There's moments in life where you can say "I was there" Friday 21st April 2023 was one of those. A Friday night gig at Fuel Rock Club from our friends in 12AX7 Promotions, featured an opener who was something different, a headliner who are climbing the ladder rapidly and a special guest support who were playing their debut show in their home town. This latter point was why the great and the good of Cardiff's metal scene came out in their droves to support.
First to take the stage was SWH (7), a one man project playing multigenre instrumental guitar music inspired by numerous styles including synthwave, black metal and videogame music. Sam may be more known to those in attendance as a drummer but his guitar playing is more impressive than his percussive prowess. A linked set of music set to backing tracks managed to bring the punters in early to watch some serious chops. Closing the set with something atmospheric he managed to pace things well into the special guests.
Taking the biggest crowd of the night... obviously the debut (South Wales) show of South Wales supergroup Ofnus (9) was definitely that "I Was There Moment" I spoke of earlier. Comprised of current and former members of Black Pyre, Blind Divide, Democratus and Agrona, Ofnus are an atmospheric black metal band that have emerged from the studio fully formed and fighting. Their debut album is on the horizon (spoiler it's brilliant) so this set comprises of the whole album bar one song.
They dwell in darkness and melancholy, their music indulging in sadness and rage, inviting you to be a part of their introspective, evocative performance. With a fine mist covering the floor the set began with James and Alyn's tremolo guitars in melodic unison as Ethan's mind bending drumming lays down a relentless battery. It's Ethan's percussion that brings you into the world of Ofnus, that heavy grunt led by Richard's downtuned bass and Alyn's precision rhythmn playing as James' joins for the riffage until he's needed for an expressive lead break or solo which often is juxtaposed by the black metal assualt behind it.
There has been a huge amount of practice and honing of this band behind the scenes, a slow burning rise to make sure they are at the top of their game when finally launched on the public. It shows as more inquisitive punters enter the room to see just what is happening on the stage. The desperation and desolation of Ofnus' music is filtered through the incredible vocals of William who is a perfect frontman, imbuing passion into his singing; screaming and chanting like a cult leader hypnotising his flock, the between song chat kept brief and direct.
There aren't many bands who can command this size of crowd at this point of of their career (second show ever) but the steady build of their identity, huge amounts of practice and their history as part of South Wales' fantastic but underrated metal scene ensured that these dreaming men will be living out their reality as special prospect on the UK metal scene. Ones to watch is thrown around a lot but you need to watch this band sooner rather than later.
It was going to difficult for Abduction (8) to follow the home town boys however on the back of their brutal recent album Black Blood from 2022, the masked black metal destroyers set about ripping out the guts of anyone that stuck around to see them. (Which was most of the crowd to be honest). Violent and aggressive they play a more to the point black metal directed in unholy ritual by A|V who is the sole member in the studio but has gathered a live band together to sling razor sharp black metal riffs and savage beats.
Having been on tour with fellow masked extremists Imperial Triumphant and back out with Bølzer in May/June, this headline set showed what you can expect if you head to those shows as most of the set came from their latest album with a few older tracks too. Volatile and vicious Abduction are making a name for themselves as a UK act to keep and eye on. Miss them at your peril.
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