Overpower, the best active UK crossover band.

I have always made it very clear , sometimes rather embarrassingly to them directly that I firmly believe Overpower are the best current UK crossover band with next to no competition in their tier. (With honourable mentions for Grove street and Inhuman Nature)

Having been familiar with a few of the faces from previous UKHC bands such as Strikeback I've followed OP from early. Their discography so far from start to finish has no brakes no filler and riffs for days and in the build up to their latest release I thought it was worth detailing the attributes that make them so good. 

Their 2022 release along with Becoming the Tyrant both provide a decent level of blood on the hilt of their swords, few crit 20 rolls and a fuckin side to side or two to get the blood pumping and the sweat dripping inside your armour. This band is for the sweaty nerd and the macho man alike and I truly do not know how anyone who is into thrash/crossover could ever dislike this band. 

Their latest single Terminus has a massive nod to seasons of the abyss era Slayer and that middle riff got me feeling like blasting Angel of death for sure. 

The vocalist wears chainmail , the guitarists have solos and riffs for days and they sound like an amalgamation of early thrash big four style with mosh parts to make anyone break out of their own skin. Do I really need to sell this band any further. 

Music for me is just a part of why this band are making the waves they are , these are some of the hardest working people in UKHC right now and continually do it with a smile. I have booked Overpower personally multiple times and they never leave anything to be desired all round , would happily have them any and every time they want to be back up in Middlesbrough. 

As a testament to the hard work just in 2026 you could have seen Overpower at Foe fest ( Bristol ) , Crossbreaker all dayers ( Glasgow ) , Bloodstock , our annual fest ( Middlesbrough ) , Boom ( Leeds ) , Incineration festival ( London ) , Return to strength fest ( Germany ) and that’s just to name a few. With more headline shows around the country and festival lineups to be revealed I’m sure make no mistake about

the graft these lads are putting in to bring Overpower to the people that need it. 

All around 10/10 band for me clearly the best active UK crossover band and I will unashamedly glaze them until they make it big and stop playing mosh parts to ( never gonna stop playing mosh parts surely ) . 

Book Overpower for your town or go catch them on the road, you wont regret it. Just check out what other people had to say about them. 

Iron will Promo - ' They absolutely killed it (Headline Derby show) , every one of them are lovely lads and its obvious how much work theyre putting in. Gonna be a huge couple of years for them for sure. Also they incited the first circle ever Iron Will circle put, which shouldnt even be possible in that room. 

Local scene gremlin (Jess) - ' Overpower dont miss do they, put that in ya review'

Photos of Overpower playing the Rhapsody Records Annual all dayer by @KLGcreation

World Peace , hosted by Industrial Coast in Middlesbrough

First of all I'd like to applaud Industrial Coast for managing to bring out a crowd for a mixed bill show in Middlesbrough on a Wednesday night. Promoting for underground events can be tough and this show brought a little bit of what I'd like to see in the world to my home town.

Unfortunately I missed Diall due to fatherhood duties, but can confirm that that band rip. The rest of the night in the lead up to World Peace was filled with what I would describe as noise acts. One of these acts resonated with me the most 'Seb Hewison'. Their set would be what I would relate to as an emotional and potentially drug fueled crash out , with Seb literally tying themselves in knots with the microphone wire and getting in and amongst the crowd. Even though the audible words weren't specifically present I really think this set told a story of , pain , confusion and potentially loss. 

As World Peace came to stage the crowd was incredibly quiet, like they were about to witness something spectacular and the anticipation was correct. The venue (Auxilliary space, Mbro) was a perfect backdrop for their strobe lighting and all black outfits and created an eery yet powerful vibe. Usually when a band lines up with 2 bass players and no guitarist you would expect them to sound massive and World Peace did not disappoint. 

I would describe their sound as apocalypse worthy powerviolence with a sort of metallic doom edge. Vocalist was nothing but visceral and overall as a band the best word I could use to describe them was explosive. There was no conventional mosh at this show but it did not take away from the event. Although maybe hard to dance to, each one of World Peace's tracks provided a sense of unnerving surprise that kept you guessing in the best sense possible. 

Massive bass tones, incredible drummer, powerful singer. Everything you would ask from a band of this style. Overall I was super impressed with all 9 minutes of the set, while I would have liked to watch them for longer, all of that time was filled with something special. 

They didnt talk or fuck around, got on with the task at hand and really made that journey from the US worth it in 9 minutes. Something that a lot of bands fail to do at all, never mind in such a short space of time. Wicked band. 

Overall real fun show and a change of scenery for us! Big ups all involved in putting it together. 

Pictures by @tomw19

Lights Out – Fall on your sword (2026) - REVIEW

Lights Out – Fall on your sword (2026)

Fall on your sword above all else has attitude, stays far away from the overproduced bullshit and hits right where you need it to. 

You're immediately made aware within the first two tracks that this band is for a sweaty dingy room and not for your corporate playlist and I say that in the best way possible. Its not trying to be too clever but purely because its got the style to back itself. Ultimately this project has a lot of grit in the teeth.  No excess, no distractions—just solid UKHC that does exactly what god intended. 

The first time I ever booked this band they had no music out and it was based entirely off of a glowing recommendation from a friend. Approx. a year on and that friend has put out their latest EP Fall on your Sword on a fresh Teesside label, Unit-E Records. Aside from the fact that this EP can run with the strongest its wicked to see the homie's team up here. 

Still to this day the best band I've ever witnessed in the hell hole that is Disgraceland (TS1) , some of the dopest guys on the planet and heavily, heavily slept on as we move into summer 2026. Go fuck with what they do before you regret that you didn't! Stream the full thing below. 

INTERVIEW WITH PRIMAL MEDIA

Words on violent participation at shows, root inspiration and bands that surprised them live with Joe from Primal Media. 

What is it about this sub/underground culture that really drew you towards it ? Is there any band or show you can note ?

Obviously the music comes first but secondary to it has to be just the culture of shows in general. Most people are friendly and regulars of hc shows understands the vibe so I feel it’s a great opportunity for people to just be themselves.

What turned that into eventually starting Primal Media ?

I’ve always loved filmmaking so as I imbedded my self more into the hardcore scene, through going to more shows and starting my own band. I just tried to see if I could combine the two really.

I think documentation in hc is super important at any level for the scene to continue to thrive and for people to look back on , what’s your take ?

I couldn’t agree more, I wouldn’t be shooting videos if I wasn’t influenced by people doing it before me. Even watching videos from like 20/25 years ago for inspiration.

Can you name a band that you’ve watched that really surprised you , and why ?

Headstone, mainly because I hadn’t listened to them before I filmed them at a show in Sheffield. Just an incredible band that I know are going to do big things. And Nelson street, just not what I was expecting before I listened to them but they just tick every box for me. Groove, riffs and unexpectedly heavy breakdowns. Incredible live band.

What have you got to say to people who believe that violent participation in hc is out of place and ‘ wouldn’t happen at a show if they were there ‘ ?

Get in the bin. Orrr, leave your ego at the door, take a backseat at a show and come to the conclusion that it’s not just people meeting up for a scrap. Talk to people, “most” people just want to have a good time.

Clockface - ST EP 2026 - REVIEW

Clockface - ST EP 2026

Clockface are a fresh band out of Chicago Illinois/Detroit that cite themselves as 'hardcore that sounds like hardcore' and I couldn't love that notion any more. 

They've been at it since 2024 and while their original demo maybe didn't make a wave on the wider scene I really think this EP is one that's worth its salt. There's no frills and no gimmicks here while keeping the quality levels high. 

As soon as I heard this EP I knew it was going to be one for me , and it didn't lose my attention throughout the entire project. 'Opposite and true' is a real hard hitter, its got the fast visceral start before snowballing into a breakdown that would bring you out of mosh retirement. 

This isnt a project that boasts a tough guy aesthetic and viewing the lyrics it manages to remain emotional while maintaining a certain level of stank face that every good HC project truly needs. 

'Blot' is probably my favorite track on this EP , the main riff being something indicative of an early NYHC banger or even comparable to some Combust material. This track shows that the clock has many faces and isn't confined to any boxes you would maybe put certain hardcore bands in. 

Its evident to see how hard this band have been working over the last couple of years from the amount of material they've put out and I think they've given themselves a massive platform to jump off of with this release. Would love to see them across the pond in the UK one day.

Check them out on Instagram @clockface_hc and check back in with this band, even if they don't blow the way I expect then well worth keeping up with either way. They're rocking with another one of my personal favorite's Jivebomb in Detroit on March 27th and I wish them the best of luck in the future. 

Break Them – To the Death (2026) - REVIEW

Break Them – To the Death (2026)

Straight away this record is giving UK’s answer to early Hatebreed/Smash Your Enemies. No peace for my enemies feels like a clenched fist militant anthem.

If you needed something to put the stomp in your step this record is for you. My favourite track across the EP is ‘Trench raid’ the mid track stomp section has got to be killer live and I am still yet to catch Break Them!! I think there’s a lot more to come from this band and have seen them and their team working hard for their local scene and surrounds for a number of years. The hard work is definitely paying off with this one! Go check out Break Them at the East Anglia takeover in Lincoln , hosted by Fenland hardcore on Friday the 10th of April.

Nylon – Single Shot (2026) - REVIEW BY @JDPROSHO

Nylon – Single Shot EP

Single Shot by Rhapsody favourite Sheffield Stormtroopers Nylon is exactly what it sounds like: fast, filthy, and fired straight from the wrist with no regard for recoil. It’s four tracks of pure Steel City chaos, an audio bruise that reminds you why Nylon are at the top of the Uk Hardcore tree.

Since their 2024 acclaimed Chariot of the Gods, Nylon have spent basically all of 2025 doing the touring equivalent of a triathlon — sprinting between cities, festivals and any space that will have them, including a couple of shows up in Teesside. Single Shot feels like a postcard from that road‑worn mission: battered, grimy, and absolutely vibrating with the adrenaline of dozens of shows’ worth of crowd‑kill energy.

Single Shot doesn’t waste time — or even acknowledge the idea of time. From the first snare crack, Nylon come in swinging like they’re trying to shake the rafters of whatever building you’re listening in. Their signature cocktail of brutish punk aggression and chugging, hardcore breakdowns remains fully intact, only now it’s been marinated in endless tour miles and shows a band shaped by their experiences out on the road.

The guitars scrape and grind with that classic UKHC grit — like a rusted buzzsaw held together with duct tape. The rhythm section sounds one minor inconvenience away from full structural collapse, what’s interesting about Single Shot, though, is the subtle shift beneath the carnage. Nylon are letting melody seep into the cracks of their sound — not via any singalong hooks, but in the sense that something more expansive is bubbling under the surface of the chaos.

If this EP is a pulse check on where they’re heading for 2026, the outlook is wild: bigger ideas, bigger swings, and possibly the most melodic direction they’ve attempted yet. Just South Yorkshire hardcore at its rowdiest, and a warning shot for what they’ve got cooking over the next year.

Eight minutes. Four tracks. Zero pretension.

Written by @jdprosho