While there may be all sorts of wonderfully poetic language one could use to describe the sound of a band, sometimes it’s best to keep it simple and straightforward. So in that spirit, let me just say that the sounds emitted by Dragged Into Sunlight at Lee’s Palace on Monday night could best be summed up in one simple word – heavy. Utterly, crushingly heavy.
Following a lengthy introductory soundscape that sounded like a dark extended remix of the THX Deep Note, the band took to the stage to begin their set. In concert, Dragged Into Sunlight do things a little differently than most. Eschewing the typical tropes of a live performance, they started out their set with backs turned and stage lights dimmed, the stage decorated with some heavily antlered deer heads atop the stacks of amps and a massive candelabra front and centre to draw the audience’s attention.
Their backs would remain turned to the crowd for the duration of their set to maintain a certain aura onstage. Because it’s not about them, it’s about the music. No stage banter either, of course – just the sound of old movie samples between songs if you wanted to hear a regular human voice. I’d also heard that they used to wear balaclavas onstage to help keep thing mysterious but I guess they ditched that gimmick. Probably gets too sweaty on stage. Cheaper laundry bills while on the road too, I’d imagine.
When you call yourselves Dragged Into Sunlight, it implies a certain intensity, like some shadow dweller being forced into the harsh light of day, kicking and screaming all the way. And well, there was screaming, both in the form of vocalist T’s intense performance and. to a lesser extent, in the form of the occasional “Woo!” from the crowd. But let’s be honest – this isn’t a band you typically “woo” at. This is a band that’s puts on an intense show, with a sound that’s dark, dismal, immersive and, yes, heavy. It’s a vibe for sure, and their unique performance style suits that vibe perfectly.
As I’ve said, ‘heavy’ is really the only word needed to describe this band and they did indeed keep things suitably heavy over the course of their roughly one hour long set. And frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am quite glad, however, that I remembered to bring earplugs.
