Advantages | Dangle Linton
The Attic, Leeds
thirtieth April 2025
Andy Brown heads to The Attic in Leeds to look at Advantages. He evaluations the noise, beats and strobe-lit fury for Louder Than Battle.
As a dwell act, Advantages have developed each time I’ve seen them; their sound in a continuing state of inventive flux, by no means too settled or comfy. After Fixed Noise – the moderately revelatory new album – I’m notably psyched for tonight’s present.
Accompanied by his guitar and a desk of pedals and electronics, hometown hero Dangle Linton leads the cost. Taking a gleefully eclectic method, his type appears to shift with practically each track: one second it’s dreamy Lynch-like guitars and “peace for all mankind” and the subsequent its “settling scores” with some defiantly glamorous lo-fi hip hop. If that wasn’t thrilling sufficient, tunes like Radiator are underground publish punk classics in ready.
The one-man present quickly turns right into a double act as his younger daughter runs to his aspect: dancing round and staring adoringly at her dad as he brings the noise and publish punk positivity. It needs to be probably the most healthful and genuinely heart-warming issues I’ve seen on stage. The entire present – and impromptu household gathering – is delivered with an endearingly infectious sense of enjoyable and enthusiasm. I imply, one track has us all barking and howling alongside like canines. Music actually does convey folks collectively.
Linton explains that he’s right here to unfold his message: standing towards racism, capitalism and transphobia – amongst different curses – with kindness and empathy. That’s the sort of political messaging we want. “Converse to your neighbour, particularly the brown ones” he asks us close to the top, “you’re laughing however I imply it, make them really feel comfy.” That basically doesn’t appear to be an excessive amount of to ask. He ends on a rabble-rousing hip hop banger earlier than taking a well-deserved bow together with his daughter.
The sinister strains of The Walker Brothers observe The Electrician used to herald the bands imminent arrival however when the lights go down tonight, Advantages stroll on to the sounds of Wings basic Dwell and Let Die. Properly, on this ever-changing world during which we dwell… it’s a strong choose. It makes the fast shift into the droning, melancholic embrace of Fixed Noise all of the more practical because the rock fades and Kingsley Corridor solemnly sings, “What’s going to I be required to hate at the moment?”
Out of the blue, noise, beats and strobe-lit fury fill the room as Land of The Tyrants kicks in. Corridor is immersed in each second; pacing and sometimes whacking a drum pad as a heart-racing digital pulse emanates from the stage. His companion in crime, Robbie Main, giving us jarring blasts of Merzbow-level noise. There’s no time to catch our breath both because the disorientating, Ibiza-ready beats of The Victory Lap rattle by the room.
If it wasn’t blindly apparent from the brand new album, the band’s sound has expanded and absorbed a wealth of latest influences. Nonetheless indignant however extra vibrant in its sonic scope. On stage, each members utilise the electronics at their disposal whereas Main often whips out a violin and a thriller instrument recognized solely as “the pipe.” Like all bands within the throes of experimentation, it appears like a number of enjoyable.
Fixed Noise is refreshingly unambiguous in its anti-war sentiments and it’s a ardour that doesn’t abandon them on stage. Lies And Concern is feral and completely coronary heart wrenching similtaneously it describes a scene of flattened faculties and hospitals and the deafening silence from “company vocal cords.” It’s unquestionably highly effective however it nonetheless doesn’t put together me for the uneasy drones of Missiles. A searing indictment of Western complacency, Corridor is totally dedicated to the songs gradual movement depth. Dripping in sweat, I shut my eyes and clutch my chest because it swallows me complete.
I’m snapped again into the room by the excessive power electronics of Blame and despatched flying into the stratosphere by the really explosive stylings of Divide. North East rap legend Shakk joins the duo for the latter and brings lashings of pure, undiluted fireplace to the stage. The 2 vocalists effortlessly bounce off one another because the track reaches its insanely cathartic conclusion: “FOR POWER/ FOR GREED/ FOR OIL/ FOR ME!”
Dancing on The Tables offers a uncommon – nearly poppy – second of reprieve earlier than Relentless creates a hypnotic ambiance of woozy, post-club nervousness. Total, the band’s sound is a near-perfect steadiness between pummelling sensory overload and elegant subtleties. I get a definite shiver with The whole lot Is Going to Be Alright as Corridor gently sings/ speaks about, “The face on the muted TV display silently screaming away.” A lot fact, ache and subtlety caught in a single picture. Burnt Out Household Residence comes subsequent and it’s so lovely – so infused with empathy and a relatable sort of exhaustion – that it breaks me.
“We’ve had our enjoyable,” Corridor jokes earlier than the duo launches right into a beefed-up model of Flag and the energetic, noise-ridden gallop of Warhorse. When it looks as if they’ve pushed all the things so far as they’ll, they end us off with a very sudden – but a lot welcome – mash-up of Dream Child Dream and Born Slippy. On an unsuspecting Wednesday, my night time has morphed right into a sweaty, cinematic membership scene. We’re all Ewan McGregor now. Euphoric, nostalgic and completely fucking improbable.
“Lengthy dwell Palestine and lengthy dwell Gaza” Main says as he borrows the mic to say because of the group. It’s reassuring to listen to each statements met with cheers and applause. Stood amongst the sweaty throng, he proceeds to share his remaining thought for the night time, “the factor I didn’t say was Keir Starmer’s a wanker… as a result of he’s.” In a world gone mad, I feel this band would possibly simply be holding me sane. Free Palestine and lengthy dwell Advantages!
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Dangle Linton is on Fb, Instagram and Bandcamp. Be part of his mailing listing HERE.
Advantages are on Fb, Instagram, Bluesky and Bandcamp.
All images by Jim Mumby | You could find him on Fb and Instagram.
All phrases by Andy Brown. You’ll be able to go to his writer profile and browse extra of his evaluations for Louder Than Battle right here.
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