Musipedia Of Metal: Day Of Wreckoning 2024

Day Of Wreckoning, The Patti Pavilion, Swansea, 29.06.24

Overview By Matt Bladen

Metal To The Masses has been running in South Wales for a long time. The incentive to promote grassroots venues and local music scenes, has been a boon to the UK (and beyond) live music scene for many years. As with anything that runs for a long time the South Wales region has had its ups and downs, there's been talk of curses, it's taken place in various venues, been run by various promoters and there has been all sorts of shenanigans in the past. However when Alyn Hunter and Tim Hill of former winners Agrona took over as the promoters of M2TM South Wales it started to gain a clear heading and strategy.

Based out of Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff they negotiated the rough waters of a scene that is so overlooked in South Wales, the usual problems any sort of competition throws up and a global pandemic, they have created a culture where M2TM is one of the leading supporters of grassroots rock and metal music in South Wales.

Splitting the heats across two regions Cardiff and Swansea with the help of Will Sheldon at The Bunkhouse things have stated to get bigger and in 2024 it was decided that taking a punt at putting on a proper final would be the way to go.

Based at The Patti Pavilion in Swansea, Day Of Wreckoning was booked to be a one day event where the six bands (3 from Cardiff, 3 from Swansea) competed to get a coveted place at Bloodstock Festival, and to gain some experience in playing larger stages than those in Fuel or The Bunkhouse.

In addition there was another five established bands who would keep the crowds entertained while the decision was made making for a monumental day of music.

Starting at 12pm, though team prep was from very early doors, the minimal, mostly volunteer crew working their asses off to make sure everything was ready for the crowds, then at 12:30 it was time for things to kick off.

M2TM South Wales Final

Up first after the random drawing were Swansea black metal trio Verletzen who certainly had vocal fan support (though the final is decided on an independent judge vote), they started out the day with frigid black metal that brought that sent a chill through the Victorian venue. Causing marathon windmill sessions down the front row, their necks will still be hurting even a week late. The tremolo picking was absolute precision, the blast beats rapid and raging and for me the biggest element that makes Verletzen stand out is the use of bass in their sound. It's treated like a lead instrument and adds some classic metal flavour.

Establishing the level to beat early it was going to be a tough night for the judging panel.

Following Verletzen was the primordial force that was Thrakian, entering M2TM for the first time and only really in their first year of performing as a band they have a seismic groove to them that goes to the fringes of sludge/doom/post metal. Lingering feedback, growled vocals and an ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere, that could spilt a crowd but when you get it, the music consumes you. Hypnotic heaviness is the name of the game here, their frontman conducting a sermon to noise, raging into the mic, guitar aloft to let the chords ring through the venue PA and it's crystal clear sound. A formidable act there's lots to come from a band clearly comfortable on a big stage.

Talking about comfortable Confessions Of A Serial Killer seem to take to any stage you out then on. Masked, theatrical audio violence that was bristling with energy and aggression, their psycho-killer frontman stalking and harassing the crowd once he was free from his straight jacket. The similarities to bands such as Mushroomhead and Slipknot are obvious but it's the way they present them that draw you in. Industrial/death metal battery is the soundtrack to their killing spree but there's a genuine sense of terror when their singer is stomping at you in his trademark mask. Inhabiting who he becomes with it on they are always on the hunt for new victims and clearly found some at The Patti

The level was so high throughout but another crowd favourite took to the stage and it was as if Pantera themselves had arrived. Kill By Mouth are local legends and they play groove/thrash metal that always elicits a response. Be it though frenzied thrash assaults or grooving stompers they keep the energy high and the riffs coming. Having seen them a few times in the last and seen them progress through this competition they were definitely in the running with an incendiary performance, thrash being one of those genres that really gets the crowd going. But with two bands to go it was still too close to call.

Next up were the veterans Rites To Ruin who are a drilled, incredibly skilled unit. Their level of playing is incredible, they boast probably the best singer in the South Wales scene and for any fans of classic heavy/power/prog metal they are always going to score highly. Their performance was slick and highly experienced and they've always been incredibly supportive of the M2TM initiative. Running through their set with rigour, this was Rites To Ruin in business mode, enjoying it yes but focussed and every note hit perfectly, like a well oiled metal machine. A band who appeal to the roots of Bloodstock as a festival I can't believe they haven't been snapped up yet to play.

Speaking of Bloodstock's roots, it began as an indoor festival that showcased a lot of power/trad/symphonic metal bands, it's grown and diversified since then but it was certainly the sort of place that Root Zero would have fit way back in 2005. Their dual vocals, symphonic, prog, goth metal sound is eclectic and diverse like those early line ups, the clean vocals mixed with harsh growls, keys creating atmospheres on top of the doom meets classic metal sounds. This performance was a huge step up from what I'd seen in the semi final, the big stage used in full effect as there they looked shy and aloof, in the Patti there was a real sense sense of performance, the vocals blending similarly to the way Lacuna Coil do it, giving a definite alternative to the countless metalcore bands that seem to inhabit the UK scene and other regions.

This bewitching, intoxicating performance is obviously what sold it for the judges as it was Root Zero who were chosen to represent South Wales at Bloodstock Festival 2024.

The field could not have been tighter in my opinion, every act upped their game comprehensively, the larger stage leading to bigger performances and more confidence. As a concept of trying to offer the finalist something different I can definitely say the organising committee of Alyn, Will and Tim did the job brilliantly to elevate the South Wales metal scene.

Day Of Wreckoning

While the judges deliberated and after a well deserved break it was time for the established bands to entertain. Unfortunately a car problem outside Manchester meant that Inhuman Nature couldn't play so the first two bands got longer sets.

Silverburn began the second half of the day with their technically proficient grooves, having seen their first gig at The Bunkhouse, their stage craft has only gotten better with countless shows and recent support slots with High On Fire (which has left them deaf they told me afterwards). Consisting of stalwarts of the South Wales metal scene it was a heavy way to start the second half of music. Crush prog grooves with sludge and tech riffs. Hypnotic rhythms catching many unawares there were some familiar faces catching a glimpse of this meaty morsel of Welsh riffage.

The pace increased exponentially with the constant blur of motion that is Mother Vulture. One of most consistent and impressive live bands on the scene the Bristol foursome never stay in one place and play punk infused metallic hard rock. Fuzzy thick basslines, choppy riffs and drumming that is frantic but with finesse, the smiles on the faces were clearly visible. Mother Vulture inject joy, unassuming off stage their singer is a wild man on stage, his diverse vocal style ranging from a sneer to a snarl to a scream and everything in between. Cranking out the jams it was a major high point of the night for everyone, this youthful band on a meteoric rise to the top, anyone who saw them here or in The Bunkhouse this year will attest that there are few bands who are this skilled on stage.

Then we came to Raging Speedhorn who for many would have been the highlight of the day of it hadn't been for the actions of two members. Due to issues they had with the venue which were unfounded and unwarranted, their drummer refused to play only relenting after it was discovered he was in the wrong. They played for 20 minutes, starting half an hour after their set was supposed and had been advertised for. Running over by 10 minutes they were cut off due to timing, this caused the longest serving vocalist to storm off stage and another incident that has been reported elsewhere. For the time they played, they held the room unfortunately the whole performance was soured by two individuals within the band. One can only hope that RSH are able to wrestle with whatever demons have resurfaced and capture some of what makes them such a force to be reckoned with on the UK circuit without detriment to the fans that come to see them and the promoters who book them.

Enough about that and on to something much better and much more professional. Since 1975 Discharge have been keeping hardcore punk alive. California bands such as Bad Brains and Black Flag and Dead Kennedy's were starting, keeping the D.I.Y ethos of the inital punk explosion as many of those bands faded away or got lighter, it was the hardcore scene that made it heavier, angrier and more political.

Over on this side of the pond we had our own explosion at the same time keeping the same ethos as the Americans but with a bit more Brit grit. Our scene was led by The Exploited, GBH and of course Discharge. These bands were just as influential as their American cousins and Discharge have been flying the flag for nearly 50 years. Covered by Metallica on Garage Inc, it's Discharge and bands like them that are cornerstones of grindcore, black metal and most importantly thrash. Without hardcore there is no thrash it's as simple as that.

A political band, they stand for anarchism and pacifism, they are confrontational and keep their music as a form of simple savagery. All these ideals are still held true to this day, consummate professionals from the time they came into the building they were jovial and gracious off stage but when they got on it they proceeded to rip the place apart, showing everyone how you totally command a venue without any shenanigans. Inciting pits, bouncing and smiles all round, they ripped though their hour long manifesto of political punk without too much interaction.

A few thank yous and some buoying of the crowd for more energy, all issues previously disappearing in a circle pit of sweat and biting riffs. Finishing on a high that had been there from the beginning after one small dip, Discharge are well worthy of their place as such an influential band.

Summing Up

Mission accomplished I'd say! Will, Alyn, Tim pulled a blinder with the inaugural Day Of Wreckoning, a small but perfectly formed team with a collective vision of elevating the South Wales metal scene. It will be back and it will be bigger and better than ever!

Watch! This! Space!

Photos By Konstantina Frasia Photography For Musipedia Of Metal/Day Of Wreckoning