Dorja play in Bristol as part of a three date mini-tour and only their fourth ever show in the UK to mark the release of their debut EP.

Tonight is a rare opportunity to catch this exciting new international band, and as a result, The Exchange is full early on with an expectant crowd.

First up is local band Third Ace. They are a product of the Bristol Rock Centre, and a sign of good things being done there. The band features Cam Webb (guitar/vocals), Joe Adams (guitar), Dan Filer (bass) and Ediel Dervishi (drums). This fresh young outfit is full of energy and starts out strong early on, with their incredibly heavy opener “Wake”. “Get Away” is a highlight, and has a punk rock vibe to it; not bad for the first song they wrote. “I Wanna Live” is another fast rocking number which solidifies this band’s high energy performance. Watch out for them.

Hailing from Minehead, Somerset Pretty Little Enemy consist of Louise Body (vocals), Georgia Bell (guitar), Jason Coles (bass) and Ben Dean (drums). This alt.metal band epitomises full on high energy rock, with a twist. Lead vocalist Louise Body is a firecracker, going off in every direction. “Dark Horse” is a frantic number, with Ben utilising the double kick to great effect. Guitarist Georgia Bell lays down some hard rocking guitar riffs while banging her head like it’s going out of fashion, whilst the rhythm section is solid throughout. Standout tracks are hard to pick, as they are all worthy, but “Get A Grip” would certainly be a contender. The song is played with passion and power and showcases the whole band.

Bristol alt-rockers Flowerpot consists Steph Kiddle (vocals), Louise Stroud (guitar), Morgan Pearce (bass) and Ellie Daymond (drums). The band have been working hard to hone their set, and that effort is really paying off.

Flowerpot starts their set strong with opener “Calling Your Bluff”. Vocalist Steph Kindle consistently engages and interacts with the crowd from the off. Bass player Morgan Pearce’s great use of the fuzz and distortion gives her bass an unparalleled sound whilst Stroud’s dynamic guitar riffs really shine through. On the other hand the band’s track “Overrated” certainly isn’t – it’s another superb number which is followed in quick succession by “Paralysed”.

Flowerpot’s onstage chemistry shines through during “Loser Girl” with both Louise and Steph dropping to their knees to play out the end of the song, heads banging and hair flailing as they face each other. Daymond beats on the rim of the drum which starts off “Quinn Condition”, the track builds to a rocking beat and is most certainly a crowd favourite. Flowerpot takes the opportunity to air their new track “Blindsight”, and on the strength of this number, it’s certainly a sign of great things to come and goes down well. The set closes too soon with “Pretty Little Lies” leaving the crowd cheering for more.

Headliners Dorja may be a new name but the members are no strangers to the crowd. The band consists of Aiym Almas on vocals, former Sex Pissed Dolls Rosie Botterill, Holly Henderson and Anna Mylee on guitar and drums respectively with Bristol’s own Becky Baldwin on bass (I-Destroy and Triaxis) rounding up the lineup. Despite this being one of only a handful of shows which the band has performed in the UK, the familiarity of the band members means that the audience feels an instant connection with the group.

Having their transatlantic band members spread across two continents is difficult, but despite this Dorja has worked hard to perfect their sound and their set tonight is that of seasoned professionals. Touring to promote the launch of their debut EP Target Practice, they open with “Reaching Out” from their latest offering. It’s a rocking start, and the band hit the ground running, straight into their stride. The band are all at home on stage and have mastered their craft with screaming guitars over a heavy rhythm, fronted by stunning vocals.

“Turn It Around” and “Limitless” follow, before “Not In Your Shadow”, which is also from the Target Practice EP and showcases a softer side to the band’s repertoire. The number also gives Aiym a great chance to show off her fantastic vocal range.

 â€œFar Gone” and “Uninvited” pick up the pace and show that there are enough great tracks here for an album to hopefully come soon. The last two tracks from the EP follow, in the shape of superb title track “Target Practice” and “Fire”. The latter is a fantastic hard rocking tune which was also Dorja’s first single. It’s a mix of old school rock with a contemporary kick, and very catchy, leaving the crowd wanting more.

The crowd are duly rewarded with a fantastic mix of “Helter Skelter” and “Whole Lotta Love” which ends an amazing set. Here’s looking forward to more of what is to come from this exciting new band.

The Target Practice EP is available through Dorja’s website. Check out our review of the release here.

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Dorja
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Flowerpot
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Pretty Little Enemy
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Third Ace
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The Exchange
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Event Date: 28-Mar-2017