Words by Joe from London, Photography by Kieran White, please contact before any use.
As this tour was announced, there was a sense that it was two worlds colliding, the now veterans in Bodysnatcher and Ingested, alongside the new favourites in PSYCHO-FRAME and BIG ASS TRUCK, making for a tour that had gritted teeth with a wry smile. It’s one that from the makeup of the crowd that brought in a range of bases; battle jackets adorned with Children Of Bodom, Long Goodbye hoodies and windbreakers aplenty. Which proved what a draw this line-up was, which each act delivering on their promised.
BIG ASS TRUCK
Even as BIG ASS TRUCK made their way onto the stage, the sense that they’ve actually made their way across the Atlantic was still one to behold. Their blend of beatdown and slam has evidently captured the ears of many, with a full venue waiting to see their eccentric performance. The rain outside was brought in, and a few beer spills made for a pit that was like an ice rink, leading to any attempts at dancing resulting in asses being fallen on, and even someone being knocked out cold during their set. Outside of that, there was an energy to BIG ASS TRUCK that was infectious, the sense of a band doing it for the fun of it but also writing some superb music was a joy to see. Given how many bands look to take themselves too seriously within this genre, BIG ASS TRUCK made for an antidote to this.
PSYCHO-FRAME
For some, including us, PSYCHO-FRAME was the reason to turn up to this tour. With FRAME merch visible and chatter in the queue revolving around the unit, it confirms that this is a band in ascendancy, despite being shunned by the system more often than not. Revisiting many of their tracks that were unleashed during their tour with Malevolence, the smaller venue ensured that everyone present felt the wrath of the FRAME. Seeing “I Won’t Be There To Watch You Go“, which was a new one for this side of the Atlantic was a treat, and went just as hard live. With this and the Malevolence tour, there is a sense that PSYCHO-FRAME are simply too much of a force to play the support role on tours here. The chatter around FRAME returning in the autumn led to fingers being crossed that it’s a headliner, allowing them to put on a full headline set in its all glory and for them to bring plenty of Elden Ring inspired merch with them.
Ingested
The energy exalted by the room for the two acts before was always going to be a hard act to follow and given the recent circumstances, it seemed even more than a challenge. To their credit, they pulled off a solid set. Which their pedigree and legacy once again proved, weaving through material new and old showcased the prowess of the historical Ingested material while proving that the upcoming material continues the standard that Ingested have set over the years. While it did not perhaps hit as hard as BIG ASS TRUCK and PSYCHO-FRAME did, it did show that despite everything, Ingested still do have it.
Bodysnatcher
The mean tunes of Bodysnatcher immediately proved their popularity, opening with “The Maker” off their upcoming album, Hell Is Here, Hell Is Home. Moving the room into headbangers and moshers aplenty, with the gnarly breakdown putting the dancers in the room to the test. Their huge sound occupied the room, and they are a band who have got it down to an art, as their extreme sound once again proved why Bodysnatcher have become such a regular fixture in the UK. The new tracks proved their upcoming album will be an absolute beast, which we look forward to.