Lostprophets rock their rarities at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Opening band, Foxy Shazam are literally a living joke. With their ‘unique’ idea to try and relive the 80s in their mid life crisis states as well as majorly infuriating the security with their wannabee ‘rock star’ personas , not a single person seems impressed.

However, main support and fellow Welshies Attack! Attack! Offer a fine chance to dance and bounce along to their fresh, pop punk melodies and in no time have the crowd in the palm of their hands and singing back what words they can muster from their energetic bodies.

After a long build up of anticipation, Tonight is a reward for Lostprophets fans’ loyalty, commitment and dedication since ‘Fake Sound of Progress’s release almost a decade ago.  Tearing through a back catalogue of heavy, raw, yet catchy and melodic to the brim anthems, Lostprophets have never been so good as the crowd erupts into a mass pit of flying limbs, dancing fanatics and ferocious moshing.

Recent ‘It’s Not the End of the World’ magnificently displays Prophet’s pure brutality and live precision. Taking complete crowd control, the audience becomes charming front man, Ian Watkins’ puppets as he maneuvers their energy around the venue. Tracks such as ‘Can’t Catch Tomorrow’ and ‘A town Called Hypocrisy’ ripples waves of liveliness through the audience, a view that meant we mistaken ourselves of taking a wrong turn at a bouncy castle just with a bit more angst.

But rarities such as ‘To Hell We Ride’ are what the fans have gathered here for tonight in the sold out, over heated, tropical weathered and sweat dripping empire.  With their original face melting riffs, deep bass lines, veraciously fast tempos and heavier vocals, these old timers shouldn’t be put aside just yet. and soon become clear examples of how Lostprophets have made it to these glorious sanctuaries over the last few years and are considered to be the foundation of British nu-metal. Content, every single individual in the room feels like a true Prophets’ fan as the capacity screams every lyric from verse to chorus with such precision and volume, mad man grinning

Heartwarming, sing along anthem ‘Where We Belong’ echoes throughout the venue and leaves the eye brimming as a sense of pride is swept across the audience and band alike, leaving on lookers stunned as the microphone remains stranded for the next 3 minutes. But nothing seems to be taking away the enjoyment and kicks Watkins is getting out of  rapping old timers ‘Shinobi Vs Dragon Ninja’ and ‘We Are Godzilla, You Are Japan’ which solely show the raw, infuriated power to tear open mass holes throughout the audience and start a riot Lostprophets continue to sustain,

But what makes this show unique is its encore. Unlike a lot of current shows and artists, Lostprophets do not close on a familiar and recent single, but the rarest of tracks, a track that may not have even seen the stage lights before. Slow, Melodic and over powering ‘Sway’ silences the crowd with its out standing magnificence to perform so delicately and yet still capture the hearts of every true Lostprophets fan in tonight’s audience. Never will Lostprophets and the audience alike ever again experience such an outstanding, emotionally beautiful, energetic and miraculous performance again.

Words: Georgia Rawson

Photos: Georgia Rawson

One Response to “Lostprophets rock their rarities at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire”

1. Nadia Jenna says:

   27/09/2010 at 03:59

   Really great review. One of my favourite Prophets shows.