News / / 22.05.14

Bo Ningen

The Haunt, Brighton | 18 May

British audiences traditionally have an uneasy relationship with bands that sing in a language other than their native tongue. Like the Brits that venture overseas for their holidays and expect the locals to understand every word they say if it’s uttered louder and slower than would normally pass their lips, a ‘push-aside-and-ignore’ approach tends to come into play.    

In this regard, Bo Ningen are an anomaly. They buck the trend and force people to take notice with full on sonic assaults. The London-based, Japanese quartet have maintained a staunch commitment to delivering consistently memorable shows, and with their recorded output never having quite matched the intensity of their volume-fuelled live sermons, this has played a major part in their cultivation of a loyal and diverse following.

By the time they take the stage for the final time on this tour to promote new album III, a wave of excitement and anticipation has swept over the building. This is where Bo Ningen’s dense, erratic sprawl comes to life. Mixing psych and acid punk influences, what follows is an hour-long series of hard-hitting, knock out punches that Joe Calzaghe would be proud to swing.

As strobe lights rapidly flicker overhead, singer Taigen yelps into the microphone, as the three around him fire out a series of short, sharp, abrasive riffs that feature heavily on songs such as Henkan, hitting extreme sonic peaks. Focus on the words is dislodged, the vocals becoming another weapon in the all-consuming arsenal.

It’s no longer a secret: Bo Ningen are one of the best live bands in the country.

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boningen.info

Words: Nathan Westley

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