Live Review: Supersonic Festival 2024 – Day 1, Friday | Digbeth, Birmingham | 30/08/2024

Back at the Institute, low-key supergroup The None make an explosive entrance with the opening track “Plow” from their debut EP MATTER. The spectacle is kept straightforward, not using the LED screen and opting for simple ambient lighting for the duration of their enthralling set. Despite only recently unleashing their monstrous debut and having just sixteen minutes of available material, the band happily fill out their near hour long slot with a range of unreleased cuts. Vocalist Kaila Whyte has an undeniable presence as a front-person and the band are hypnotising to watch as they unleash cut after cut of infectious noise rock and hardcore punk. Bringing things to a close with the two massive singles “Pigs Need Feeding” and “Old Cloth Soon Frays”, The None make it abundantly clear that they are a must see act, making for not only one of the best sets of the festival, but maybe one of the best sets of the entire year.

In stark contrast to The None’s stripped back stage set up, experimental electronic outfit UKAEA take full advantage of XOYO’s LED screen an impressive lighting rig for, at times intense, others vivid visuals. They’ve put together their live presentation with notable precision, the visuals and the music lining up seamlessly depending on whether its a more ambient atmospherics or full on modular synthesis chaos. Most of the tracks are quite lengthy, allowing the band to draw the audience in, slowly but surely and flipping expectations on a whim. The collective is comprised of mastermind Dan Jones manning the synth station and providing haunting vocals, additional instrumentation in the form of a heavily modulated trumpet finds its way into the careening experimental electronica as well as some guest vocalists. It’s a sight to behold as the violent strobes and bass heavy beats lay waste to a delighted audience fully absorbed in the hypnotic soundscapes being generated. 

Photo Credit:

Taya Llewellyn

Having played Supersonic several times over its twenty one year history, its safe to say the Institute is at the busiest its been all day for tonight’s headliners and underground legends Melt Banana. Marking tonight as the Birmingham stop on their extensive UK tour supporting their first album in eleven years 3 + 5, it’s also arguably the biggest show the duo have played in heart of the West Midlands. The band waste little time igniting their incendiary melding of noise rock and nail biting hardcore punk. It’s a furious display, guitarist Ichiro Agata unleashing scores of screeching noise and electrifying riffs, vocalist Yasuko Onuki manically dances around the stage, screaming with a sample pad in hand controlling the oppressive backing tracks the duo perform with. It is almost a little too much at times, the instrumentals boom out of the PA as this immovable slab of power, occasionally attempting to swallow the vocals and guitars whole underneath their monolithic weight, but letting up before it becomes a real problem.

Its a career spanning set, not a difficult feat for a band embracing the hardcore punk and grind core spirit, churning out a wealth of cuts from 3 + 5 alongside deeper discography picks and fan favourites. The audience are swiftly wrapped up in the chaos themselves, pits are opening within the first few minutes; little time is left to breathe between tracks, a full frontal barrage over the fifty minute set, pure undiluted fury and cascading energy engulfing the theatre space. It is easy to see why Melt Banana hold this sterling reputation and die hard cult fan base, drawing out speed fiends from the punk, metal and noise worlds, uniting them in celebrating experimental madness, continuing to push the boundaries of extreme music in their own unique way.

Photo Credit:

Taya Llewellyn

Though the night’s headliner has been and gone, there is still a little more going on back at XOYO to keep the party going into the wee hours. Spanish outfit Dame Area make a huge impression with their combination of suffocating industrial dark wave with hints of post-punk. Incredibly percussive, soaked in the feelings of authoritarian anguish, its an enthralling set and makes for a nice contrast to the furious punk rock that came before. Manchester DJ Hesska constructs deeply woven experiences, taking the audience on a journey through ambience into industrial inspired hard rave experiences throughout their set. Finally, up and coming producer/vocalist Grove brings the night to a close with their curated collaboration set between themselves, TaliAble and Toya Delazy. Mixing their politically poignant, DIY inspired blends of hip-hop and dancehall with TaliAble’s punk rock infused hip-hop fury and Toya Delazy’s “Afrorave”, blending of Zulu roots and heavy rave music, for an extremely unique and powerful closing experience and impression for night one.