The FudBlog: CORE FESTIVAL, GLASGOW, DAY 1, SEPTEMBER 12 2025

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

CORE FESTIVAL, GLASGOW, DAY 1, SEPTEMBER 12 2025

Glasgow's premier underground metal festival, back for a third year.

'No plan survives first contact with the enemy' - attributed to Gen. Carl von Clausewitz, amongst others.

FRIDAY:

Right, here we are in Glasgow, waiting at the front door of the Woodside Halls, and getting nervous. GOD ALONE are due to start shortly, but the box office, where we're supposed to pick up wristbands and press passes, won't open until 7:00pm at the earliest. This is awkward, and needs to be sorted for future events. Opening the doors 30 minutes or so earlier surely can't be impossible.

The quotation above will prove to be relevant.

We are already presented with a major clash, with headliners TORCHE directly up against math-rock legends AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR. It's a tough choice, but I've seen ASIWYFA recently in Leeds, so I opt for the resurrected Torche up in the main hall. It's still a bit annoying because it would be good to see the Irish lads in their natural environment of a small venue, but it's going to be really hard to get in if you're not there VERY early. It will be, and indeed IS, rammed.

Line-up:

GOD ALONE( Hug & Pint): Hyperactive Cork math-rock lads, out on tour with And So I Watch You From Afar. Very twiddly, very dancey. A fine selection of horrible shirts.

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/godalonecork

OMO: Enigmatic doom/sludge combo from Glasgow, featuring current and former members of a number of other bands from Glasgow. Which bands? Various bands.

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571640149538

HELMS ALEE: Seattle thundersludge trio touring with TORCHE and playing their first ever gig in Scotland. A band I've wanted to see for many years and they do not disappoint.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/i-RoWcRtEDU https://www.facebook.com/HelmsAlee

TORCHE: Stoner-sludge/pop quartet from Miami, they 'retired' in 2022 but CORE persuaded them to come back to play a few gigs with CAVE IN, and here they are. Nice to see them back in Glasgow for what proves to be the best gig I've seen them play. Quality.

Singer/guitarist STEVE BROOKS now has a lot more hair than he had last time I saw them.