Let me take a moment to set the scene , imagine a 50 ft x 20 ft sauna , paint it black and then fill it with hardcore fans , the condensation is running down the walls and dripping from the ceiling, you can see the sweaty musty vapor rising from the bodies (and the smell, you know that smell!), the moment innerpartysysytem take to the stage and singer Patrick Nicely screams at the bar staff to cut the house lights I realize that bringing my camera was going to be a complete waste of time. The lighting is minimal to say the least, the opposite to the amount of mixing/keyboard laptops etc, its techno wizardry, they take turns on each set-up, swapping for each song, with the lighting as is it adds an air of mystery to the band.

The addition of the dry ice only adds more mystique, to be honest, these boys don’t fuck about, with their blend of techno dance rock fueled aggression its intense stuff, as a big fan of Gary Numan and the later Daft Pun , mixed with my love of anything rock, this was hitting home, much the same as a nine inch nails show, so much that, for 10 English pounds I purchased the CD from the merch stand for the ride home, as I watch the show I cant help but think they need a bigger set up, its all to confined, the loyal following are so involved in the gig , the band and crowd become one, it’s a cracking show, I mean proper stonking !,

However, the ride home is a different story, I set of on the 40 min journey and insert the CD, yes the first track 'Die Tonight Live Forever' (video) is fantastic , id say almost epic, the single “ don’t stop “ is also amazing , but as the CD goes on I feel I'm missing something, the overwhelming intensity I had just witnessed no more than half an ago is not coming over. its all a bit watered down, yes the tracks are very good, musically great, and listening over a few times now perhaps my initial response was harsh, but I think I was still high from the gig and felt a little let down with the CD.

That said, I still believe that very soon I will be seeing this band next door in the main room, their flawless live show will make sure of that, I read a quote online that said that IPS were the music industries best kept secret, I think the secrets out, my advice, buy the CD first, get excited, then go see them, it will blow your mind!

Review James Hope

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