Leading lights in the visual kei rock scene, Sendai’s NIGHTMARE make a rare appearance in London. Such is the desire to witness this band that a queue starts to form outside the O2 Academy from the early afternoon as the hardcore fans aim to stake a coveted position in front of the stage. An excited chatter fills the air and those who’ve adopted the visual kei aesthetic for the evening cause passers-by to stop and take admiring glances. It all adds to the air of expectation and makes this show one hot ticket.
The venue is a little late in opening the doors for tonight’s show, which means that when the crowd are finally admitted it is as if floodgates have been opened. There’s a surge of people rushing towards the stage, and when NIGHTMARE are appearing, why wouldn’t you? In fact, I’ve never seen a crowd packed in so tightly and along with the gothic playlist that fills the air, a real sense of tension prevails. Even the roadies get a huge cheer as they make final checks to the equipment and that means when the playlist fades and the light dims an anticipation and excitement crackle in the air.
So when the band finally arrive to the explosion that is the opening track ASSaulter it feels as if someone has detonated a bomb in the venue; fists pump the air and horns are held high in affirmation, and you can feel the tension dissipating as the band unleash a torrent of metal madness, with both the band and crowd inciting the other towards greater insanity.
NIGHTMARE have always had a darker aesthetic than their peers and it is no surprise that they came to many people’s attention via the Death Note animation adaption. Yet, the band’s attire is only one of several things that set the band apart; bass players are usually hidden away in rock bands (and The Doors largely dispensed with a bassist), but not so NIGHTMARE’s Ni~ya. With a funky style that reminds me of Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, he steps right to the fore and really makes his present felt. However, it would be unfair to single out any one band member because the whole crew are on fire with guitarists Hitsugi and Sakito making the perfect tag team, trading solos and riffing in tandem.
Drummer RUKA is hidden behind his kit, yet his thunderous beats are hard to ignore and he becomes the force that propels the band forwards. YOMI is the quintessential frontman and like a modern-day shaman he casts a spell over the crowd who are only too happy to obey his every command and chant in unison and throw their fists in the air. It is testament to the length of time this line-up has been together, but they display a chemistry that verges on telepathy and the precision with which they play only adds to their power.
The band have assembled a set list that stops at all points along their career and what becomes apparent is the strength of their discography with songs such as DIRTY and Can you do it? rubbing together nicely. After an action packed hour NIGHTMARE depart with Kyokutou Ranshin Tengoku and evidences the tangible bond NIGHTMARE create with the crowd and there’s a sadness as the band leave the stage. But it’s not over yet; they return for a group photo with the crowd and each member makes their introductions before they launch into four well-deserved encores with Quints making for an unforgettable closer.
Far from being a NIGHTMARE, this gig was like the sweetest dream.
Set List:
1. ASSaulter
2. Rebel
3. DIRTY
4. Can you do it?
5. BOYS BE SUSPICIOUS
6. mimic
7. レゾンデートル (Raison d’être)
8. Lost in Blue
9. アルミナ(ALUMINA)
10. Sinners
11. With
12. the WORLD
13. 極東乱心天国 (Kyokutou Ranshin Tengoku)
14. 東京傷年 (Tokyo Shounen)
15. 404
16. 極上脳震煉獄・弌式 (Gokujyou Noushin Rengoku・Isshiki)
17. Quints
Photography by JJ Grant/Wonderlens
Many thanks to Envol Production.
