“You’re just a fucking waste of space.”
Photography by @maissnaps. Please contact before reuse.
Words by Jack Walker.
Stoke-on-Trent has undergone a revival of sorts. Once a thriving hub, the city’s hardcore and alternative scene spent years limping along, only sporadically producing shows. Now, 1782 Promotions, spearheaded by Josh from Invasion, is determined to put an end to the lull and reignite a once-fervent community. With the aptly titled Stoke City Fight Night acting as the next jolt to the defibrillator, we headed down to The Underground to see how the resurgence is shaping up.
Invasion
A local staple, Invasion has become unavoidable for anyone attending heavy shows in the city this past year, and if you’ve not caught their set, you’ve almost certainly seen their members keeping the pits alive. A group of local lads deeply rooted in the scene, they possess a spark that’s impossible to ignore.
Regularly opening shows, their graft is paying off; each performance shows marked improvement in tightness, confidence, and crowd control. Having caught them at both Stormfest and the Riff Factory opening in support of Static Dress this year, two major milestones for any band, it’s clear they’re on a steep upward trajectory.
Josh’s booming, echoing vocals command the room with an authority far beyond the band’s years, backed by an instrumental core that hits with real intent. Despite only having one single officially released, they already boast a full set of solid material, every track standing strong in its own right and forming a setlist that rivals more seasoned acts. Now all they need is to get the rest of those songs out into the world so fans can scream them back.
Demeanour
Next up were Demeanour, bringing their distinctive brand of hardcore back to Stoke-on-Trent. A familiar name to locals, they’ve graced the city frequently in the past year, something vocalist Izabel Lavin proudly acknowledged, declaring “We love Stoke-on-Trent!” multiple times throughout their set.
Performance-wise, they delivered exactly what their fans have grown to expect: chaos, comedy, and catharsis in equal measure. Their set felt like an action comedy unfolding in real time, part genuine threat to your personal safety, part laugh-out-loud theatre between songs.
Performing their latest EP My Own Fate in full, alongside a selection of additional tracks, the pit wasted no time filling with dancers, moshers and devoted fans shouting every word. Of course, Demeanour’s trademark humour also made its return, with the Skylanders bodywash saga, introduced during their Stormfest set, continuing in the form of a Skylander figure placed proudly centre-stage. It’s a small detail, but a perfect example of the band’s commitment to the bit, and to acknowledging their ongoing relationship with the city.
Oh, and at one point, we were treated to a passionate monologue about Family Guy reruns, abruptly cut short as the band launched into the next track. Demeanour is overflowing with character, and for such a young band, their stage presence is truly remarkable.
Mindhold
Nottingham’s Mindhold followed, bringing heavyweight hardcore from the other end of the A50 straight into The Potteries. A band requiring little introduction, they’ve been steadily climbing the UK hardcore ladder, and this performance was another confident step upwards.
Taking the opportunity to film footage for an upcoming music video for an unreleased self-titled track, vocalist Jay Broadhead demanded movement from the crowd from the outset, and Stoke eagerly delivered. This is where Fight Night truly lived up to its name. The pit became instantly more feral, each mosher fighting for the chance to be immortalised on camera. Jay’s encouragement for participants to cause widespread carnage around the horseshoe only intensified the atmosphere.
Beyond Jay’s commanding presence, the band sounded towering: thick, crushing riffs and relentless drums created a sense of impending doom that never once eased up. Even during more groove-driven moments, Mindhold avoided the temptation to lighten things up, instead doubling down on their menacing edge.
Short but incredibly potent, their set cemented Mindhold as one of the UK’s most promising up-and-coming heavy hardcore bands.
BIND.
Site favourites BIND. took to the stage next, albeit with a twist. Only half the lineup was able to make the show, but rather than cancelling, the band pulled off a stroke of genius by recruiting Aidan and Connor of dormant noise to fill in at the last minute.
Where many bands would have felt loose or shaky under such circumstances, BIND. were the opposite: staggeringly tight, confident, and well-rehearsed. Had you not known about the lineup shuffle, you’d have assumed this was the standard formation.
Performing War In Heaven in full alongside other fan favourites, they once again delivered a standout set. At this point, BIND. have become a near-guarantee: every performance is massive, and their potential is undeniable. Given time, they seem destined for something huge.
Bodybag
Closing the night were Brighton’s own purveyors of evil mosh, Bodybag; easily the heaviest act on the bill and responsible for transforming an already hostile pit into a full-blown warzone.
With a radically different vocal and sonic profile to those before them, Bodybag’s arrival immediately shifted the atmosphere. Choopsie’s snarling, prowling delivery required little additional crowd coercion; the music alone whipped the room into violence.
Instrumentally harsher and every bit as intimidating as Mindhold, Bodybag’s set radiated pure menace. You knew from the first note that a storm was incoming. Marking their debut in Stoke-on-Trent, they seized the moment entirely, even succumbing to chants for an “unplanned” encore, which amounted to the crowd simply refusing to let them leave without one final blow.
Bodybag have stamped their authority on Stoke, delivering one of the most brutal sets the city has seen in recent memory. It leaves only one question: who could possibly top this?
Final Thoughts
Stoke City Fight Night was a genuine triumph, a celebration of small, homegrown bands all offering something unique, each rewarded with a huge response. It feels like a tipping point for Stoke-on-Trent’s hardcore scene. Crowds are growing, enthusiasm is returning, and with 1782 Promotions consistently bringing shows to the city, there’s truly never been a better time to be a hardcore fan in The Potteries.