“Escape this torment, the global horror.“
Grief Ritual’s debut album was one of the best releases this January. They dropped something truly unique—an album that shakes you to the very core of your existence, yet it’s filled with intense vulnerability, with energy that is capable of crushing those it’s trying to oppose. Genre-bending and blending are executed perfectly, merging some of the best aspects of metalcore, hardcore, black metal, and death metal. That’s why this release is such a standout—it doesn’t follow the same tried patterns but instead carves out its own unique existence. Collapse had its official launch at The Black Heart, and on behalf of Boolin Tunes, I had the opportunity to witness this moment, hearing some of my new favourite songs live.
There couldn’t have been a better time to launch Collapse. Considering the state of the world—where distressing headlines are hyper-normalized and brushed off as mere doom-scrolling—we are living in excessively stressful times. I genuinely hope Grief Ritual pulled some of you out of your slumber. If not wake up and listen to what these guys have to say! Immediately, right now! The crowd at The Black Heart listened closely, embodying the music with violent outbursts in the pit. There was no need for gimmicks or flashy showmanship—the perfect blend of riffs, drums, and vocals was enough to stand strong on its own. The content was meaningful and angry, an act of resistance against the populist and authoritarian regimes tightening their grip. A loud reminder that we are facing extinction on a global scale if we are not going to act now.
Grief Ritual also brought a couple of guests on stage, with supporting vocals from Rachel Aspe (Cage Fight) and Harry Nott (Burner), each performing a song in turn. These artists don’t just challenge the status quo—they tear it apart. They create a sound that, if future generations exist, will be remembered as anthems of defiance—metal’s version of the anti-fascist “Bella Ciao“. With such a heavy-hitting headliner, the three support acts were equally ferocious.
First up, flying straight from Ireland, was the furious Worn Out. Aggressive on stage, they sent their own vocalist flying as he executed his lines, carried away by the crowd towards the end of the set. These hardcore menaces showed us how it’s done across the channel and did not disappoint. Their new EP, “Low“, is a great introduction to their world—give it a spin.
Next was Harrowed, embracing nihilism in true Kent style. Their blackened hardcore sound had the crowd instantly walking into the two-step. This trio knows how to channel pure rage, playing each riff with fury. The vocalist’s impressive range was the cherry on top of their set. You can catch them again in April, supporting Thou in Brighton.
Last but not least, we had Calligram—London’s masters of blackened chaos. Atmospheric and fierce, they carried us on a tide of slow, brooding buildups that crashed into intense, powerful drumming and those quintessential howling screams. Picture this: if Nosferatu had his own black metal band, this would be the vibe. Oh, and their vocalist? He performed the entire set seated due to an injury that left him on crutches—using them as a makeshift mic stand. Now that is dedication. That alone deserves a cheeky stream of their songs on your music app of choice.
Check out our reviews of Grief Ritual and Calligram‘s latest records, as well as our interview with Tim from Calligram just after they released Position | Momentum.