Switchtense

By Júlio Valada on Dec 19, 2012 in Exclusive Reports | 0 comments

Live at States Club

Portuguese act Switchtense has been on the road for the past months, celebrating the band’s tenth anniversary by thrashing and moshing all over the country. With already two full-length albums under their belts, and showcasing primarily songs from their latest, it was a night where the band displayed their infectious thrash and groove expletives.

In this celebratory set of shows the band has visited many of our towns, and on the night of November 30 the city of Coimbra witnessed the band’s live performance at States Club. The opening act Fight Today was already on the last part of their performance when I got inside so I didn’t have much time to ascertain their quality. The main performer ensued not so long, after the obligatory soundcheck. From the moment they began to the end of the show violence, thrash and groove infested the grounds of what is primarily a night club that features eighties mainstream music. The sound quality was good enough and the powerhouse performance of the band instilled a lot of movement on the small but frenetic pit, as well as some stage diving moments. With an ever communicative and clearly happy to be there frontman, a dual set of guitars and a pounding rhythmic section, it was great to see the band demolish such a small venue riff after riff and breakdown after breakdown. A few songs had a special dedicatory to real life moments and people, and the communion between the crowd and the bands was always on a high level.

It was a fun and brutal night on a club that’s been housing more and more musical shows, and that I hope keeps doing so. As for Switchtense they’ve shown again that they’re one of the more impressive bands of the new millennium here in Portugal, with a fantastic and imposing stage presence.