The Treatment Oxford Academy 02-05-16

First up was 4 piece local act Hells Gazelles who played a 30 minute set of 70's and 80's hard rock with Cole Bryant an energetic and very able vocalist and frontman.

Was a little concerned on the first heavy riffing track with no guitar solo but that was soon remedied and Nath Digman proved he could solo with the best of them.

All songs had big riffs and bigger choruses and Luke Evans on drums sat centre stage and pounded like there was no tomorrow.
They went down very well and look forward to hearing more from them.

Main support on all dates is 3 piece Scottish band The Amorettes who released their debut cd Game On last year.
Led by Gill on guitar and vocals and the rhythm team of Hannah on drums and Heather on bass we had a 35 minute 9 song set that was all about high energy and attitude with no ballad in sight.
Their site says like Airbourne fronted by Joan Jett which isn't a bad description although if I am honest Gill screechy vocal stylings did grate a little after a while and the songs did tend to all sound similar with no light and shade visible.
It will be interesting to see how they develop with album number 2 in the works.

The Treatment came out like they were hitting Wembley Stadium with a confidence in the new line up and also in their excellent new cd Generation Me released in March on Frontiers Records Srl.

Playing a set heavy with 7 new tracks they played for 70 minutes and played the following.

Let It Begin
Cry Tough
Running With The Dogs
The Devil
I Bleed Rock n Roll
We Are Beautiful
Bloodsucker
Generation Me
The Doctor
Backseat Heartbeat
Drink F**k Fight
Emergency
Shake The Mountain
Encore of Get The Party On

You would never have believed this was only the 6th show for the new line up as their was enough electricity on stage to light a large city as they blitzed through opener Let It Begin.

The thing for me that sets them above bands of their ilk is the quality of the material and also new vocalist Mitchel Emms who has a vocal range that is quite superb.
Time and again I watched him and thought what a find for the band.He is good frontman but a wonderful vocalist with a melodic tone that sets him apart and should take the band where they want to go.

The rest of the band are no slouches either.Mad eyed bass player Rick Newman never stopped trying to drag every ounce from the crowd and drummer Dhani Mansworth (son of Airrace's Laurie)is a pounder of the highest order.

Second new boy Tao Grey and Tagore Grey on guitars are a great team with loads of riffing but pleasingly plenty of melodic soloing and some very good duelling Thin Lizzy style too.

New songs Cry Tough with it's AC/DC / Airbourne rifferama was a crowd favourite from the word go with horns being thrown and air guitars being restrung.Mitchel again excelled with great backing vocals on the second part of the chorus giving it a little different feel.

Last cd title track Running With The Dogs gave us a chance to see Mitchel on an older song which he passed with flying colours and plenty of audience participation on the chorus.

The Devil is a stomper of the highest order with big riffs and an even bigger chorus.You feel you have heard it before but when it is played with such a kick ass attitude and the band in your face how can they go wrong.

Bloodsucker is a superb track with a huge driving guitar riff  that changes to a chugging stop start main riff with Mitchel's vocal filling in the gaps.The one word chorus is repeated with the crowd in full voice.

The new cd title track Generation Me has at least 3 different guitar riffs in the intro before the main riff kicks in and another shout out chorus.Tagore's short sharp fiery guitar solo fits perfectly too.

Backseat Heartbeat for me the song that could and should break down barriers for them.Not a ballad but a mid tempo song that builds to a big chorus that shows of Mitchel's full capabilities to the max.
Lizzyesque guitar duelling guitar solo and shows the band don't just bash you over the head but possess melodies to die for and area I am sure they will explore as they develop over the coming years.

Drink F**k Fight was joyously received by all with the crowd bellowing the chorus back at the band with the band's faces showing how much fun they were having too.

A romp through Emergency and Shake The Mountain ended the set where the pace and quality never dipped before a crowd heavy Get the Party On as an encore ended a night the crowd present will remember for a long time.

The tour continues until Islington on the 13th of May and sees The Treatment taking it up a level with a confidence borne of quality music and a team ethic that is there for all to see.