After an intense few months it came down to the final chapter of the 2022 South Wales Metal To The Masses. Six competing bands vying for a place at Bloodstock Festival and two guest headliners in 2019 and 2021's winners. It was once again in to the bowels of Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff for what was the biggest night of home grown metal talent in 3 years!
First up were the metallic hardcore advocates Torchbearer, who always seem to be on first but always set the bar high. Both heavy and melodic they boosted their game for the final by bringing in a second guitar player to beef up the sound leading to a deafening level of heaviness that is countered by their usage of clean and screamed vocals. With the aggression starting early there was movement from the band and the crowd, exactly the sort of start that was needed for a Saturday night. A joyous way to start things off the venue selling out during their set menacing that the room was hot, heavy and full of pits.
With the gauntlet well and truly laid down it was there for Karmen Field to pick up, and pick it up they did, their unique take on metal meeting with loud applause. Prog meets grunge is really the only way to describe it, or as one punter described it, the closest thing to being on drugs without taking them. Great musicianship had already been established by the first band and was continued here but now it was joined by some of the most distinctive vocals in the competition. Again a band built around their control of the stage and the audience Karmen Field were laying claim to the crown before even finishing their set. However as many of us are feeling today (the day after) there's a lot more to come
Just before I Fight Bears kicked off the show was announced to be officially sold out, so with the room at full capacity and the heat from it enough to toast marshmallows (or Babybel if you're a heathen) the modern metal machine that is I Fight Bears took to demolishing the Fuel stage and someone's hand with a precision groove metal assault. It was a force of nature as they came like a nuclear powered steamroller taking no prisoners. Machine gun kicks, riffs that carve out gorges and vocals that could scare children the level at which these first three bands played made it a difficult decision already for Bloodstock's Mr Hall and there was still 3 to go!
After the stage was left still standing, just, post I Fight Bears, Mr Foxhall was rushed to A&E for his hand on the advice of the frontman of the next band, it was time for Eulogy go step up to the plate once again as the 'least heavy' band on the bill. Still as they have shown time and time again, this is not a negative for them. Big, ballsy rock with massive vocal lines are what they do best the addition of a second guitarist and a new drummer since they last performed at M2TM paying dividends as their sound is bigger and more well rounded (ooh err missus). Always an entertaining band to watch, their passion and humility alone enough win anyone over to their cause, nevermind their catchy as hell choruses.
Another brief interlude and plenty of happy faces after four excellent performances, the drinks were now really starting to flow and the evening found it's groove. The general camaraderie and joyous atmosphere of these M2TM events are evident, Mr Hall putting it best when he said there no cliques or posing going on just a load of people from different sides of the rock and metal spectrum all just coming together to enjoy music.
Speaking of music there was more noises to be had from State Of Deceit a band that like The US Postal Service (and not Evri) always deliver. Again they take the modern metal route but douse it with thrash for good measure. As they started yet more pits erupted, the sticky floor of Fuel getting a good battering by bodies as the shredding guitars and raw throated vocals of the band ring out through the house P.A. (major props to the Fuel sound man James who brought his A-Game for the evening and through every stage previously). State Of Deceit brought back the heavy and showed again why they are always one of the top contenders.
Finally it was time for perhaps the most controversial band of the competition, if ever a band embodied a rockstar attitude it's N A S H. Perennial fan favourites in all their Heats/Quarters/Semis, they are a band that have an edge of danger about them. They also have some serious chops, vocally especially as their groove metal brought more pits from their Valleys Massive. They're a tough, brooding, mass of heaviness that could use some refinement but has a lot of potential. Closing out the competition part of the night well.
With all six bands having played the decision was left to Mr Hall as the rest of us enjoyed the two guest headliners.
First up it was Blind Divide who weren't able to return in 2020 after taking the crown in 2019 so made up for this 3 year layover by absolutely deafening the masses with their brutal style of prog/tech/groove, riffs were flying at all angles, grooves were thick and juicy and those shouts were still as intimidating. They looked they hadn't lost a step as a band, new(ish) drummer Max making things sound more aggressive than ever. It was great to see them back devastating a stage again with ruthless efficiency. Their homecoming was met with rapturous applause and vicious pitting, reminding us why they won back in 2019. A triumphant headline show to a venue as hot as the pits of hell, no wonder there was t-shirt changes all round!
Next though were 2021 winners Pearler, the Swansea suppliers of stoner/glam, put on their bandanas, fired up the Bon Jovi wind machine an kicked out the jams for another round of party hardy good times. Having seen the band a few times they're always a strange mix of woozy stoner riffs and glam/sleaze metal hooks, colliding in a way that would befit Alice In Chains jamming with Motley Crue. Having brought a lot of support with them (some having come just for the headliners but stayed for the competition too) the band dove into tracks from their EP's and they were greeted like old friends. They won last year on their professionalism and slickness (as well as their performance) it was obvious that Pearler are veterans of the scene playing this co-headline set as if it was Swansea Arena (a venue they recently had the pleasure of opening)
All the bands had played, all the drinks consumed and the decision was made by Simon. We piled once again to the room where many congratulations and kudos were thrown around for the venue, the organisers Tim and Alyn and also to all the bands and fans who turned up. But like with Highlander there can be only one and the M2TM winners for 2022 are:
I Fight Bears!
Congratulations to them and I'm sure they will tear Bloodstock a new arsehole.
From my perspective as someone who is involved in just this one part of Metal To The Masses, conducting interviews with the bands, promoting the shows and even sometimes reviewing the events. It was heartwarming to see another packed house of a final after three years of uncertainty regarding live music.
Everyone involved cares massively about the South Wales scene and we want it to grow so every year it's harder to choose between the bands as they all step up their collective game. This night July 2nd 2022 will live long in the memory that's for sure, as we were treated to the best South Wales has to offer.
First up were the metallic hardcore advocates Torchbearer, who always seem to be on first but always set the bar high. Both heavy and melodic they boosted their game for the final by bringing in a second guitar player to beef up the sound leading to a deafening level of heaviness that is countered by their usage of clean and screamed vocals. With the aggression starting early there was movement from the band and the crowd, exactly the sort of start that was needed for a Saturday night. A joyous way to start things off the venue selling out during their set menacing that the room was hot, heavy and full of pits.
With the gauntlet well and truly laid down it was there for Karmen Field to pick up, and pick it up they did, their unique take on metal meeting with loud applause. Prog meets grunge is really the only way to describe it, or as one punter described it, the closest thing to being on drugs without taking them. Great musicianship had already been established by the first band and was continued here but now it was joined by some of the most distinctive vocals in the competition. Again a band built around their control of the stage and the audience Karmen Field were laying claim to the crown before even finishing their set. However as many of us are feeling today (the day after) there's a lot more to come
Just before I Fight Bears kicked off the show was announced to be officially sold out, so with the room at full capacity and the heat from it enough to toast marshmallows (or Babybel if you're a heathen) the modern metal machine that is I Fight Bears took to demolishing the Fuel stage and someone's hand with a precision groove metal assault. It was a force of nature as they came like a nuclear powered steamroller taking no prisoners. Machine gun kicks, riffs that carve out gorges and vocals that could scare children the level at which these first three bands played made it a difficult decision already for Bloodstock's Mr Hall and there was still 3 to go!
After the stage was left still standing, just, post I Fight Bears, Mr Foxhall was rushed to A&E for his hand on the advice of the frontman of the next band, it was time for Eulogy go step up to the plate once again as the 'least heavy' band on the bill. Still as they have shown time and time again, this is not a negative for them. Big, ballsy rock with massive vocal lines are what they do best the addition of a second guitarist and a new drummer since they last performed at M2TM paying dividends as their sound is bigger and more well rounded (ooh err missus). Always an entertaining band to watch, their passion and humility alone enough win anyone over to their cause, nevermind their catchy as hell choruses.
Another brief interlude and plenty of happy faces after four excellent performances, the drinks were now really starting to flow and the evening found it's groove. The general camaraderie and joyous atmosphere of these M2TM events are evident, Mr Hall putting it best when he said there no cliques or posing going on just a load of people from different sides of the rock and metal spectrum all just coming together to enjoy music.
Speaking of music there was more noises to be had from State Of Deceit a band that like The US Postal Service (and not Evri) always deliver. Again they take the modern metal route but douse it with thrash for good measure. As they started yet more pits erupted, the sticky floor of Fuel getting a good battering by bodies as the shredding guitars and raw throated vocals of the band ring out through the house P.A. (major props to the Fuel sound man James who brought his A-Game for the evening and through every stage previously). State Of Deceit brought back the heavy and showed again why they are always one of the top contenders.
Finally it was time for perhaps the most controversial band of the competition, if ever a band embodied a rockstar attitude it's N A S H. Perennial fan favourites in all their Heats/Quarters/Semis, they are a band that have an edge of danger about them. They also have some serious chops, vocally especially as their groove metal brought more pits from their Valleys Massive. They're a tough, brooding, mass of heaviness that could use some refinement but has a lot of potential. Closing out the competition part of the night well.
With all six bands having played the decision was left to Mr Hall as the rest of us enjoyed the two guest headliners.
First up it was Blind Divide who weren't able to return in 2020 after taking the crown in 2019 so made up for this 3 year layover by absolutely deafening the masses with their brutal style of prog/tech/groove, riffs were flying at all angles, grooves were thick and juicy and those shouts were still as intimidating. They looked they hadn't lost a step as a band, new(ish) drummer Max making things sound more aggressive than ever. It was great to see them back devastating a stage again with ruthless efficiency. Their homecoming was met with rapturous applause and vicious pitting, reminding us why they won back in 2019. A triumphant headline show to a venue as hot as the pits of hell, no wonder there was t-shirt changes all round!
Next though were 2021 winners Pearler, the Swansea suppliers of stoner/glam, put on their bandanas, fired up the Bon Jovi wind machine an kicked out the jams for another round of party hardy good times. Having seen the band a few times they're always a strange mix of woozy stoner riffs and glam/sleaze metal hooks, colliding in a way that would befit Alice In Chains jamming with Motley Crue. Having brought a lot of support with them (some having come just for the headliners but stayed for the competition too) the band dove into tracks from their EP's and they were greeted like old friends. They won last year on their professionalism and slickness (as well as their performance) it was obvious that Pearler are veterans of the scene playing this co-headline set as if it was Swansea Arena (a venue they recently had the pleasure of opening)
All the bands had played, all the drinks consumed and the decision was made by Simon. We piled once again to the room where many congratulations and kudos were thrown around for the venue, the organisers Tim and Alyn and also to all the bands and fans who turned up. But like with Highlander there can be only one and the M2TM winners for 2022 are:
I Fight Bears!
Congratulations to them and I'm sure they will tear Bloodstock a new arsehole.
From my perspective as someone who is involved in just this one part of Metal To The Masses, conducting interviews with the bands, promoting the shows and even sometimes reviewing the events. It was heartwarming to see another packed house of a final after three years of uncertainty regarding live music.
Everyone involved cares massively about the South Wales scene and we want it to grow so every year it's harder to choose between the bands as they all step up their collective game. This night July 2nd 2022 will live long in the memory that's for sure, as we were treated to the best South Wales has to offer.
I'm sure it won't be long until we all start talking about 2023, so for all the bands that want follow in the footsteps of Democratus, Blind Divide, Pearler, I Fight Bears (and countless others before them) get out and play as many gigs as you can before next year and enter the hottest (in many ways) M2TM in the UK!
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