Sandwiched between Boy Orchestra (whose set, most of which I missed due to a fone call) and Make Sparks (formerly Secrets We've Told, but for whom I had to leave half way through thanks to said fone call), were The Floor. Myself and Brian (from Altres) had been more than impressed with what we'd seen the band play at The Doghouse recently and were hoping this would be as good - amazingly, they surpassed our expectations.
The Floor don't do it or sound like anyone else - but what they do is amazing. The first track begins and the vocals are a bit remeniscent of the guy who used to do lead vocals in The Hoffs only with more anguish to them. There's some wicked bass work going on at this point as the chiming dual lead guitars become ever more prominent as the song drives forward, the pace decreasing ever so slightly but the intensity and clarity of the sound are superb as the track twists and turns, rises, and ultimately powers ahead with riffing fire and ferocity. Without a pause, it goes right in to the second track via delicate guitar chords, and into a cataclysm of choped off guitar chords and rhythm fire, all of which gathers pace and heads off like a hurricane in a howl of blistering guitar riffs, chords and storm force rhythms unleashing a torrent of sound that engulfs the audience - and that's just the first two minutes!! The song itself begins on a hollered voca; which rages in over the guitar fire and rhythm thunder, only for the whole thing to end abruptly.
The next track starts with initially delicate guitar work as a driving force of dual guitar riffing, hammering bass and driving drums enter - then break off - then the drums pound even harder as the bass booms out and a fresh torrent of lead guitar fire is unleashed. The vocal is a mix of the two previous tracks as, once more, the band rises up before heading down the highway like a forest fire laying waste to everything in its path. The fourth track starts with a fast paced vocal over stacato guitars as a whirlwind of driving beats, bass work that runs all the way up the neck of the guitar (and yourself, for that matter) and back down in a blaze of chording, while another storm force sea of dual guitar riffing ensues, harmonious hooks rising above it in waves, before the whole lot coalesces and lurches into oblivion on a cascading mass of guitars. Then it drops back to reveal a spiraling bass-as-lead over ever intensifying drum work as the guitars re-enter, fire up to a searing feedback heat then drop down to earth with the effect of a nuclear warhead. "I Don't Like It" features more Hoffs-esque vocals only harder, over chiming lead guitar rhythms, throbbing bass and crunching drums, all careering into the chorus as the whole band surges forward. That they fire up, riff and burn to the skies as the vocal powers out to maximum effect, is simply wondrous. The band's sound is now pouring out in every direction imaginable before joining forces to fly onwards in an inferno of glorious guitars-driven intensity.
The sixth track opens with a riffing hook that spirals and circles like a vulture waiting to swoop - then it does just that as a bloodthirsty blast of guitars and immense sounding electric bass runs, provide a furnace heat of epic proportions as the drumming combines driving beats with crisp, fast-paced cymbals. Over all this is a searing lead guitar that bursts out of the furnace as the whole band turn a corner and unleash a ferocious sea of riffing with the lead guitar howling away on top to jaw-droping effect. To dramatic effect, the song quietens down as full-sounding lone guitar is joined by solid heartbeat drums and thunderous bass, as the drums turn into this more native indian sounding pounding. Then, the whole band takes off once again in another hurricane of furious and fabulous yet crystalline sonic attack. The final track starts with a slower intro as a full sounding band fly under another Hoffs-esque, yearning vocal, as the delicate song strengthens with the addition of second guitar riffing, solid bass and driving drums. This leads into a more relaxed section as the vocal takes centre stage, before lifting off and strongly lurching ahead with rifle-fire rage, before ultimately erupting in a flare of lead guitar breaks that scorch above the band-driven intensity. This all leads to a crashing, crushing finale with heated guitar leads above massive riffs and rhythms before coming to an abrupt end.
This may all sound as uncommercial as heck, but take my word for it - this stuff is highly engaging, superbly played and arranged, with a punky attitude yet tight as hell and amazingly engaging, immensely enjoyable and an unforgettable sonic experience.