Amy Bowles
As the UK is plummeted into cold-as-fuck temperatures, is there a better way than to spend your weekend watching exceptional hardcore, screamo and extreme metal? The answer is no, there isn’t. Whilst some are rushing back to the warmth of their homes to settle in for the weekend, Reality Unfolds is kicking. The twinkly riffs of incaseyouleave initiated a gentler start to the weekend, welcoming a resurgence of miserable 00’s screamo, transporting you back to your 14-year-old self as vocalist Aaron’s intense screams blast into the crowd. Continuing this the screamo theme, an exquisite set from post-screamo As Living Arrows delivers a healthy dose of atmospheric gloom, delicate riffs and pummelling heaviness creating a sea of gentle meandering heads from the crowd.
The soft twinkles and ethereal screamo may lead you to question, when the chaos begins. Cue Death Goals. Juxtaposing the subdued headbangs a few moments ago, the chaotic queer hardcore two-piece instantly erupt the room into mayhem delivering fast-paced screeching riffs and punishing breakdowns with vocalist Harry exclaiming from the start that their set is a “dance party”. This statement is well affirmed by the wash of flying arms, spinkicks throughout their performance and frenzy of the crowd during ‘Shrike’ later leading to Harry being held up and carried around the pit. There is no doubt that Death Goals are a band this scene needs, especially after one of the highlight performances of the weekend.
Milan’s ØJNE are the first co-headliners of the night, with a special performance – their first in the UK for 10 years. Whilst being completely distinct to the band prior with a much slower tempo, the powerful blend of old-school aggressive screamo and post-hardcore ignites the crowd once again, some getting riled up and others slowly headbanging, transfixed to the beauty unfolding in front of them. It may have been a decade since ØJNE performed in London, but that did not hinder their performance in the slightest. The delicateness of their riffs, strength of their bass lines and raw tenderness of their vocalist, who spent the majority of the set performing from the pit, made for an utterly entrancing show for old and new fans of this captivating act
As Friday draws to a close we are treated to Pupil Slicer’s well deserved first London headline show. It is widely known that Pupil Slicer deliver an exciting set and, even with recent lineup changes, tonight is no exception as they grace the crowd with their signature hefty mathcore sound. As the night’s finale kicks off, there is a vibrant energy in the New Cross Inn, the crowd are pumped and chaos ensues from the opening track ‘No Temple’. Continuing with material from their well received 2023 album, Blossom, frontperson Katie Davie effortlessly switches between malevolent screams and striking singing complemented with blistering walls of noise and trilling riffs. Plunging into ‘Stabbing Spiders’ from their debut album Mirrors receives the roaring reception from the crowd it deserves and the room once again erupts with violent energy until the set’s conclusion – the perfect way to end off the first day of the festival.