BestGigLargeBert Martinez of UK-based nu-metal/shoegaze (or nu-gaze) band Split Chain told us about a galvanizing Deftones experience.

Bert Martinez: The best gig I’ve been to was Deftones at O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on June 13, 2022. Not many shows have given me goosebumps as soon as they start but this show was on another level. I had somehow missed every opportunity to see them for so many years so this was my first time, and to be able to see them in a small room was insane. As soon the house lights were down it felt like we were transported back in time 20 years and every person in that room was fully immersed and witnessing something special.

The set list was perfect — ending with “7 Words” was such a huge move and being able to see “Be Quiet” and “Drive Into My Own Summer” was the big moment for me. I went to the show with my girlfriend Maisie, and Tom [Davies, bassist], and this was before there was even an inkling of starting a new band. It was summer 2022 when me and Tom started writing music for fun which would then turn into Split Chain. I think that show wasn’t just an experience, it started a fire inside of us and I will never forget it.   ❖

 Split Chain perform at TV Eye in L.A. on February 18. Their debut singles for Epitaph records, “(Re)-Extract” and a cover of Type O Negative’s “I Don’t Wanna Be Me,” are out now.