This is a message from tiny Israel, but don't worry, we are worthy. The last time I saw the Alternative Metal band WALKWAYS was at the Comfort Club in Tel Aviv. Back then I wasn't overly sure of what I was about to witness, yet after a while the picture became clearer as I was nearly swept of what this band had to offer. No doubt it was a good show that time that left that sweet spot for more successful events to follow in the future. And what do you know, the future came banging at my door and I opened and said "Hi". So there I was in a club called the Koro, not sure if it is yet another new establishment in the Tel Aviv area, as the scenery has been constantly changing, and even as a Tel Aviv resident, the changes sometimes are way too rapid to notice. This time I had a feeling that I knew what was coming my way with my WALKWAYS' second show.
The attendees in the club, which I wasn't sure what to make of it in that particular waiting time, far from being the soothing lounge break, seemed to be anxiously anticipating for the members of
WALKWAYS to come on stage to take their places. In opinion, and possibly others in the venues, there was a good reason for that as I have witnessed what this pack can produce. Just for general information, and I promise that it won't be long, this Israeli Metal band, formed in 2010, stores a real mighty punch and you can easily feel throughout their material that they mean business and nothing else, even if the Alternative side of Metal isn't really your cup of tea, not everyone is under the category of "true".
And then it started, like a thunder in the Middle East, yeah not the LOUDNESS song, and WALKWAYS began breaking the place to bits, and with an extreme intent. The incredibly charismatic lead singer, Ran Yerushalmi, has the rightful voice range for this kind of stuff, and of course the stage presence that kept the audience at his command right there, at the edge of a finger, preaching the band's varied messages, along with jumping around and raising havoc. For 45 minutes of road burning the Koro, WALKWAYS provided a neat, tidy, clean, immensely tight and highly melodic Metal music, modernly based, yet equally in good quality as any old school material that the die-hardies would follow. Such tremendous energies as the guys produced quite an hard edge, attaining a heavier posture, especially the riffing that bombed, while also achieving a kind of nifty creative progression that didn't sound like a burden but rather loosen and soothing to the ear. Along with older material from their debut album "Safe In Sound", WALKWAYS also surprised with new songs that weren't on their debut, including a cover for Rihanna's "What Now Rock", can't say that I truly knew that song, yet it was well played.
WALKWAYS's show at the Koro Club appeared to me like a huge success. Far from being a tumble into a pool of mud. With new material and a very eager crowd that seemed pleased of what it saw and heard,
WALKWAYS managed to pull off a gig that was worth a bigger stage, who knows maybe the next time. As always, time will be the judge of that, or perhaps a cool promotional work. I would definitely keep eye on them.
Setlist:
1. Towards the Light
2. All Lies
3. What Now
4. Out
5. Luminary Kid
6. Blood into Water
7. Endless I
8. Sweet Medicine
9. Actions
10. Thoughts
