere feel all the more special.

The band play meticulously, rolling through the entirety of their sophomore record ‘The Cataclysm’ with such finesse that if you closed your eyes you’d almost forget the band were right there in front of you. Their objective, transmitting sonic imagery of perhaps a scorched and barren landscape, or maybe even an abandoned city, on fire and crumbling, as the backdrop to the album’s mid-way track ‘The Burning Of The Earth’.

The only deviation from the original songs throughout the set are guitarist Jordan Gilbert’s roars of triumphant enthusiasm as he plays.

For the grand finale of ‘Extinct’, the apostle from the beginning of the show appears behind bass player Nick Suchak, atop a small wooden podium he basks in the ambience, arms outstretched as if being awe-struck by some sort of divine magnificence.

The lighting switches from strobing blues and reds to a gleaming golden colour and as the band take their bows, it becomes apparent how short and sweet an experience it had been, the 45 minute record being just enough to satisfy and yet leave you wishing for more.

Having waited nearly two whole years since the show’s postponement from its original 2020 scheduling, I don’t think anyone would have minded if the band shoved their entire other album into the set.

And yet, Coldbones have clearly worked very hard on delivering a unique and exclusive experience here, one that’ll be sure to leave a lasting impression on all who bore witness to one of Kent’s finest rising bands frankly incredible performance. This is a band we can all be proud to share a county with.
By Elliot Grimmie: @itskinglizard