The night opened with Pemphigoid, a local three-piece death metal act whose sound felt like an unbroken line from the late 1980s. They combined the thick riff structures of early Death with the guttural, dragging bass tone of Autopsy and the rolling, artillery-like and yet still groove filled drumming reminiscent of Andy Whale from Bolt Thrower. The result was old-school to the core, executed with real precision and energy. For a small trio, the stage presence was commanding, and their tightness drew early movement from the crowd. It was an excellent start that set the tone for a night of raw, unpretentious, hilarious metal.
Raised By Owls followed and immediately changed the mood from deathly seriousness to absurd brilliance. Their mix of extreme metal and comedy is something that could easily collapse under its own weight, but they handled it with perfect timing. Between sharp bursts of felt melting carnage came gameshow-style segments, crowd challenges, and the arrival of a full-costumed Mr Blobby brandishing double-headed dildos. It was utter chaos, yet fully controlled. Each transition landed cleanly, the humour never dulled the musical impact, and their musicianship kept the whole thing credible. Tracks like Cliff Richard Drinks From The Skulls Of His Enemies and Going For A Pint With Corpsegrinder were as tight as they were ridiculous. The audience howled with laughter and still found themselves pulled into genuine mosh energy.
When Gama Bomb took the stage, the temperature in the room rose sharply. The Irish thrash veterans approached this small Nottingham venue as if it were an arena, and it felt like one within minutes. 666teen levelled the room before they tore through a setlist that mixed fan favourites like Miami Supercops and their newer material. Philly Byrne was relentless—grabbing phones from the crowd to film from his perspective, plunging into the pit himself, and somehow still delivering flawless vocals. At one point he pulled out a Polaroid, snapped a photo of the audience from the stage, and handed it over as a souvenir. It summed up his approach: total inclusion, no barrier between band and fan.
The sound was remarkably balanced for such a compact venue. The guitars cut sharply without harshness, the bass sat firm in the mix, and every snare crack landed with the right amount of bite. The pit barely stopped moving, and for those that didn't enter it, you could see grins on every face. Byrne’s humour and charisma tied it all together, making the show feel spontaneous yet perfectly paced.
What made the night special was the progression. Pemphigoid gave it weight and depth, Raised By Owls added unpredictable theatre, and Gama Bomb detonated the finale with a masterclass in speed and connection. The Old Cold Store felt alive in a way few small venues do, which is a real testament to the passion, skill and commitment of each band.
All three of these bands deserve more attention than they currently get. Each offered something unique but unified by a shared commitment to performance, craft, and fun. They have the songs, the energy, and the ability to make a small room feel like a stadium. It was one of the most engaging, good-natured, and genuinely joyful shows of the year. If there is a score card on live reviews, this is a masterclass. 9/10
Raised By Owls followed and immediately changed the mood from deathly seriousness to absurd brilliance. Their mix of extreme metal and comedy is something that could easily collapse under its own weight, but they handled it with perfect timing. Between sharp bursts of felt melting carnage came gameshow-style segments, crowd challenges, and the arrival of a full-costumed Mr Blobby brandishing double-headed dildos. It was utter chaos, yet fully controlled. Each transition landed cleanly, the humour never dulled the musical impact, and their musicianship kept the whole thing credible. Tracks like Cliff Richard Drinks From The Skulls Of His Enemies and Going For A Pint With Corpsegrinder were as tight as they were ridiculous. The audience howled with laughter and still found themselves pulled into genuine mosh energy.
When Gama Bomb took the stage, the temperature in the room rose sharply. The Irish thrash veterans approached this small Nottingham venue as if it were an arena, and it felt like one within minutes. 666teen levelled the room before they tore through a setlist that mixed fan favourites like Miami Supercops and their newer material. Philly Byrne was relentless—grabbing phones from the crowd to film from his perspective, plunging into the pit himself, and somehow still delivering flawless vocals. At one point he pulled out a Polaroid, snapped a photo of the audience from the stage, and handed it over as a souvenir. It summed up his approach: total inclusion, no barrier between band and fan.
The sound was remarkably balanced for such a compact venue. The guitars cut sharply without harshness, the bass sat firm in the mix, and every snare crack landed with the right amount of bite. The pit barely stopped moving, and for those that didn't enter it, you could see grins on every face. Byrne’s humour and charisma tied it all together, making the show feel spontaneous yet perfectly paced.
What made the night special was the progression. Pemphigoid gave it weight and depth, Raised By Owls added unpredictable theatre, and Gama Bomb detonated the finale with a masterclass in speed and connection. The Old Cold Store felt alive in a way few small venues do, which is a real testament to the passion, skill and commitment of each band.
All three of these bands deserve more attention than they currently get. Each offered something unique but unified by a shared commitment to performance, craft, and fun. They have the songs, the energy, and the ability to make a small room feel like a stadium. It was one of the most engaging, good-natured, and genuinely joyful shows of the year. If there is a score card on live reviews, this is a masterclass. 9/10
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