Skarlett Riot - Fill the gap on the main stage

***1/2

Waking you up with 'The Storm'!!!

Skarlett Riot ***1/2 today have been moved to the main stage (Ronnie James Dio Stage) today because Life of Agony have pulled out of the festival, because the night before at Alcatraz Festival in Belgium their drummer Veronica Bellino collapsed when they just got offstage due to heat exhaustion. Well it was a very hot weekend, so I understand this. I must have had a million drinks and Slushies, and my bank balance wasn't very good because of this... because they were so expensive. Damn inflastion, and damn festival drink and food prices.

Well Skarlett Riot are very lucky to have this oppertunity which most bands can only dream about, they were due to play the second stage (Sophie Lancaster Stage). The guys are all dressed to the nines in black, for their big oppertunity and I think Skarlett bought a new dress. I know she has been working out, in order to look good for the tours ext. So the fact she has got this chance, is a big moment for her. She actually can't stop smiling due the bands performance, she is having the time of her life.

I have to say for me Skarlett Riot are a little out of place, Bloodstock over the last few years has been getting very heavy. And I am not sure their sound which is close to Paramore and Emo, while being Rock at the same time really fits in. Especially as a replacement for Life of Agony which are a Hardcore band with a heavy attitude, the Hardcore genre really suffered at this years festival with Biohazard pulling out as well. I know quite a few Hardcore fans were really disappointed, because they bought their tickets for Hardcore bands and they got Skarlett Riot. But this is not Skarlett Riot's fault, and they should have to suffer for taking a place they were offered.

And they make the most of their set, and I know some of the people standing near me were impressed. But for me I have seen Skarlett Riot for quite a few years now live, and I just want them to move to the next level. I feel I get the same thing each time I see Skarlett Riot, which is good in a way because you know what your getting. But in another way isn't because I like bands to evolve, and Skarlett Riot are just Skarlett Riot. They have some nice songs saying this, like 'The Storm' I mentioned before. The track 'Black Cloud' and 'To the Flames'. I think for me with Skarlett Riot is they are playing to the wrong audiences, and would previel more if they were playing to the right audiences supporting bands like Paramore, All time Low, Five seconds of Summer and Emma Blackery.

I think maybe if they played these kind of shows, they would make the moves they need to make. If your a fan of these bands, you really can't go wrong with Skarlett Riot. You will really love them, but for me they were in the wrong place and this effects my enjoyment of the band. I think you are going to hear so much more from Skarlett Riot in the future, and this performance was actually better than when I saw them support Mushroomhead. 

Review and Photos Dan Devour

Skarlett Riot - Setlist
----------------------------------
Breaking the Habit
Gravity
The Storm
Black Cloud
Stand Alone
Stronger
To the Flames
Warrior
Human

Check Out! the Video for 'Black Cloud' Below...