The band wraps up their UK headline tour with a show at The Forum Kentish Town.

If you’re in a band who’s just released sophomore album, and you’re about to play a sold out show at O2 Forum, on a Saturday night let’s add, then there’s gonna be a party.

British quintet Amber Run released their second full-length, For A Moment, I Was Lost, last month so expectations about tonight’s set are high. However, the band gracefully opens with the absorbing Spark and heavier Pilot, taken from their debut album 5AM, letting the crowd to embrace the familiarity. We are gathered at The Forum Kentish Town which, having sold out, adds a grandiose element to the entire live experience. Those first few rows have been waiting impatiently for Amber Run to appear on stage and they’re surely not gonna hold back now.

The upbeat Insomniac follows up next as the band finally proceeds to present new songs. As far as the album is musically enthralling, there’s nothing like experiencing the song in a live arrangement. After the swinging pace of Stranger we hear from vocalist Joe Keogh: “How are you? Are you having a good time? We’ve just released new record”, and a first wave of louder cheers arise.

At this point it’s clear that the idea of balancing the setlist, contrasting new material with old tunes, works well leaving some space for fans to sing along whilst Amber Run simply practice new offerings.

Fickle Game brings it down a bit and Dark Bloom doesn’t take us any higher, but captivating vocals alongside intensifying drums and ardent guitars lure us into the melancholic sonics of Perfect. A quite similar mood is brought by the evolving Island, stated to be the band’s favourite off of new record.

Amber Run showcase a consistency and cohesion on stage throughout the set. The vocal delivery is on-point and melodic sequences don’t lose their sharpness along the way. Even little engagement between the band and the crowd, and the band members alone, doesn’t seem to weaken the entire reception. While I stand at the back of the room I can clearly hear the massive singalongs. What’s more, the dazzling lighting sets add their charm to the aesthetics.

The soaring 5AM fully grasps everyone’s attention because that’s the moment the fans have been waiting for. Noah only amplifies the loudness in the room, all strengthen the band’s confidence and stage persona.

The tracks that landed on Amber Run‘s debut album were built on heavier instrumentation and therefore they translate into live format more strikingly. When the masterpiece of a tune, Heaven picks up the tempo the crowd gladly follows, and you wish there were more songs as such. Next the confetti cannons go off and it does indeed feel like a special moment and a perfect way to round off the main set.

The band returns for an encore which undoubtedly falls as the most vital part of the set. Multi-layered Haze is one of those songs that could easily be described as you-haven’t-heard-anything-like-this-before, but it loses some of its magic when performed live. The track’s bare structure is so naturally compelling that the noise all around simply diminishes the experience.

The heartfelt I Found and punchier No Answers finish off tonight’s show which overall has been grounded on the ambiguity of the band’s soundscape.

Although each song taken from Amber Run‘s vast repertoire forms a distinctive aura around them and pierces through down your spine, the compilation of almost 20 tracks may come across as a tad monotonous. Technically and musically they delivered, but the lack of desirable diversity left a mark too. Nevertheless, I really look forward to seeing where it takes them next.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka