Knocked Loose, Bodyweb & Sovereign at Rock City, Nottingham

“No lies can spread from a tongue removed.”

Words by Jack Walker. Photography by Maisie Cooper. Please ask before any usage.

Nottingham saw Knocked Loose closing out their short run of club shows in style, with the Louisville hardcore legends choosing Rock City as the final stop on the short-but-sweet run. Bringing along local talent in the form of Sovereign, along with Leeds-based nu-HC act Bodyweb, the line up was looking remarkably stacked, and fans packed out the room early, taking in every moment of every band.

If you’ve not been keeping up to date with Knocked Loose, then you may not be aware that they’re currently on tour with Metallica. That’s right, the Metallica. One of the biggest “legacy” metal bands on the planet taking one of the most promising, current bands on tour with them, exposing multiple generations of fans both old and new to the next big thing (and yes, we know they’re already huge). That’s what makes this small run of side shows all the more special, and following on from seeing them play The Albert Hall earlier in the week, we had lofty expectations for this set.

Sovereign

First up, local lads in Sovereign, who found themselves in a spot of bother earlier in the week after a promotion page set up by a few of their members boldly claimed that “real hardcore” would return, despite Nottingham already having a thriving local scene. Despite this blunder, fans packed out Rock City, and the band was poised to make the most of their supporting slot.

Good, old-fashioned hardcore; there’s not much more to say about Sovereign besides the fact that they’re pretty damn good. Getting the crowd involved early on, the vocalist commanded the stage, making sure everyone felt welcome and knew how to participate safely. They also took the time to speak on geopolitical issues, leaving very little to grumble about.

One thing we did find a tad confusing, however, was the number of guitars on stage. Are three guitars really necessary for their sound? We’d say almost certainly not – but what do we know? That said, if you didn’t already know these guys, we’re sure they won you over. And if you can look past the silly comment made about them by the new promoter who popped up recently, we’re sure you’ll be catching them again very soon.

Bodyweb

Next up were Bodyweb, who surprised us all right away by talking about their links to the local area. It was an instantly wholesome moment, and that theme continued throughout the set, with vocalist Louis Hardy making a point of showing his love for the city and its scene, something that went down incredibly well with the crowd.

Beyond the showmanship, the band’s set went off without a hitch, dialling things up from the already rowdy performance that came before. If we had to sum up one defining feature of the set, it would be the sheer amount of jumping. Somehow, almost every track had the crowd bouncing from wall to wall, with the occasional mosh breaking out in between.

The band sounded absolutely huge, and despite a slightly clicky kick drum, perhaps just a particularly loud trigger, they put on one hell of a performance. Having seen them a few weeks earlier in my hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, they had to do very little to win me over, but they still pulled out all the stops and delivered yet another noticeable improvement. Bodyweb seem to get better with every show, and Rock City was treated to something truly special.

Knocked Loose

Following a 45-minute changeover (yes, 45 minutes…), Knocked Loose descended upon Rock City, their hardcore-tinged brand of metalcore serving as the evening’s main attraction. Backed by their now-iconic neon green crucifix, the stage was set for the Louisville five-piece to take us on a journey, and we were well and truly locked in.

Busting out their now tried-and-tested setlist, there was no downtime throughout, with Garris and Hale routinely taking shots at the audience, demanding more and more at every turn. Hale later declared, “I want you to punch your friends in the face“, only adding to the absurdity of it all. “Blinding Faith” set things in motion, flowing directly into “Don’t Reach for Me” to double down on the carnage, with the crucifix emphasising the message throughout. There was a clear overarching thread running through the set, with tracks from the band’s latest effort, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, driving the narrative forwards, while the crucifix flashed different colours throughout.

For those who have been around a little longer, there was also a smattering of older tracks thrown into the mix. “Oblivion’s Peak“, “Billy No Mates“, and “Belleville” were notable inclusions, despite not being particularly old themselves. What did feel slightly strange was hearing some of these tracks without their usual array of guest features. Having been spoilt at Outbreak 2025, and then again at Slam Dunk North 2026, I found myself waiting for appearances that never came. That is no fault of the band, though. Including guest features at every performance would be an absolute nightmare and would ultimately detract from the excitement when they do happen.

Of course, is it even a modern Knocked Loose show without the iconic “Counting Worms“? No, it is not, and it made an appearance in a big way, closing out the main portion of the set. Met with thunderous roars, it is a track that any self-respecting modern hardcore fan recognises instantly. Following the euphoria, the band quickly returned with the Upon Loss singles “Deep in the Willow” and “Everything Is Quiet Now“. The latter saw a prolonged pause as Hale parted the crowd and commanded absolute carnage when the breakdown finally hit.

Knocked Loose have cemented themselves in the annals of hardcore history, yet despite already being firmly established, they continue to raise the bar, honing their craft and giving everything they have every time they step on stage. They are more than just musicians. They are artists, with every aspect of their work feeling like a genuine labour of love. Knocked Loose will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most influential acts the genre has ever produced. If you have somehow still not managed to see them live, do yourself a favour and get yourself to a show. You will not regret it.