The third annual Day Of Wreckoning rolled it's way into Newport this year after two years in Swansea, going bigger than ever before with not just one stage of music but three different stages all situated within a minute walk of each other in Newport high street.
With the incredible Corn Exchange being the mainstage, a big welcoming room with plenty of unobstructed seating and well stocked bar featuring the extremely popular frozen cocktails. Stage two was Le Pub a all inclusive art space with a wide array of beverages and some top notch vegan food while stage three was The Pit a basement venue in the catacombs of McCanns Ale Bar.
This turned what has always been a celebration of the South Wales metal scene into a full festival atmosphere as the sun beat down, the drinks were flowing and everyone seemed to be in very high spirits a and ready for a full day of amazing music.
As always the Day Of Wreckoning is the final of the South Wales Metal To The Masses initiative with there's bands from the West side and three from the East side playing for a coveted place at a sold out Bloodstock Festival. It's also a way to introduce them to bigger stages than perhaps they're used to, spurring them on to be the best version they can be and every year they are.
The crowds packed in early for the M2TM bands as it was Excursia that kicked things off first with some brutal deathcore battery. Node to Lorna Shore and others were heard as the beatdowns, riffs and throat shredding vocals were all pumping through the PA of the Corn Exchange, puts began in earnest as the energy was high from moment number one.
Next up was House Of Hosts who blend members from all over Wales and bring a very modern melodic metal sound. Full of huge riffs, slinky solos and vocal harmonies, while not quite as aggressive, House Of Hosts still kept the energy high with plenty of crowd interaction and their slick powerful metal sound.
This was going to be tough for the independent judging panel!
Following up all this modern metal melee was the thick syrupy sludge riffs of Risperidrone, a doom mob that offered a severe change of pace into some low slung heavy grooves ala the NOLA crowd. Seeing a sea of head headbang in slow unison never gets old and the doom was very much being wrought at Day Of Wreckoning.
Back to modernity, well sort of as Disrupt The Continuum brought back the 'core' values of many of these metal bands. This was 2000's metalcore, in the bouncy riffs and harsh/clean vocals, while the technically of melodeath comes from the widdly guitar parts.
Full of venom and melody the disruption caused an out break of weirdness that led to the arrival of Grindhorse83, Swansea surf rock psychos who throw pretty much anything they can think of into the pot, from surf, to punk, to whistling, western, metal nursery rhymes and whatever they fancy, it's an invitation to get weird
No such weirdness from INSCAPE though, just a mechanised assault that was right in the precipice of the modern metal scene, influences from Don Bronco and Enter Shikari can be picked out as they exploded onto the Corn Exchange stage with energy and electricity.
Synths/electronics bled into ear bending math metal which took the room by storm and convinced the judges that it had to be INSCAPE who would be representing South Wales at Bloodstock.
They will absolutely tear the New Blood Stage apart so if you're going to Bloodstock Festival make sure you catch INSCAPE as they managed to overcome a VERY tough competition this year with all the bands giving their all on the stage of Corn Exchange.
With M2TM done and the winner chosen (though not announced until after the headliner) it was time to open up the other stages and get more music flowing. As well as The Corn Exchange, there was four bands in Le Pub and four bands in The Pit which is downstairs in McCann's Rock & Ale Bar.
Following up all this modern metal melee was the thick syrupy sludge riffs of Risperidrone, a doom mob that offered a severe change of pace into some low slung heavy grooves ala the NOLA crowd. Seeing a sea of head headbang in slow unison never gets old and the doom was very much being wrought at Day Of Wreckoning.
Back to modernity, well sort of as Disrupt The Continuum brought back the 'core' values of many of these metal bands. This was 2000's metalcore, in the bouncy riffs and harsh/clean vocals, while the technically of melodeath comes from the widdly guitar parts.
Full of venom and melody the disruption caused an out break of weirdness that led to the arrival of Grindhorse83, Swansea surf rock psychos who throw pretty much anything they can think of into the pot, from surf, to punk, to whistling, western, metal nursery rhymes and whatever they fancy, it's an invitation to get weird
No such weirdness from INSCAPE though, just a mechanised assault that was right in the precipice of the modern metal scene, influences from Don Bronco and Enter Shikari can be picked out as they exploded onto the Corn Exchange stage with energy and electricity.
Synths/electronics bled into ear bending math metal which took the room by storm and convinced the judges that it had to be INSCAPE who would be representing South Wales at Bloodstock.
They will absolutely tear the New Blood Stage apart so if you're going to Bloodstock Festival make sure you catch INSCAPE as they managed to overcome a VERY tough competition this year with all the bands giving their all on the stage of Corn Exchange.
With M2TM done and the winner chosen (though not announced until after the headliner) it was time to open up the other stages and get more music flowing. As well as The Corn Exchange, there was four bands in Le Pub and four bands in The Pit which is downstairs in McCann's Rock & Ale Bar.
The Pit
The Pit hosted the heaviest line up of the day as South Wales favourites Democratus kicked off the proceedings with their well tenured melodeath, the room was packed all day but vocalist Steve still found room to stalk the audience as they got the The Pit up and running with that sense of familiarity from a local act.
Following them was Tumanduumband a two man doom band (get it?) who brought an unholy racket to The Pit, just bass and drums...and cloaks the walls rumbled, the roof shook and ear drums ruptured, as the duo took it low and slow to menace the Newport audience.
Though you can forgive them from being slightly broken by that noise, The Pit quickly refilled as the South Wales black metal veterans Agrona returned to Newport for their second show since their rebirth this year. Playing with new members and old ones, those songs from that first record still sound brilliant on a live stage as Agrona sounded as brutal and vital as ever, with a packed house welcoming Thier unholy mass with open arms.
Closing out The Pit in only the way they can were South Wales death metal brutalists Sodomized Cadaver, this is death metal at the most gnarly, disgusting and unforgiving. Gutteral vocals and flesh ripping riffs Sodo themsleves have had a line up shift recently but sound better than ever in my opinion becoming a more vicious version of themselves.
So that was The Pit, an all day extreme metal feast for the sense that even the most hardened metal fan couldn't turn their nose up at.
Le Pub
The Pit was for the metal maniacs, Le Pub was more eclectic for the music fan of discerning taste. Beginning with the prog/power style of Awake By Design, a band that impressed the hell out of me at Bloodstock 2024, I'd compare them to Kamelot and Evergrey as they filled Le Pub with harmonious vocals and virtuoso instrumentation, with another superior showing.
Speaking of superior, few bands in the South Wales scenes get people rocking as hard as Häxan and the heavy rocking trio made sure to pack out Le Pub with their feisty, groovy hard rock. Always a band who create a party atmosphere Häxan are well known round these parts and as such got a loud support from the Newport natives, coming in at the last minute to replace Lifer (get well soon Scriv), there still ain't no party like a Häxan party!
Keeping the riffs flowing were Syncolima, veterans of the UK stoner scene, another trio another fist full of riffs and the volume turned up to 11, Day Of Wreckoning saw them making their way to Wales for the first time and they blew a hole in the roof of Le Pub. I've always said South Wales is something of a stoner rock haven and the reaction to Syncolima proved just that.
The headliner for Le Pub were another band who have a massive following here in South Wales and have been on an upward trajectory in the last 18 months. Le Pub was at capacity when Black Lakes came calling and they delivered a masterclasses in chorus driven melodic metal.
They take their sound from various genres tropes, such as alt metal, hard rock, goth, electronic and even pop and combines then into a slick stage show and a showstopping performance which was rapturously received by the crowd at DoW.
A perfect way to end the day at Le Pub and get people in the mood for our Corn Exchange headliner. Before that though there were three bands who took to our mainstage bringing with them plenty of pedigree.
The Pit hosted the heaviest line up of the day as South Wales favourites Democratus kicked off the proceedings with their well tenured melodeath, the room was packed all day but vocalist Steve still found room to stalk the audience as they got the The Pit up and running with that sense of familiarity from a local act.
Following them was Tumanduumband a two man doom band (get it?) who brought an unholy racket to The Pit, just bass and drums...and cloaks the walls rumbled, the roof shook and ear drums ruptured, as the duo took it low and slow to menace the Newport audience.
Though you can forgive them from being slightly broken by that noise, The Pit quickly refilled as the South Wales black metal veterans Agrona returned to Newport for their second show since their rebirth this year. Playing with new members and old ones, those songs from that first record still sound brilliant on a live stage as Agrona sounded as brutal and vital as ever, with a packed house welcoming Thier unholy mass with open arms.
Closing out The Pit in only the way they can were South Wales death metal brutalists Sodomized Cadaver, this is death metal at the most gnarly, disgusting and unforgiving. Gutteral vocals and flesh ripping riffs Sodo themsleves have had a line up shift recently but sound better than ever in my opinion becoming a more vicious version of themselves.
So that was The Pit, an all day extreme metal feast for the sense that even the most hardened metal fan couldn't turn their nose up at.
Le Pub
The Pit was for the metal maniacs, Le Pub was more eclectic for the music fan of discerning taste. Beginning with the prog/power style of Awake By Design, a band that impressed the hell out of me at Bloodstock 2024, I'd compare them to Kamelot and Evergrey as they filled Le Pub with harmonious vocals and virtuoso instrumentation, with another superior showing.
Speaking of superior, few bands in the South Wales scenes get people rocking as hard as Häxan and the heavy rocking trio made sure to pack out Le Pub with their feisty, groovy hard rock. Always a band who create a party atmosphere Häxan are well known round these parts and as such got a loud support from the Newport natives, coming in at the last minute to replace Lifer (get well soon Scriv), there still ain't no party like a Häxan party!
Keeping the riffs flowing were Syncolima, veterans of the UK stoner scene, another trio another fist full of riffs and the volume turned up to 11, Day Of Wreckoning saw them making their way to Wales for the first time and they blew a hole in the roof of Le Pub. I've always said South Wales is something of a stoner rock haven and the reaction to Syncolima proved just that.
The headliner for Le Pub were another band who have a massive following here in South Wales and have been on an upward trajectory in the last 18 months. Le Pub was at capacity when Black Lakes came calling and they delivered a masterclasses in chorus driven melodic metal.
They take their sound from various genres tropes, such as alt metal, hard rock, goth, electronic and even pop and combines then into a slick stage show and a showstopping performance which was rapturously received by the crowd at DoW.
A perfect way to end the day at Le Pub and get people in the mood for our Corn Exchange headliner. Before that though there were three bands who took to our mainstage bringing with them plenty of pedigree.
The Corn Exchange
Opening up Corn Ex were South Wales thrash juggernauts Helldown, who have been storming stages for a fair few years now causing chaos with their razor sharp mix of thrash and groove metal that gets the front row moving. Ferocious and focused Helldown deserve your attention and kicked off the Corn Exchange with vitriol.
Still heavy but with a more melodic edge to them Scottish prog metal act Tiberius made their South Wales debut and introduced Newport to their catchy choruses, djenty riffage, huge vocals, Goblin Pits and beach balls. With band members spending most of their time in the crowd, they're a frenzy of virtuoso playing and prog metal infused with power metal vocals. Newport didn't quite know what hit them but they won over the crowd with their infectious energy.
If Tiberius' energy is infectious then Mother Vulture is like an epidemic. Possibly the wildest live band on the scene today Mother Vulture are always running on 110% power and deliver every song like it's their last, constantly in motion, kicks fly, head bang and garage rock riffs are punched out of their instruments. If you don't move to this you're probably dead inside as Mother Vulture once again brought their unflappable energy to South Wales and they loved it, resulting in crowd that was ready for what was about to happen.
In a huge coo for an event that is only three years old, getting legendary, and that's not hyperbole, band like The Wildhearts to headline, but here they were just about to hit the stage and the excitement was palpable. Especially with Ginger's recent news this was going to be emotional and it was going to be very special. Not that you'd notice as after their triumphant Download sets, Ginger strode on to the stage every inch the rock legend and began to kick out the riffs with Failure Is The Mother Of Success, a cheer went up and we were all now under Ginger's command as ringleader to this rock n roll circus.
Aided and abetted by his killer band, they stormed through their 15 song set of punk, pop rock n metal, blurring genre lines with every single shout of a chorus, fist in their air and cheer, visibility bringing a smile to Ginger's face as The Wildhearts stormed though Nothing Ever Changes But The Shoes, Mazel Tov Cocktail, Cheers, and Chutzpah, blending old with new and delivering it all with a wry smile and some great banter, you could tell the band were enjoying themselves.
Poking fun at adult hide and seek that is a rock gig, the encore was Suckerpunch and My Baby Is A Headfuck and then the place erupted, an outpouring of love, respect and sheer joy as The Wildhearts closed the third edition of Day Of Wreckoning in triumphant style. Ginger is the ultimate rock god and this warm night in Newport he was worshiped as such.
So Day Of Wreckoning's gamble to head to the far East of Wales and expand to three venues paid off, I've heard nothing but positive feedback so it looks like this may become a fixture going forward. Now the only thing to worry about is how don't they top it next year!?
Opening up Corn Ex were South Wales thrash juggernauts Helldown, who have been storming stages for a fair few years now causing chaos with their razor sharp mix of thrash and groove metal that gets the front row moving. Ferocious and focused Helldown deserve your attention and kicked off the Corn Exchange with vitriol.
Still heavy but with a more melodic edge to them Scottish prog metal act Tiberius made their South Wales debut and introduced Newport to their catchy choruses, djenty riffage, huge vocals, Goblin Pits and beach balls. With band members spending most of their time in the crowd, they're a frenzy of virtuoso playing and prog metal infused with power metal vocals. Newport didn't quite know what hit them but they won over the crowd with their infectious energy.
If Tiberius' energy is infectious then Mother Vulture is like an epidemic. Possibly the wildest live band on the scene today Mother Vulture are always running on 110% power and deliver every song like it's their last, constantly in motion, kicks fly, head bang and garage rock riffs are punched out of their instruments. If you don't move to this you're probably dead inside as Mother Vulture once again brought their unflappable energy to South Wales and they loved it, resulting in crowd that was ready for what was about to happen.
In a huge coo for an event that is only three years old, getting legendary, and that's not hyperbole, band like The Wildhearts to headline, but here they were just about to hit the stage and the excitement was palpable. Especially with Ginger's recent news this was going to be emotional and it was going to be very special. Not that you'd notice as after their triumphant Download sets, Ginger strode on to the stage every inch the rock legend and began to kick out the riffs with Failure Is The Mother Of Success, a cheer went up and we were all now under Ginger's command as ringleader to this rock n roll circus.
Aided and abetted by his killer band, they stormed through their 15 song set of punk, pop rock n metal, blurring genre lines with every single shout of a chorus, fist in their air and cheer, visibility bringing a smile to Ginger's face as The Wildhearts stormed though Nothing Ever Changes But The Shoes, Mazel Tov Cocktail, Cheers, and Chutzpah, blending old with new and delivering it all with a wry smile and some great banter, you could tell the band were enjoying themselves.
Poking fun at adult hide and seek that is a rock gig, the encore was Suckerpunch and My Baby Is A Headfuck and then the place erupted, an outpouring of love, respect and sheer joy as The Wildhearts closed the third edition of Day Of Wreckoning in triumphant style. Ginger is the ultimate rock god and this warm night in Newport he was worshiped as such.
So Day Of Wreckoning's gamble to head to the far East of Wales and expand to three venues paid off, I've heard nothing but positive feedback so it looks like this may become a fixture going forward. Now the only thing to worry about is how don't they top it next year!?
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