Those Damn Crows rise high and raise hell as they make their return to Southampton

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

THOSE DAMN CROWS AT ENGINE ROOMS, SOUTHAMPTON
PHOTOCREDIT: **CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI**

Those Damn Crows have done it – hit number one, packed out venues, and proven that hard rock isn’t just alive, it’s thriving with a Welsh accent and a cheeky grin. Touring the UK for the second time this year to promote their newest album God Shaped Hole, they come back to Southampton after years for another victory lap of a show. Support acts are none other than James Bruner, who was also supporting them in their tour earlier this year, and Canada’s Autumn Kings to make sure every riff hit is a statement of intent.

Starting off with a soulful act and swagger, James Bruner stormed into the stage and owned it from the first second. Whilst most opening acts often get overlooked, James refused to be background noise as he brought all his rock swagger energy backed by a blues-infused band to charm the crowd that was slowly gathering up. James’ voice brings Chris Cornell with a touch of rebellion, whilst his stage presence had it all – jacket, no jacket, guitar, no guitar, jumping to the barrier, clapping and getting the crowd to swing and clap along as his set progressed. His setlist was short but heated up the venue quickly, starting off with Switchblade, and going into Big Shot, Alibi and finally I Get Everything, proving that even within that short amount of time he had already won the crowd over. His set closed off with him thanking his father who was also present in the audience and proving that he won’t be playing small stages for much longer.

For the first time in the UK, Canadian band Autumn Kings brought their peak-festival energy with them. Their set was a slick blend of modern rock and anthemic choruses – something like Shinedown meeting Royal Blood, but with a dash of swagger and radio-ready hooks. The band plays like they mean every word and the crowd loved it; by mid-set, the audience was not only chanting along, they were vibing, bouncing and screaming back whatever they were asked to say. The setlist was also quite energetic, with Sleep When I’m Dead having everyone bounce to their feet, Power (with a powerful solo) straight into Riptide which was slower and more introspective and Aliens! bringing back the chaos into the mix. The band also performed an incredible cover of Bleed It Out by Linkin Park, to which the whole venue sang along and closed off the night with Hellbound, showing that rock is definitely not dead, it’s resurrected.

And then it was time for the actual kings of the moment, Those Damn Crows. Still riding the high of their new number one album God Shaped Hole, the Welsh rockers stormed the stage with confidence that was rightfully earned. The crowd was in the palm of their hand since the first note rang, even though watching their gig was equal parts rock and going to the pub with your best mates. The opening songs of Dancing With The Enemy and Man On Fire straight into No Surrender hit the audience with arena-sized force, each chorus belted back a crowd that already knew every word.

What sets the band apart is their balance of grit and heart. For every fist-pumping anthem like Find A Way and Glassheart, there is vulnerability such as Still and Blink of an Eye. The vocals reignite chaos but also bring connection, the guitar solos feel like a duel, whilst the drum beats shook the venue with a joyful ferocity. Most importantly, there was a very undeniable sense of pride through the band – pride in their fans, their journey, their achievements and their homeland. And that is exactly what makes their shows worth attending – and not just once. We can therefore say with certainty, Long Live The Crows!