With festival season in full-swing, it is now the turn of the UK’s biggest hardcore festival, Outbreak. The festival will see hardcore scenes from across the UK descend on Manchester, with many travelling to spend a long weekend throwing hands to some of the biggest names in hardcore, rap and metal. Whilst there is a plethora of great acts to see across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the two stages, here’s our pick of the 10 bands you won’t want to miss at this year’s festival.
Friday
Pest Control
After releasing their debut Don’t Test The Pest in February of this year, which showed the full potential of their thrash/hardcore blended sound, Pest Control have stepped to the forefront of the UK scene. Continuing as a staple in the local Leeds scene, the unit have since toured with Scowl on their recent headliner, and have been announced as support on the upcoming Obituary tour. Packed with energy and riffs for absolute days, Pest Control will no doubt see bodies flying off the stage and kick off what is bound to be be another fantastic Outbreak Festival.
Rough Justice
One of the latest signings to MLVLTD will be returning to Outbreak on the second stage. Having previously performed alongside the likes of Guilt Trip and Cauldron, including at the recent Donfest, Rough Justice have put in the legwork. With Hell Is Other People nearing its fourth anniversary, Outbreak would seemingly be the perfect platform to debut new material; and if it’s anything as good as their debut, it should be one hell of a time to see it.
Pain of Truth
Long Island unit Pain of Truth are an exciting prospective in the hardcore scene, and ahead of Outbreak have dropped single “Actin’ Up” featuring 200 Stab Wounds. Their intense sound translates as expected into a live setting that will see their hard-hitting lyrics no doubt resulting in plenty of mic grabs. With their upcoming record, Not Through Blood, seeing a whole host of features, including Scott Vogel, Shane Noran and Justice Tripp, this weekend is the time to get on board the Pain of Truth train.
Defeater
This might be the “Well, no shit” pick from this list, given Defeater have had one of the most illustrious discographies on the entire Outbreak line-up. With their last album, Mothers’ Sons, coming out more than four years ago, there is now plenty of ground between when Defeater last graced us with new material and their upcoming appearance. In that time we’ve new bands rise to the forefront, a flurry of newcomers enter the world of hardcore as fans, and yet the name Defeater continues to hold weight. In all, this one of the greatest bands to step foot on the Outbreak stage this year, and performing their finest material should see a room packed to the rafters.
Saturday
Speedway
Running out Sweden, Speedway, along with fellow countrymates Xiao, are putting their country on the map in the wider hardcore scene. Seeing themselves on the books of Triple B Records and then Revelation Records, they display a range of influences from the more melodic side to emo and self-admitted Youth Crew style. Seemingly going from strength-to-strength on each release, with 2022’s Paradise displaying some of their best work, it will certainly be worth catching Speedway on the Saturday of Outbreak.
Machine Girl
The curveball of Outbreak this year will be Machine Girl, who bring a blend of jungle, rave and industrial into a sound that has captivated many since their debut nearly 10 years ago. The duo saw their early rise during Bandcamp‘s prime, and have since been enlisted for video game soundtracks and other such projects. Sitting in the spot between Jesus Piece and Code Orange will give a reprieve for teeth to be picked up off the floor and feed the intrigue of how Machine Girl will be received on the Outbreak Stage.
Candy
Opening on each respective day with Pest Control, Candy and Zulu throws each day right into scenes of utter chaos from the opening moment. And there is arguably no band who are more chaotic on this line-up than Candy, their ruthless D-beat style making for a punchy sound – undoubtedly ideal music to throw hands and crack out the spin-kicks to. Channelling moments of thrashy and borderline death metal, it will be a performance to behold and one to get in nice and early to see.
Sunday
Ekkstacy
Similar to Machine Girl, Ekkstacy is an act that has wide appeal outside of the familiar genres of Outbreak, and has seen a great reception online. Sitting nicely after the stretch of Zulu, Buggin and Speed, who no doubt Outbreak attendees should also be making an effort to see, Ekkstacy will be the ideal respite with their melancholic aura and bass grooves.
Buggin
Chicago unit Buggin recently released their full-length, Concrete Cowboys, displaying the full potential of their fun and hardcore sound that has caught the ear of many. Brimming with energy that translates perfectly in a live setting, recent times have seen them share the stage with the likes of Turnstile, Show Me The Body and Zulu, who will be familiar for those in attendance at Mayfield Depot.
Speed
The Aussie hardcore scene is one that deserves a bigger presence at Outbreak. Fortunately, the prospect of being able to see the top dogs of the scene in Speed will be enough for many. Shows in Australia showing scenes of absolute limbs has been the closest most in the UK have got to seeing what Speed offer in a live setting, and now they will be chomping at the bit to show Speed that their counterparts here can put on just as good of a display as Australian audiences.
For full coverage of Outbreak 2023, follow BoolinTunes on Instagram and keep an eye on the site.