A combination of rock’n’roll and (another reviewer down with) flu presented the prospect of a two gig evening.
“Accept you CAN do it all tonight!” a gig-wise man said. It dawned on me that I could see both M/X and Nova Twins in the same evening, the proximity of Lanes to Electric Bristol making this a plan that might just work.

Lanes is the perfect space in the perfect place, situated bang in the epicentre of Bristol’s musical centre. Most gigs are free or a fiver: what’s not to like?

Imagine seeing two whole bands, for a lot less than a pint. As unsustainable for artists as that sounds, this place gives them a chance to emerge, evolve and get heard.
Up first, aptly, were the flu-infused Big Fright who delivered uncompromising gritty punk with a sarcastic snarl.

Lyrically direct and humorous, with a storytelling obsession with breastfeeding and an ode to hate to a bullying bitch in Sweat Cheeks, all delivered via a symbiotic relationship between drummer and guitarist feeding off each other.

As the pizzas glide before our jealous eyes and the skittles fly M/X take to the stage. The usual three piece are plus two members, filling stage right with added bass and guitars, moves, mullets and poses.

It takes but seconds for the heads to start banging and the eager, ear splitting screaming to begin as the M/X fan base congregates centrally. You can see why.

Opening by playing their new EP Good For Something in order and in full, Pavlov drops and is a rasping mass of groove with guitarist Liv stealing the show with an orgasmic solo which undercuts the resonant vocal rage.

This band is enthralling to watch and the popularity deserves to grow. I stay as long as I can, long enough to see special pirate guest Eva Penney don a triangular hat: usually soft in vocal style, she slays it as a rock singer.

That’s it; next up, Electric Bristol for Nova Twins. The punk rock duo open the UK Leg of their Parasites & Butterflies tour with a sold out show in the best city possible.

The stage is adorned with giant white roses, black roses drape from the mic stands and a backing of Four Butterfly Marshall amps fill the stage right and left creating a dramatic and thematic scene.

The set opens with the album closer Black Roses. I’m blown away with the power of their colossal sound.

Over the course of the evening vocalist Amy Love fulfills a plethora of vocal genres. Pop, rock,  metal, punk, ballad, rap all interchange and intertwine, flexing her undoubted talent and stage craft.

Cleopatra is a perfect example of this as metal and rap collide to unite amid a bed of savage gnashing riffs.

Bass wizard Georgia South can make sounds on the bass you’ve never heard before.

She utilizes a Wave ring, a midi fx controller held away from the bass to invoke dynamic frequencies, shooting notes out in all sorts of diverse creative ways, while jumping and moving constantly with a smile on her face.

The band remains immaculate as N.O.V.A goes off, as it should. From it’s killer catchy intro to it’s shout and response lyrics, “All you bitches say, N-O-V-A, “What’s the name, bitch? Say our name!” People of all ages fly everywhere as if they have just discovered crowd surfing.

The band is then joined by both support acts HotWax and Ashaine White for Choose Your Fighter, and chaos ensues with dancing and shredding in equal measures.

“Nobody is Free unless we are all free,” Love states. Nova Twins have always stood for freedom in expression, inclusivity and diversity. They have joined with  Amnesty International for this tour, their flag hanging proudly, stating: “Love over hate.”

Glory is the perfect finale, as it builds and builds into a bursting frenzy of heaviness and finishes abruptly. Glorious.

Nova Twins have it all. Pop music you can scream to and rock music you can dance to, celebrating strength in vulnerability, and rocking the fuck out.