KNOCKED LOOSE | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Mon 25 June
It’s unbearably hot in Clwb Ifor Bach and not ideal conditions for a sold-out hardcore show. Backing up Kentucky boys Knocked Loose are two of Manchester hardcore’s finest, Guilt Trip and the mighty Broken Teeth. Perhaps that is the reason for the incessant playing of Oasis tracks all night.
This insanely heavy bill kicks off with an energetic set from Guilt Trip – surely the next UKHC band to break, so to speak, and one who leave the hordes baying for more. Broken Teeth have toured relentlessly over the last few years and tonight’s set sees a band who’ve paid their dues and are ready to go to the next level, even if it takes them an age to actually get onstage. Ridiculous changeover times aside, the band lead the Cardiff crowd through a storming set with singer Dale doing his utmost to keep energy levels up in the searing heat, whipping the moshpit into a frenzy. Older tracks are welcomed alongside selections from current album At Peace Amongst Chaos, confirming their reputation as one of this island’s finest.
Having been part of the hardcore scene for 25 years now, I couldn’t write this review without a note on the changing attitudes within the scene of late. Punk and hardcore fans have always been, for the most part, a liberal and open-minded bunch, but the last few years has seen more love in hardcore than ever before and that is evident more so than ever this evening and it’s lovely to see the young crowd embracing that.
Preceded by even more Oasis over the PA, Knocked Loose hit the stage. Within their ranks they have a guitarist who could make a good living as a motivational speaker: every track comes with its own instructions from the axeman, and the pit duly respond. Downtuned beatdown style riffs over pummelling drums make the five-piece a frightening live prospect, but then the shrill bark of vocalist Bryan Garris offers a slight reprieve from the heaviosity. Garris reminds me of a pre-Rage Against The Machine, Inside Out-era Zack De La Rocha, using every inch of the Clwb stage while offering the mic to the crowd at every opportunity.
Billy No Mates nearly takes the roof off while Oblivion’s Peak is dedicated to Pride week – a nice touch. The audience, by this time, are beside themselves and using every last bit of energy left in them to scream, shout, slam and stagedive. Indeed, I find myself getting irritated with the beer flying everywhere, only before realising that the venue itself is dripping. We leave to the obligatory wall of feedback and I truly feel like I’ve been repeatedly punched in the head. Crushingly heavy hardcore with nothing but love and plenty of PMA. Beautiful.
words CHRIS ANDREWS