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

THE RISE OF MALEVOLENCE TO UK METAL ICONS

Throughout more or less my entire time being involved in hardcore Malevolence have featured regularly, in one way or another. They have risen from UKHC (even though always very much a metal band) to an iconic international metal act, in a way I dont think anyone could have predicted despite their obvious talent and impeccable musicianship. 

The first time I caught Malevolence I was a teenager attending a show at Joseph's Well in Leeds (Acacia Strain, BWP, Martyr Defiled and about 70 other bands). Now to go watch them I'd maybe have to buy a ticket for Bloodstock to see them on mainstage. Having followed the journey closely I can safely say that they have been one of my most enjoyed/watched bands of the last 10-15 years. 

Having formed in school and all awesome musicians in their own right we should have, but could never have predicted what they are to become today. In tandem with playing amongst some real well known bands for violent crowd participation early on, Desolated, Heavy Hands, it felt like they offered something a little different. They were definitely falling into the vein of being one of the toughest bands in the UK while still holding tightly to the metal sound that has ultimately projected them to tours with Hatebreed, Thy Art is Murder, Trivium and Terror to name a few. Stark contrast from watching them play small club venues in Newcastle for example at the start. 

 

Early photo taken from https://www.dirtyskunks.org/bandinfo/malevolence.html (also an interesting read for the time) 

There had already been a two track featuring their re-recorded song 'Wraith' that was heavily on my radar but when the video for Serpents Chokehold release in the leadup to their debut record 'Reign of Suffering' it felt like something totally fresh for the UK in terms of HC/Metal. Capturing the attention now not only of the hardcore community but the wider metal audience.The singles to follow (Condemned to Misery and Eternal torment) featured notable performances such as Ghostfest 2013 and  displayed the DIY HC crew mentality / party vibe that had become so apparent in their early years perfectly. 

The debut album was perfect to be honest, their sound defined strongly with absolutely no skips and even what sounds like a Stampin Ground influenced track 'Turn to stone' which would be built on to define their success. Between this time and 2018 I witnessed them rip countless headline shows, each one as true to size as the other, always carnage, always unbelievably tight, always violent.

Between Reign of Suffering and Self Supremacy in 2017 saw Malev gain a hell of a lot of traction, while retaining their sound, they demonstrated on this record that their song writing had not only matured slightly but you could really start to hear them as we know them today. Touring Europe/Asia and establishing themselves as way more than just tough guy beatdown metal. 

These days Malevolence sound like a real metal band. Put together like an orchestra with some serious production value and thought that goes into every note. They’ve toured the globe , got a Nike sponsorship , designed amps , lived some of that tour bus life and have risen to being a true generational act that could destroy any stadium / festival stage. They haven’t lost what they were originally and have adapted into something much greater than your run of the mill metal band. 

If you managed to catch Malevolence in the early days do not take for granted how special it is to have seen this band rip in your hometown / in a small room / at a no barrier show with a tonne of hc bands. I feel blessed to have been there and when all is said and done and I’m old it’ll be interesting to look back on given their trajectory. Proud that these guys fly the flag for UK metal. 

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.