London’s post-grunge band Storms have been stirring things up with an extending live reputation since their formation in 2013, but they’ve certainly taken 2015 as their year to be reckoned with. With a colossal set at the Isle Of Wight Festival and a sold out residency slot at London Soho’s St Moritz Club behind them, the four-piece propelled into a further string of live shows for their UK Undress Tour.

The Nirvana enthused foursome, spool British charisma into American born grunge with an enigmatic allure. Alongside bands such as Drenge, The Magic Gang, Kagoule and Black Honey, Storms have born a Brit-grunge scene – proving the UK can formulate their own raucous and electrifying sustenance.

Following explosive radio-play on XFM with the releases of grunge enthused singles ‘Girl’ and ‘Shame’, Storms celebrate the release of their third anthemic release ‘Undress’ with shows from Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow to London. Tonight London’s The Lexington fills out with an enthusiastic crowd, ready to celebrate Storms vivacious success this year.

Storms attest compelling rock-pop as they punch into opener ‘Special’. With the anthemic drive of former rock-chart stars before them, the London hailing group crashes into a wave of contagious noise. ‘Special’ beholds the forceful Brit-rocking vibrancy of Camden-towns Tribes, which could see Storms likewise climbing the indie-rock charts.

Front man George Runciman injects a unique, callous-cool into Storm’s live presence, as he snarls over a drum beat pound “This songs called, ‘Greedy’ it’s about greedy mother-fuckers.” ‘Greedy’ sees Runciman nonchalantly bleed with an intoxicatingly dark charm that comes with ease. Runciman’s bleach blonde hair may feign an adolescent innocence, yet he pours a mature punk persona.

Debut single ‘Girl’ in its live format swims in a compelling Pixies-esque gnarling gloom. Sauntering slacker-rock dimensions into spiraling enigmatic grunge. Storms project a dark melody which infiltrates the minds of The Lexington crowd in scuzzy ’90s undertones. Yet, the quartet bring ’90s scuzz into the contemporary with a present-day filthy frenzy. The group carefully injects the mainstream hook into their craft, captivating the audience onside with communicable mysteriously sung loops of “You’re the one, you’re the one!” from Runciman.

Slamming into the tours leading single ‘Undress’ without hesitation between tracks, Storms whirl us with nostalgia through kicking drums and forceful rhythm. With the sweet pop-punk essence of Weezer, lyrics hypnotise us back to the sexual innocence of adolescence, “Oh just see me like you used to! Undress – tell me what you’re into!”

A rumble of drums and electric reverberation pumps before a gasp of breath from Runciman before he projects into a rasping call of “Shame!” His endowed grungey cries are as crystal clear and pulsating as they are on ‘Shame’’s record.

Finishing up with their original demo ‘Swell’, Storms behold a sweet and sour super natural power. The closing track thrashes from seductive and callously sweet verses to a powerful sour and captivating chorus.

Storms behold an all-consuming supremacy to pull us into their world of Brit-Grunge, as they combine chart-worthy indie-rock hooks and melancholic melody with the cruel energy of grunge. The London four injects charm into gloom and transforms grunge into a more cool, refreshing and consumable resonance.

Emily Schofield
@EmSchofield