Welcome to AmpedReviews.net
We have been around since 2006 and bring you the best of CD and Live reviews aswell as Interviews with bands, features and live photography! If you're interested in appearing on or writing for the website please get in contact
My Chemical Romance - Brixton Academy - 12th November 2006
Support: Cry For Silence
Most of the people here tonight know what is to come over the next few hours, the lights will go down, the curtain will be pulled back and as the band step forward the crowd will explode, and even though I know this too, it still feels like a new experience each time. We are no longer individual fans at a rock gig, we are an army and we are here to support our band. While the curtains are still drawn the first chords of ‘The End’, ironically, the opening track of their new album, and the roar of the crowd almost over shadows the music. The band are well known for being in touch with their fans and what they are thinking, and tonight will be no different as they comfortably move between new and old tracks, chatting between songs and saying what we are all needing and wanting to hear.
The classic tracks are just as good as ever and what’s better is how they balance out perfectly with some of the new songs we are treated too such as ‘I don’t love you’, one of the slower tracks off the new record, and ‘Mama’, by far one of the stand out songs of the night, best known as the track featuring Liza Minnelli, about a mother’s words to her solider son at war, with a rock/cabaret/ polka inspired twist. The band has clearly grown as performers with their new material, with Frank Iero and Ray Toro playing their guitars’ like they were born to do it, Bob Bryar on drums, smooth and on form as usual and bassist Mikey Way having a newly found confidence as a live performer. Gerard Way also shows a new side to his performance as he balances out the dramatic with the professionalism, whilst still keeping the crowd engaged; something few front men have in modern music.
My Chemical Romance have recently received some criticism from other bands and certain right wing papers as being a ‘death cult’ that encourages self harm and lead singer Gerard Way has been very out spoken on this subject. He pauses before leaping into ‘Teenagers’, a gut busting song about the underdog teens in high school, to mention these claims and instead of making snide remarks back, he speaks to the fans and reminds them to ‘always be themselves’ and to basically rise above it all. The fact that the band faces problems that most of the audience faces everyday, with name calling and ignorant remarks from strangers, only brings us all closer. With more old and new tracks to follow this, the audience is in the palm of their hands, and its clear the guys know this as they parade around onstage dancing, jumping and simply rocking the night away.
As the boys return to the stage to do two last songs for their encore, ‘Cancer’ one of the most moving tracks I’ve heard for a long time, and ‘Helena’, their classic goodbye track about loss, moving on and the Way brothers Grandmother, there is a sense of happiness and sadness in the building. The fans are elated with the evening but also know deep down that with the call of large scale tours calling this may be one of the last times to see the band up close and very personal. My Chemical Romance may move onwards and upwards, with a spectacular new album and stadium performances, they will always be a ‘fan driven band’ and they know and respect this completely as they play for and to the fans no matter if its in a basement, where they started out, Brixton Academy or in Wembley Arena next spring.
My Chemical Romance’s new album ‘The Black Parade’ is out now and they are back touring in the UK in March next year, hitting London’s Wembley Arena on the 29th and 30th of March.
Interview with Poets of the Fall
We spoke to Poets of the Fall about their new record label and the Finnish music industry. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Interview with Sean Flowerdew from Pama International
We spoke to Sean Flowerdew from Pama International about the last ten years of the band. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Interview with Mika Tauriainen from Entwine
We spoke to Mika Tauriainen from Entwine about the future of music industry. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Interview with The Winyls
We spoke to James and HC of the Winyls, the Finnish band that is said to combine exciting tunes, live mayhem, blood, sweat and tears into their music. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Interview with Larry Love of Negative
We recently spoke to Larry Love of Finnish rock band Negative, about his inspirations, their musical style and comparisons to classic rock bands. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Interview with MiMi Soya
We recently spoke to Brighton based pop rock outfit, MiMi Soya about their brand new EP 'I Can't Stand Pop Bands,' their recent success and what is still yet to come from the band. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Behinds the scenes with My Darkest Days
We recently went behind the scenes with My Darkest Days on their July 2010 tour, opening for Sick Puppies alongside It's Alive and Janus.
Mark Goodwin of Sick Puppies
We recently spoke to Mark Goodwin of Sick Puppies about Rock Prophecies, who he would like to share a stage with and what's new about their recent tour.
It's Alive
We recently spoke to It's Alive about their recent tour in support of Sick Puppies and shooting the video for their single 'Pieces.'
Tommi Thunder from Suicide Love Boat
We spoke to Tommi Thunder of Suicide Love Boat about the band’s scam tour to Germany, stolen guitars, cut fingers, lost brothers, playing drunk and many others. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Jonas Karsten from Vanity Beach
We talked to Jonas Karsten of Vanity Beach about their long-awaited second album ‘A Life of Vice’, a new line-up and producer and many other curious sidelights. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Dead Confederate
We spoke to Dead Confederate during the last day of SXSW about what they've been up to and their new album READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Burn The Fleet
We spoke to this Southampton based group about their local music scene and how they are breaking out from it. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Silent Disguise
We spoke to metal band Silent Disguise about their journey to where they are today and what is on the horizon. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Phillip Edwards from Boys With X-Ray Eyes
We spoke to drummer Phillip Edwards about the bands rise since their debut. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Gustav Wood from Young Guns
We talk to the young front man about the Kerrang! Relentless tour and what it feels like to be an unsigned band that is currently making huge waves in the rock music industry. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Lost Prophets
We talk to Lost Prophets about their new album 'The Betrayed' and their current tour of the UK READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Funeral For A Friend
We talked to Funeral For A Friend members Darran and Gavin about their new 'Greatest Hits' album and how Gavin felt about joining the band. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Angel Ibarra from Aiden
Back in June we talked to Aiden guitarist Angel Ibarra about the new record and the recent troubles that the band have faced. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
