New Model Army, 18th March 2024, Plan B, Malmö, Sweden

Archive photo: Zoran www.sonic-shot.com

If you are located in Denmark and you want to see New Model Army live, the easiest way is to see them in the neighbouring Malmö in Sweden. The band is a frequent guest there, yet their last concert in Copenhagen was back in 2009.

Ever since their 1984 debut Vengeance the band has been releasing a new album in fairly frequent manner with five years between the albums being the longest. Five years have passed since their previous album From Here and their latest album, Unbroken, which came out less than two months ago.

The general mood of New Model Army’s concert is often affected but their latest release, not only because they are good at featuring several new songs in their setlists, but also because the band seems to use the overall approach of the latest release as the backbone mood for the entire show. Last time they played Malmö there was more of a softer and more intimate quality to the setlist. This time around, much like their latest album, the approach was more upbeat and direct. Opening with a new song can be a tricky move, especially taking into consideration that three out of first four songs this evening were the new ones. But eminent power of the songs, especially the opener “Coming or Going”, it simply worked rather well. As for “Coming or Going” and the response to it, it would be odd if it doesn’t become one of the regulars in the band’s setlist.

And speaking of new songs, the band played whole 8 out of total of 11 songs on the new album. For the absolute most part, they worked very well, but the likes of “Idumea” and “Reload” failed to match the rest. Especially when they were placed in the sandwich of several of the band’s true classics.

“Green and Grey” was like always one of the biggest sing-alongs of the evening together with “Purity”, which saw the band welcome Soilwork’s Björn Strid, who joined Justin Sullivan on vocals. And while it was a simpatico move and added to the good atmosphere in the crowd Strid’s vocals are just not fitting for the song or Sullivan’s sturdy crunchy vocals, which deliver those New Model Army lines, like no one else.

And speaking of Sullivan, there is intensity and honesty to his stage presence and vocals delivery that for the band’s music are second to none. He kept his remarks between songs short and fairly few, which added to the outstanding flow of the concert. The band often gelled songs by either keyboard soundscapes and/or guitar static, as well as just ripping into the next song without regular breaks.

There was no support band this evening, and that perhaps made it easier for the band to get their sound right, basically from the start and most certainly throughout the show. A massive tribal rhythm section accompanied razor sharp guitars and acoustic guitars and keyboard, which added so much of that underlining New Model Army sound characteristic. On top of all that, the Sullivan’s roaring vocals and well executed backing vocals courtesy of the remaining band members.

Last time the band played in Malmö it was also without support, and they played a much longer show but taking the direct and direct approach into the consideration the hour and a half the show lasted seemed like fitting. Even though they have such strong and vast back catalogue. Perhaps trimming a couple of weaker new songs from the list and replacing them with some tunes from their debut, which is turning 40 years old in a couple of weeks, would do the trick. Perhaps the band has plans to commemorate the anniversary in a proper manner later this year? In that case a song from The Love of Hopeless Causes, Today is a Good Day or The Ghost of Cain, would make this even more enjoyable experience.

There is a down-to-earth honesty to this band, which is ever-present throughout their career, on both their records and in the live setting. It’s a rare quality, and even more so for a band with a four-decade long recording career.

SETLIST:

1. Coming or Going
2. Long Goodbye
3. First Summer After
4. Language
5. Winter Play Video If I Am Still
6. Stormclouds
7. Do You Really Want to Go There?
8. No Greater Love
9. Cold Wind
10. 225
11. Green and Grey
12. Idumea
13. Reload
14. Angry Planet
15. Purity
16. Wonderful Way to Go
    ———————
17. No Rest
18. Frightened
19. Get Me Out