Live review: Die So Fluid – Joiners Arms, 31st January 2008

Having seen some real dud tour supports in recent months, Die So Fluid are a much-needed breath of fresh air. They take the narrow stage of the Joiners, and vocalist-bass-player Grog starts clanking out the intro bassline to “Gang Of One”, a song which rapidly becomes a raucous jagged explosion of a tune that shows you just how big a noise you can make with the power trio formula.

Grog’s a striking girl to look at, dressed in a combination of mild fetish-goth and hot-rod rock’n'roll threads, her long dark hair held up in long trailing bunches to avoid getting caught in the strings of her bass. And let me tell you, she can really sing. No kooky characterisation or faux-girly posturing here, just vocals with genuine guts and power. She can do the shouty metal thing when she needs to, but she’s more than capable of holding a note and cutting through the noise of the band.

And the rest of the band are no less impressive; I’m actually very surprised no one has tipped me off about Die So Fluid before. Their playing is snare-skin tight, delivering proper high-impact songs in the middle ground between hard rock and modern metal, all chunky drop-tuned riffs that have as much melody as punch.

Not only do Die So Fluid make a fine big noise, they’re very confident on stage. A certain professional aloofness seems to reign – Grog feels no need to natter on between songs, and guitarist Mr Drew keeps a dead-pan straight face all through the set, seemingly speaking only through his guitar and cracking a very slight smile during his few restrained but powerful solos. The overall impression is that of a band who know their time has arrived.

I can’t help but think they’re right, as well – and this support slot with My Ruin is tailor-made for a band fronted by a woman who obviously isn’t willing to be a mere pretty pin-up. Grog’s striking looks won’t do the band any harm, but their main appeal is definitely their music.

Brash but focused, razor-sharp and surprisingly loaded with groove and flex; there’s always a market for heavy music that doesn’t compromise its content for catchiness – and vice versa. Die So Fluid have memorable songs with hooks and breakdowns lesser bands would kill for, and they know how to put them across on stage.

Keep your eyes and ears open – if there’s any justice left in this industry, we’ll be hearing a lot more from Die So Fluid.