Svalbard / CLT DRP - Live Review

SVALBARD , CLT DRP & HERIOT / NOTTINGHAM BODEGA / 21st Nov 2021

On a bitter Nottingham evening, the feeling inside The Bodega was the polar opposite, it’s surprising how warm and inviting the chugging of a bass guitar and rumble of a bass drum can be. 

As we enter the venue, opening act Heriot are already on stage playing to a heaving crowd with their brand of melodic metal seemingly going down well. As live music starts to get into gear, expect Heriot to start picking up some traction as it’s clear they are starting to pick up fans. 

We’ll be honest, yes this is Svalbard’s headline show… but we were very much here to watch CLT DRP. We’ve been tracking CLT DRP since the release of their 2020 album Without The Eyes, and holy shit they did not disappoint. 

It’s immense the sound the CLT DRP make with just a vocalist, guitarist and drummer, a techno punk-rock-poetry sound that just WORKS. In person the band deliver on the heavy and aggressive sound, at times the intensity of singer Annie is raw and genuinely intimidating, if she had decided to come off the stage and into the crowd you’d hastily move out the way, yet somehow it’s a performance full of poise and grace- whilst dancing around the stage, a slight irony when screaming the lyrics “talk to my pussy”. 

CLT DRP have the potential to really be something, a band that can spread their message of body and sexual positivity- there aren’t many bands signing about people (deservedly) being crushed between someones thighs… It’s always nice to come in on the ground floor and watch a band grow, but we do feel like this is going to be one of those bands who grow and grow as people start to hear about them. 

If we hadn’t been told about it, we’d have had no idea that Svalbard were signing about things like heart break on Tinder. What an amazing and surprising topic for such a true metal act. The destructive heavy metal sound is not something we’d appropriate with such an emotional and raw content. Similar to CLT DRP, Svalbard seem to be on the verge of moving up to the next level, which will potentially follow a support act on a bigger UK tour, moving Svalbard into the next level of venues. The venue was packed solid from front to back, with avid fans anticipating their arrival to the stage. The noise that came from said small said was unbelievable. Metal fan Monday comes with complimentary ear buzz that may just last you all week…