By Monk
This is something of a slightly strange aside for us, as this set actually saw the Belfast death metallers playing a rare hometown show as guest headliners at the final of this year’s iteration of the Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses finale. But, I want to keep my observations on the competition to a deserved solo commentary, so decided to pen these few words as a separate piece.
Frontman Pete Clark nevertheless summarizes the whole ethos of the evening when he defiantly and proudly declares “this is the Belfast heavy fucking metal underground, so let’s fucking go…”. And “go” we most certainly do as the pit immediately opens up and room proves that we’re all far from being ‘Heavily Medicated’ – well, apart from on the drug that is “Belfast heavy fucking metal”, and TBH I wouldn’t take any other opiate (or whatever it is the kids are otherwise downing on these days).
What follows is a 45-minute lesson in restrained brutality, powerviolence mixed with melody, aggression melded with subtlety, grinding deathcore moulded into a carefully crafted musical beatdown that leaves you lying in a bloodied heap on the floor without realizing the series of choreographed sucker punches that have put you down.
Another exemplary set from a band who, as I mentioned at the top, play their hometown all too infrequently – but, when they do, they make every show well worth the effort of attending… as tonight proved. Now, can I get my hearing back?