Final weather report. It’s wet. Much more representative Welsh Bank Holiday weekend weather but the temperature inside Hangar 18 is warm, and about to get warmer. We’ve covered the album release of South Wales deep sea lurkers King Kraken in depth, including their triumphant launch party at the end of January. Today, the quintet arrive having played Merthyr supporting Chris Slade and then Bradstock in Bradford the following day. There may be a few bangs under the eyes, but the Kraken is a robust and reliable beast. They rip into Devil’s Night and steamroller the venue for the next 40 minutes. Frontman Mark Donoghue was never short of confidence but he’s now the consummate lead, quipping for fun as the banter starts from the decent support the band have attracted. There are plenty of the green t-shirts in the crowd. Kraken play a blistering set, from the balls out “Green Terror” through to the bombastic “Chaos Engine”. When “Castle of Bones” rolls out, it’s time for another notch on the victory post. You need to see this band. End of.
Following such heaviness is a challenge, but Scarsun manage to bring a different level to proceedings. Singer Letha Curtis has a great voice that works neatly with the band’s dual guitar attack. She’s also got a potty mouth which gets a lot of laughs. It’s hot on stage, as she attests. “I’m sweating my bollocks off up here” she admits, before taking off her huge hat which then provokes anxiety about ‘hat hair’. A ten-track set list comprises plenty to enjoy, from the opener “Rule”, the seduction of “Sirens” and the triumphant finale of “Aerials”. The South Wales band are another fitting in the vibrant alt-metal scene and well worth catching if you can.
If you are going to do swagger, then do it with SWAGGER!! Blackpool’s Takeaway Thieves combine the best parts of sleaze, high level octane rock n roll and hard rock in one heady hit. From the opening bars of “13 Feathers” this was 40 minutes to lose yourself in everything that is great about the music we love. “Spider” gets under the skin, whilst “Hot Cat” and “Honky Tonk” see shapes thrown. This band might be that subliminal message you were warned about, for they truly are an infectious bunch. Vocalist Peter brings the smooth, whilst guitarist Ben wins the biggest hair of the weekend award. He can also shred for fun. By the time the anthemic “This is Rock N Roll” ends the set, Takeaway Thieves work is done. The venue is bouncing. Quality.
Just a Ride are clearly not along for the, ahem, ride. They have their own photographer and a stand in drummer in Jon Pugh. They mean business and after a slightly challenging intro they flood the venue with their grunge-filled sound. It’s vocalist Rod Henderson who leads the charge, fully animated and switching from stage left to right at will. Named after Bill Hicks’ comedy routine, Just A Ride have a contemporary feel that fuses most of the metal sounds that have emerged since 2000. It’s big, heavy on the riff, with songs like “Who You Are and closing song “I Wanna Know” dirty earworms. Another on the list for social media likes and future viewings. Their groove is infectious.
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The numerous bodies in the crowd sporting White Raven Down merchandise suggests that there will be a big support for the band. It’s been nearly two years since I’ve seen the band at The Yard in Cornwall. I’ve never been a huge fan but tonight they win me over with a performance that is nothing short of consummate. They’ve morphed into a three-piece since that show in Cornwall, with Stu Bailey taking on the vocals from Will Taylor. A huge ask, since he’s the guitarist, but the man is huge. He can shred for fun, but also carries the music with aplomb. His Gibson SG sings throughout the seven-song set and his charisma shines most. He does hard rock cliches with such panache that you can’t help but smile and join in. Singalongs, epic workouts (“Salvation” and “Void & Flame” are both epic) and hands aloft. By the time we hit “Lost your Hold”, complete with the umpteenth guitarist to solo in the middle of the audience, I’m already wondering when I can catch them again. Clearly some people were ahead of the curve. Tonight, White Raven Down are superb.
As the final evening speeds towards the end, we still have a couple of treats left. Bastette are an unknown quantity for me, but their dark, moody, brooding alternative edged rock works on every level. Singer songwriter Caroline Kenyon copes with an early technical problem in classic style. She waits for it to be sorted for her! But it’s worth the wait, for the ten-song set is bewitching. Caroline may own the stage, for she is a striking woman, but there is a darkness about the songs that gives them an edge. It’s evident in songs like “Poison”, “Karma” and the fiery “Rip Me to Shreds”. By the time they reach “Rollercoaster”, there’s an evident respect for one of the finest sets of the weekend.
It’s hard to argue with the fact that, should they had been where they are now when they were booked, Empyre would have headlined this event. Despite their misery, there’s no doubt that the Northamptonshire outfit are riding the crest of a wave following the stunning Relentless album released mere weeks ago. This was a set that was simply imperious. I’ve seen them a few times, firstly opening for Mason Hill two years ago and more recently for the Vintage Caravan in October 2022. They don’t need to support anyone else. They are true headline material. They open with “Waking Light”, the haunting melancholy drenching their sound. But they can do heavy too. The workout on “Relentless” is bruising. Singer Henrik Steenholdt deals with the inevitable banter in a style akin to Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt. “You can dance” he says, “without enjoying yourselves”.
They test the fanbase. “Who knows the last track on Self Aware?” Silence. “I don’t know either,” laughs Henrik. “It’s written down” he says before the band launch into “Homegrown”. It’s a deep, dark song, that allows guitarist Did Coles to show his worth. It’s a headline set in everything but name. As they close with “New Republic”, there is no doubt that their other shows this year in Wales will be stellar. See them at Steelhouse or The Patriot in Crumlin. It’ll be the last time you’ll see them in such intimate settings. Believe me.
It’s time for the final band, headliners Bad Touch. They start with all the swagger that headliners should have. “Lift Your Head Up” and “Good on Me” get the party started. Unfortunately, the band’s name applies to their ‘house’ photographer, who shows no manners in the tight photo pit by barging through and knocking cameras out of hand. Time is called and the Norfolk outfit play into the night as I hit the M4 home. It’s the one sour note on a fabulous weekend that has seen love (an onstage marriage proposal), laughter and the sight of one of the organisers with a rum-induced hangover. I can’t wait to do it again.
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Pics by Paul Hutchings
