Hefty new post-metal, etc. festival from those nice folks at RIPCORD RECORDS. It's the last gig of the month (It's not, as it happens. Got a short notice one on the 24th), a Saturday, a 70 mile drive away and I've got work tomorrow. This might kill me.
WOLVES: First up, post-hardcore noisy boys from...oh, I don't know. Somewhere grim in England, probably. Fine stuff.
SOLARS: Sturdy post-rock from Birmingham.
CIVIL SERVICE: First band of the day that I've seen before. Synth/sample heavy post-rock from Manchester. Their recent new album is called 'DARK', which is appropriate since they play, mostly, in the...dark.
HELVE: The heftiest of post-sludge, from Leeds. Massive. And that bass players tone is pure filth. Been waiting for aaaaages to see Helve. Totally worth it. Oh, and Andy from WOLVES pops up for a song.
MILLION MOONS: Last of the day's post-rockers, atmospheric and joyous. That stage-left guitarist can't half throw some shapes, though.
BENEATH A STEEL SKY: Local lads, post-metal of the most subtle kind, until it isn't. And then it kicks your head in. Singer Greg's first appearance of the day.
INDIFFERENT ENGINE: Intense and chaotic math-punk. How they can play whilst being dragged around the stage by their singer, I don't really know. Practice, I guess. (Don't try this at home, kids)
CODESPEAKER: Greg's back! His other band, notorious retina-destroyers and ear-damagers, and one of the finest post-metal bands in the country.
HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN: Post-metal again, but the absolute best post-metal in the country. New material, new members, but still the same emotionally and physically devastating noise. Also, still as hard as ever to photograph, with their smoke and their ultra-hostile lighting, the little tykes. Including Greg's third and final appearance, albeit a brief one right at the end.
I can't add a video right now because they need to check any footage before allowing it to be released into the wild. Fingers crossed. I've seen it and it's awesome.
EDIT: Thumbs up from HYOM! Video added.
Well, it didn't kill me, but I was good for nothing at work on Sunday. And Monday, to be honest.
As a first attempt at an all-dayer, there can be no complaints here. Nine bands, all killer, no filler, as the young folks used to say. Hefty bits, subtle bits, turbulent bits, intense bits. Well organised, no messing about, totally sold out. RIPCORD will be back on 10th October. You should watch out for it.
Hopefully, the Glasgow roadworks will be finished by then, but I doubt it. Getting to the carpark was a fucking nightmare.
