NOVEMBER 3rd, 2025
ELECTRIC CALLBOY
Review by: Dmitry Sukhinin
Photos by : Polina Kulikovskikh
Full Gallery:
http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/electric-callboy/
Some time ago I had a thought of the new big bands: what would they be like? There was a period when there seemingly was no new blood of a similar caliber to the aging mastodons of the genre (e.g. AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Muse). “The big ones are getting old, but there is no one to fill the arenas after they're gone”, - that is what I thought.
But this is just part of evolution, - and today I am witnessing possibly the new wave of big things - an evening of bands inspired by The mighty Prodigy and metal in Unity arena.
It is rainy, no seats in the arena today - only floor - and I already see neon lights around the stage. A huge share of the audience is dressed in the 80's style - it is mostly the merch from Electric Callboy. Merch-wise they have obviously hit the nail on the head - it is damn cool, both modern and nostalgic.
Openers from the UK, Wargasm, are a heavier version of the above-mentioned Prodigy, and they start with a very igniting show. Noisy, groovy, very energetic and much better live than their recordings. Rachel Alexandra Hastings misses 99% of the notes but this alone makes it sound more punk. Both front figures, Rachel and Sam Matlock take up instruments for some songs, and have nothing in others; it does not compromise the sound. I personally liked the show a lot - very cool lights on the front of the runway; I would only have a bit more of guitars and bass in the mix, but I assume that the electropunk noisyness would be less dominant and it is part of the sound, - the instruments are secondary.
I would love to see them again, - very much my cup of tea and fit the arena really well.
The second act Bury Tomorrow starts with a stylish intro - mechanical voice announcement (gives us a Half-Life vibe!!!) suggesting that mosh and slam is allowed. Sadly, soon I found out this was the best part of the show.. First, despite the announcement, this is a copy-paste ultrapolished melancholic metalcore with breakdowns, screams and unengaging clean vocals. Could have been written by AI. Secondly, this was literally absolutely the worst harsh vocals I have ever experienced - probably just a bad day for Daniel Winter-Bates.
There are a lot of backtracks (but today is a backtrack day), and though I note great sound, there are just way too many totally identical bands to this one.
Kudos to the vocalist - Daniel is quite engaging and I like how he interacts with the audience, but when it comes to singing, the screams are just too weak, and I am sure this is just some throat issue today. The band engages crowdsurfing which works despite melodic music, there is a traditional “light your phones” thing, and in general a nice show, but just too “standard”.
More and more people are increasingly drunk in preparation for the upcoming huge party.
I discovered Electric Callboy with We Got The Moves. Today they kick off with a vape cloud sent into the audience - this is new to me.
This show. It is enormous. A LOT of thought is put on every - EVERY detail of the show. There is not a single second that is not planned, every move (and they got the moves) is thoroughly designed and rehearsed. Smoke, fire, confetti (different), pyro and the most spectacular visual effects I have ever experienced - gigantic screen walls everywhere. This is a bigger production than any of the current giants have.
Sound-wise it is so ideal that I start suspecting if most of it is too good to be true. Perfect mix, absolutely stunning vocals (especially cleans!!!) that are not changing in volume levels. The part that is surely genuine is the drummer (drums also were the only instrument that got a line check). Frank Zummo is on fire!
Back to the show: Kevin Ratajczak and Nico Sallach are masters of entertainment. I feel like we are a part of some very expensive TV broadcast - Eurovision or similar - they are anchors. Even the frequency shape of their microphone lines makes it sound like you are on a radio. Every song is an art act, at some point they bring a DJ and then a solo guitar player jumps in the front - at first the solo has sound and then it appears in the mix.
All the usual suspects are in the setlist, but I am also particularly happy to hear a quote from All The Small Things by Blink-182. There is a drum solo and acoustic parts, and very funny tricks to engage the audience. Nothing in the visuals repeats, and this is literally the best entertaining show I have ever experienced.
But the whole set also sounds sterile like on a record that is spinned very loud. It is not a Meshuggah perfect live gig (where you actually get a feeling of a live concert), but a gigantic loud party with a record on 100+ db.
I am happy I have seen it. Every show like this is inspiring and this party is the most professional metal show / party I have ever been to. I cannot imagine what can top it. These guys have made a lot to reach where they are - and it is great to see a new arena act!
Electric Callboy are a bridge between extreme metal and pop uniting all likes, like Slipknot - a bridge that still remains on a heavier side of things - a link that will bring more people into the world of high gain, growls and, who knows, maybe even eventually blastbeats. Go to see them!
But this is just part of evolution, - and today I am witnessing possibly the new wave of big things - an evening of bands inspired by The mighty Prodigy and metal in Unity arena.
It is rainy, no seats in the arena today - only floor - and I already see neon lights around the stage. A huge share of the audience is dressed in the 80's style - it is mostly the merch from Electric Callboy. Merch-wise they have obviously hit the nail on the head - it is damn cool, both modern and nostalgic.
Openers from the UK, Wargasm, are a heavier version of the above-mentioned Prodigy, and they start with a very igniting show. Noisy, groovy, very energetic and much better live than their recordings. Rachel Alexandra Hastings misses 99% of the notes but this alone makes it sound more punk. Both front figures, Rachel and Sam Matlock take up instruments for some songs, and have nothing in others; it does not compromise the sound. I personally liked the show a lot - very cool lights on the front of the runway; I would only have a bit more of guitars and bass in the mix, but I assume that the electropunk noisyness would be less dominant and it is part of the sound, - the instruments are secondary.
I would love to see them again, - very much my cup of tea and fit the arena really well.
The second act Bury Tomorrow starts with a stylish intro - mechanical voice announcement (gives us a Half-Life vibe!!!) suggesting that mosh and slam is allowed. Sadly, soon I found out this was the best part of the show.. First, despite the announcement, this is a copy-paste ultrapolished melancholic metalcore with breakdowns, screams and unengaging clean vocals. Could have been written by AI. Secondly, this was literally absolutely the worst harsh vocals I have ever experienced - probably just a bad day for Daniel Winter-Bates.
There are a lot of backtracks (but today is a backtrack day), and though I note great sound, there are just way too many totally identical bands to this one.
Kudos to the vocalist - Daniel is quite engaging and I like how he interacts with the audience, but when it comes to singing, the screams are just too weak, and I am sure this is just some throat issue today. The band engages crowdsurfing which works despite melodic music, there is a traditional “light your phones” thing, and in general a nice show, but just too “standard”.
More and more people are increasingly drunk in preparation for the upcoming huge party.
I discovered Electric Callboy with We Got The Moves. Today they kick off with a vape cloud sent into the audience - this is new to me.
This show. It is enormous. A LOT of thought is put on every - EVERY detail of the show. There is not a single second that is not planned, every move (and they got the moves) is thoroughly designed and rehearsed. Smoke, fire, confetti (different), pyro and the most spectacular visual effects I have ever experienced - gigantic screen walls everywhere. This is a bigger production than any of the current giants have.
Sound-wise it is so ideal that I start suspecting if most of it is too good to be true. Perfect mix, absolutely stunning vocals (especially cleans!!!) that are not changing in volume levels. The part that is surely genuine is the drummer (drums also were the only instrument that got a line check). Frank Zummo is on fire!
Back to the show: Kevin Ratajczak and Nico Sallach are masters of entertainment. I feel like we are a part of some very expensive TV broadcast - Eurovision or similar - they are anchors. Even the frequency shape of their microphone lines makes it sound like you are on a radio. Every song is an art act, at some point they bring a DJ and then a solo guitar player jumps in the front - at first the solo has sound and then it appears in the mix.
All the usual suspects are in the setlist, but I am also particularly happy to hear a quote from All The Small Things by Blink-182. There is a drum solo and acoustic parts, and very funny tricks to engage the audience. Nothing in the visuals repeats, and this is literally the best entertaining show I have ever experienced.
But the whole set also sounds sterile like on a record that is spinned very loud. It is not a Meshuggah perfect live gig (where you actually get a feeling of a live concert), but a gigantic loud party with a record on 100+ db.
I am happy I have seen it. Every show like this is inspiring and this party is the most professional metal show / party I have ever been to. I cannot imagine what can top it. These guys have made a lot to reach where they are - and it is great to see a new arena act!
Electric Callboy are a bridge between extreme metal and pop uniting all likes, like Slipknot - a bridge that still remains on a heavier side of things - a link that will bring more people into the world of high gain, growls and, who knows, maybe even eventually blastbeats. Go to see them!
