“Shoulda thought it out a little bit faster, you rat bastard.“
After years of being workhorses of the scene Splitknuckle have finally reached a point of near universal appreciation in the UK, maybe it’s because their no frills, heavy hardcore represents the potential of a local band persevering and achieving global recognition through hard work, maybe it’s because songs like “Lingchi” and “We Share Blood” serve as an open invitation for mayhem that the crowd are more than happy to accept. Reciprocating the sonic onslaught with equally energetic dancing, even new tune “Lies They Hide Behind” – at this point just a few days old and only on its second airing, gets a truly chaotic reception. Whatever the reason the reputation for aggression at their shows is well deserved and Splitknuckle are working hard to maintain it. Ending on fan favourite “Fuck Your Whole Life“ Splitknuckle turn the room into a sea of flying feet, fists and elbows with an ease that befits their veteran status.
Splitknuckle
Hitting the stage running, New York’s Missing Link are riding high off a string of well received releases that take Merauder‘s much beloved formula, dials up the metal elements another notch and manages to find a new level of intensity, songs from debut Watch Me Bleed and recent follow-up EP Miracle Smile are explosive, as vicious as hardcore gets, with vocalist Mike Ryan sounding genuinely venomous in his delivery, the fierce pit action that immediately erupts through the underworld reflects the sound perfectly. Somehow managing to incite greater violence from the crowd with every breakdown it’s a wonder anyone has the energy left to pile on to the mic for “New York Minute“.
Missing Link
One of many pandemic projects that have thrived since the world has opened up again, at this point Gridiron have become a well oiled machine, the band sound razor sharp and frontman Matthew Karll‘s hip-hop inspired vocals and memorable one-liners are delivered with an effortless charm. Crossovers between rap and rock have always been divisive, but Gridiron are here to remind the doubters why it has worked out so well in the past. Opening with the 1-2 punch of “25/8” and “26/9” their sense of humour is balanced out by a relentless storm of metal inspired riffing that comes together to create an atmosphere of genuine fun that in today’s so often irony-poisoned environment is a joy to engage with. The underworld has been drinking and dancing for hours and each new chorus the crowd launches a fresh wave of stage-divers into the whirlwind of flying limbs and screaming faces that’s taken over the dance floor. Given their high energy live show and earworm mosh anthems we’re left wondering just how far Gridiron could go if placed in front some non-hardcore audiences.
Gridiron
