Some gigs are more than just a line-up; they’re a full-spectrum journey, a night where each act doesn’t just warm up the crowd but leaves scorched earth behind them. This was one of those nights. From the first crushing riff to the final technical flourish, this four-band bill was an unrelenting display of intensity, musicianship, and emotional weight.
Liverpool’s own Trenchfoot (9) opened the night with zero hesitation and all the right intent. Equal parts visceral and precise, they hit the stage like they had something to prove, and within seconds, they’d already proved it.
Their brand of death metal is unapologetically feral, drenched in groove and filth in equal measure, but underneath the chaos lies razor-sharp control. Their frontman commands attention with a snarl, while the rhythm section keeps things tight, nasty, and pummelling. Tracks like Liver Failure and Necropolitan landed with a wallop, and the pit responded in kind. For an opener, they played like headliners. Blinding.
Have I mentioned Underdark (10) are my new favourite band? No? Well buckle up, because I’m going to mention it again. And again. And again. There’s a rare electricity that crackles in the air when a band truly means it. Underdark don’t just play their music, they live it onstage and in the audience. The Nottingham-based blackgaze/post-black outfit brought the kind of performance that leaves a mark on your chest. A haunting blend of despair and defiance poured from every note, every movement.
The set was built around emotionally potent tracks that turned the room into a pressure chamber of catharsis and beauty. There’s something so incredibly compelling about how they marry blistering fury with aching vulnerability, and they did it all without ego, just raw presence. I’ve seen a lot of bands. Underdark aren’t just technically good, they matter.
There’s always a risk with atmospheric black metal that it becomes too insular or distant live. Not so with Ghost Bath (9). Hailing from North Dakota, they brought a disarmingly powerful set that blurred the line between transcendence and torment. Their blend of depressive suicidal black metal (DSBM) and post-rock-infused soundscapes struck a chord with the crowd.
Liverpool’s own Trenchfoot (9) opened the night with zero hesitation and all the right intent. Equal parts visceral and precise, they hit the stage like they had something to prove, and within seconds, they’d already proved it.
Their brand of death metal is unapologetically feral, drenched in groove and filth in equal measure, but underneath the chaos lies razor-sharp control. Their frontman commands attention with a snarl, while the rhythm section keeps things tight, nasty, and pummelling. Tracks like Liver Failure and Necropolitan landed with a wallop, and the pit responded in kind. For an opener, they played like headliners. Blinding.
Have I mentioned Underdark (10) are my new favourite band? No? Well buckle up, because I’m going to mention it again. And again. And again. There’s a rare electricity that crackles in the air when a band truly means it. Underdark don’t just play their music, they live it onstage and in the audience. The Nottingham-based blackgaze/post-black outfit brought the kind of performance that leaves a mark on your chest. A haunting blend of despair and defiance poured from every note, every movement.
The set was built around emotionally potent tracks that turned the room into a pressure chamber of catharsis and beauty. There’s something so incredibly compelling about how they marry blistering fury with aching vulnerability, and they did it all without ego, just raw presence. I’ve seen a lot of bands. Underdark aren’t just technically good, they matter.
There’s always a risk with atmospheric black metal that it becomes too insular or distant live. Not so with Ghost Bath (9). Hailing from North Dakota, they brought a disarmingly powerful set that blurred the line between transcendence and torment. Their blend of depressive suicidal black metal (DSBM) and post-rock-infused soundscapes struck a chord with the crowd.
The clean guitar passages were haunting, the crescendos devastating. They played tracks like Golden Number and Happyhouse with such intensity that it almost felt like intrusion to witness something so emotionally bare. The band’s focus placed on sound rather than banter, only heightened the atmosphere. I was completely blown away.
When you name your favourite tech death band, chances are Psycroptic (10) are at the top… or they should be. Hailing from Hobart, Tasmania, the quartet closed the night with a masterclass in precision, flair, and groove-laden brutality. This wasn’t just a tight set, it was scalpel-sharp. Joe Haley’s guitar work is otherworldly; his solos are fluid, melodic, and surgical, while the riffs are merciless.
When you name your favourite tech death band, chances are Psycroptic (10) are at the top… or they should be. Hailing from Hobart, Tasmania, the quartet closed the night with a masterclass in precision, flair, and groove-laden brutality. This wasn’t just a tight set, it was scalpel-sharp. Joe Haley’s guitar work is otherworldly; his solos are fluid, melodic, and surgical, while the riffs are merciless.
Dave Haley behind the kit remains one of the most exciting drummers in extreme metal, combining ferocity with complete finesse. Vocalist Jason Peppiatt oozes charisma, stalking the stage with the confidence of a man who knows he’s fronting one of the best in the game. You don’t just listen to Psycroptic live, you feel them in your bones. Sublime.
This was a gig that didn’t just tick boxes; it kicked them over and set them on fire. Trenchfoot brought the filth, Ghost Bath brought the ache, Psycroptic brought the fire, and Underdark brought the everything.
Every band earned their place, but it was Underdark who carved out a space in my soul. This is what live metal should feel like: feral, emotional, brilliant.
This was a gig that didn’t just tick boxes; it kicked them over and set them on fire. Trenchfoot brought the filth, Ghost Bath brought the ache, Psycroptic brought the fire, and Underdark brought the everything.
Every band earned their place, but it was Underdark who carved out a space in my soul. This is what live metal should feel like: feral, emotional, brilliant.
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