Tuesday 18th June 2019 – mark the date because it’s when Fever 333 truly exploded. Yes, I know that they’ve been recording/touring since 2017. During the last tour they just had their debut EP and a few unreleased tracks but now, with the incredible debut full length under their belts as well, the setlist has been bolstered and bulges at the seams with righteous power and a sure fire attitude that is converting fans in vast numbers.
With no support bands, the anticipation had been building from the opening doors with regular chants of “333” being yelled out by an expectant crowd. Arriving like an air raid warning of the bombardment to follow, the intro tape announcing the band’s arrival to stage saw an increase in the volume which only magnified once the band dived head first into the nu-metal explosion of “Burn It”, one of just many stunning tracks off of the “Strength In Numb333rs” album. The band, Jason Aalon Butler (vocalist), Stephen Harrison (guitar) and Aric Improta (drums), are like mini hadron colliders careering around the stage, exploding frequently and raising the energy in the room.
The Beastie Boys-esque hardcore of “Only One” demands more from the crowd which is returned ten-fold before one of the loudest cheers of the night for impassioned anthem “Made An America”, whipping the crowd into a frenzy of crowd surfers and mosh pits. Fan favourite “Animal” follows and you can barely hear Jason as the crowd are singing along so loud, creating a spectacular display of unity between the band and audience.
The singalong intro of “One of Us” is equally loud before the pulsing, staccato beats and angry laced delivery absolutely crush the room. During one-point Jason encourages the crowd to crouch down, before jumping up again, and I know this has been done a million times by millions of bands but in the right hands it’s still an epic sight.
A slightly indulgent drum off between the band members gives everyone a moment to catch breath before a heartfelt, emotional heavy “Inglewood” shows that Fever 333 can be just us powerful when displaying their fragile side. This they continue with the equally passionate “Am I Here”, culminating with Jason’s air piercing screams.
“Prey for Me” raises the energy levels back up, turning their ire on police brutality and corruption in waves of hardcore breakdowns before side-stepping into rapped verses and electronica but, despite the abundance of styles and influences, the unifying call to arms of the lyric “you’re not the only one that feels like the only one” holds everything together.
After an aptly named “Out of Control”, they close the set with the politically charged “The Innocent” – tackling the issue of US police shootings. The crowd take on the role of choir, singing in unison, as Jason takes on the role of fiery pulpit preacher converting the amassed congregation.
There’s a short interlude, during which constant cries of “we want more” and “333” echo around the room before a maelstrom of white noise and static greets the band’s return for an encore, running through the hard-hitting “We’re Coming In” which once again takes aim at police brutality. Stripped of subtlety, it’s a direct punch to the face that will leave you staggering against the ropes before they deliver the knock-out of final song, “Hunting Season”. It may be lacking Travis Barker (who features on the debut EP) but the simple drum beat and synths along with Jason alternating between rapped vocals and raw screams make it a fitting climax.
With another UK tour booked for November this year, take this last chance to see this incendiary band in a relatively small room because this fever is catching.
This review was written by Lee Morton.
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