I found out a couple of days prior that this would be my last gig of 2021, so I was intent on making the most of it and arrived just before doors were due to open. The venue staff were asking everyone for their COVID Passes upon entry and I was pleased to see that none of the people who were in the queue ahead of me had a problem with this. With a lot of people planning trips home to their families for Christmas in a few weeks’ time, it really makes a lot of sense to try and keep everyone as safe as possible. Don’t be a dick – take a Lateral Flow Test if you are heading to a gig to try and keep the band, crew, venue staff and attendees safe. Anyway, on with the show!
First to take to the stage were Heriot who I had been keen to see live. Their set time was just 30 minutes after doors opened so understandably the room wasn’t yet very full, but there were a good number of people who had come along early to check out all the bands, which is always nice to see. Within just a few moments of the band starting their set the people who had been mingling around the bar and merch were enticed by the intoxicating heaviness coming from the stage and congregated to get a better look at the creators of the noise. Heriot combine elements of sludge and metalcore, and have been hotly tipped amongst the UK metal scene as ones to watch…and for good reason. Be sure to check them out at Bloodstock Festival in 2022.
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Next up were Earthtone9 who had a more alt-metal / melodic sound though still continuing the unashamed heaviness of the evening. I really enjoyed the mix of clean and growl vocals, and there were some great harmonies in there as well for good measure. They were great fun to watch and lead vocalist Karl put the mic stand to good use and swung it into the air at various points during their set.
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This was my first time seeing Raging Speedhorn live, but I had heard many great things and was very much looking forward to watching their set. By the time they took to the stage the room had filled up considerably and everyone was in great spirits, including the band. They were high-energy from the very start and there was a lot of interaction with the crowd. After the first minute or so of their set I found myself on the edge of a moshpit (not always ideal when trying to take photos) and that was not the first of the evening. It was really great to see people enjoying live music again and I think it means so much more to everyone now that we know the pain of having to go without it for so long. Raging Speedhorn played a blistering and high-spirited set that put a smile on the face of everyone who was there to experience it. As my final gig of 2021 this was a great one, and left me feeling very excited for the proper return of live music that 2022 will (hopefully) bring.
Pics by Katie Frost Photography
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