Upon hitting the stage the band build up their presence with an atmospheric instrumental that slowly built into a meaty bass drop fuelled by the ridiculous high bass tone on bassist/vocalist Danny Garland, Clwb Ifor Bach is packed. And I mean fucking rammed to the point where the merch tables are nearly being overrun. Apart from the loudest bass I’ve heard in my life the set goes on without a hitch. For the next 30 minutes Phoxjaw (7) unleash a torrent of slow beefy chugs mixed with punk elements to create a head banging mixture that I wouldn’t have thought would work as perfectly as this. Phoxjaw take the stage, unleash hell, and leave. No introducing themselves as they let their music do the talking. Being apart of a growing underground scene like this will land them some special slots for this bright up and coming band.
Raw. Unpolished. Hardcore. Just a few words to describe the set that God Complex (8) had just laid bare to Cardiff. From the instant the first note was hit you knew there was going to be a big heap of filthiness to come from this band. And they did not disappoint. Creating a putrid noise of both Hardcore & Metalcore, God Complex eviscerate the crowd and lower any jaws that were judging their sound before hand. Part way through the set they’re joined in stage by none other than Loathe vocalist Kadeem France who utters a glorious yet disgusting guttural before quickly scarpering through the crowd. No head are stood still. Nosh pits are opening every song and the Hardcore fans are in their element with the fast paced non-stop thrill ride that just slayed us for 30 minutes. They’ve gained me as a new fan, and certainly the majority of this room.
In 2016 I witnessed Loathe (10) open for Oceans Ate Alaska. During the set the band used masks to hide their faces for part of the set, and I was a mere half a foot away from vocalist Kadeem France as he was kneeling down to the introduction track The Cold Sun. fast forward 4 years this band had made monumental leaps in both sound and stage presence. The main thing everyone here for tonight is the release of the new album, as it is the album release tour. Their new merchandise plastered with old and new quotes alike from previous songs. Their stage set up still the same with the two old TVs both side of the drum kit. The only difference? We have a new record to break in. And if truth be told. Loathe have broken us all tonight. As soon as opener Red Room hits it’s first note the crowd are engrossed and flailing their limbs like there’s not tomorrow. Old songs like Rest; In Violence & Dance On My Skin go down a treat and fit in well amongst the new, if anything, heavier songs that the band have spewed forth unto us tonight.
The entire venue is one big mosh pit with the Hardcore fans and Metalcore fans pitting together in unison. The band themselves have no lights on them apart from the occasional strobe, as they mainly use the lights behind them to light up the crowd and use it to convoy the feeling that we’re in control tonight. Not the band. Finishing with The Cold Sun & It’s Yours the crowd are encouraged to rush the stage, steal the microphone and crows surf like this was our concert all along. Loathe tonight have proved more than enough that they are heading for bigger things than selling out small venues. I’m calling it. Within the next two years, this band will have headlined Brixton Academy. This show is one that will stay for me forever. And remember. The world is dust. And so are you. This. Is. Loathe. 10/10
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