It's been quite the whirlwind for Divorce since the band last touched down on Welsh soil at Cardiff's 2023 edition of Swn Festival. From a string of EP's and single's, to the excited announcement of their debut LP, due out next year, all the way to supporting the biggest band's up and down the country, to their own rightfully deserved hometown residency shows which saw them sell out 4 nights on the trot, the band certainly have their eyes set on the prize and fans in the Welsh capital were in for a treat.
First up, warming the sold-out crowd before their arrival was the excellent Blood Wizard. Fresh from the release of his brand new single, and joined by a full band, Cai Burns let us in to his mystical world with a dash of uplifting, melodic soundscapes. Hard to pigeonhole, with a sound that spanned scuzzy guitar pop to alt-folk and punk, his music truly comes to life in the live environment, and it didn't take long for the audience to become quickly entranced, their cheers and energy sending smiles across the band.
With a new album due out later this month, they're not short of hits as they came thick and fast. It was clear to see new fans being instantly won over as they hurriedly searched Instagram to follow. From Breaking Even's luscious melodies and driving guitar lines, to the sprawling delivery that's rooted deep within their live show, it's a success all round as fans cheered for them to come back to Cardiff with Cai asking if they have time for one more, the room was quick to answer in unison with a resounding "yes" as he jokingly cleared up he was asking the sound tech. It's safe to say open arms will await their welcomed return.
A short change-over and it was time for all inside to dissolve the bonds of matrimony as Divorce took up their places centre stage.
Their sound is an intoxicating blend of post-punk and rock with an added dash of grunge, all of which create a memorable impression like no other. Just a few moments in to their set, the band delivered an immediate punch. The Nottingham-based outfit have long crafted this gritty, raw energy that grabs you right from the start, and live it's all the more gripping.
The vocals are arresting—intense, and unapologetically abrasive. Immediately grounding, coupled with their distinct melodies and harmonised delivery, the band were quick to set the mood as Felix Mackenzie-Barrow and Tiger Cohen-Towell created a symphonious superpower up front.
As their vocals cut through the mix with a level of defiance and vulnerability, you get a true sense that they're channelling real, lived experiences through every shout and growl, offering both catharsis and reflection. Completing the line-up with Adam Peter-Smith on guitar and Kasper Sandstrom on percussion the band were quick to showcase their diversity as the crowd got treated early to the elongated and blisteringly delivered "Sex & The Millennium Bridge" and twanging "Eat My Words".
There's also new songs peppered throughout their set-list, all warmingly received. Teasing the new record, not out until March 7th 2025, Felix was quick to joke that they've been waiting a long time to share these songs so it's only fair we get to feel their pain. And despite being their first play, the crowd eagerly lapped them up, I suppose it's the familiarity embedded within their music that makes each and every song so relatable.
"We've played festivals all over the summer and I've never sweated this much" exclaimed Felix. A self-fulfilling prophesy of sorts as their energy and electrifying performance transcended in to the crowd who in turn danced and jumped around from the opening notes, all causing an incremental rise in temperature. The band soldiered on though, like the professionals they are.
"Heaven Is a Long Way" is a perfect moment then to catch breath as the vocals echoed around the the beautifully silent room. "Here comes the painful part" would normally be an ironic lyric where typical shows are filled with the mindless chatter and laughing between friends. But not tonight, as fans eagerly and respectfully clung to each and every word with full attentive detail in perfect silence.
What’s remarkable about Divorce is how authentic they are in their performance. There’s no sense of artifice or calculation—everything about their set feels genuine, from the rawness of the vocals to the ferocity of the instrumentation, creating a shared experience that’s visceral and real. The band feeds off the crowd’s energy, and it only amplifies the intensity.
By the time they close their set and the brooding, appropriately titled "Checking Out' lives up to its monstrous singalong status, the room was buzzing with energy. Divorce’s performance is a reminder of what makes live music so vital—there’s an intimacy and intensity that can’t be replicated on record and they're here to make you feel every note, every word, and every moment of the show.
It's safe to say this is a band that will soon have outgrown these intimate venues as they continue on the trajectory.
*****
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