TERROR, GOING OFF & HOUR OF REPRISAL
"intense hardcore hits Norwich for a visceral, cathartic and most of all FUN Monday night"
Lee Harper
It has been a loooonnnng time since I last caught a hardcore gig at Epic. That was also the last time - before tonight - that I witnessed the skanking-meets-Power Rangers-pseudo-martial-arts dance thing. And, whilst I can live without the dancing, here’s hoping for more shows like this at Epic in the future. See, this may seem like mindless aggression and cacophonous noise to the uninformed, hardcore gigs such as this (usually) provide an inclusive, safe space - air-kicks aside - and good, cathartic fun. There is more chance of aggro at a Britpop gig than at a hardcore gig and tonight was no exception.
Openers HOUR OF REPRISAL - Norwich’s (probably first and only) straight-edge band - did a damned fine job kicking things off. I’ve not seen them live before but have heard a few of their tunes. Live the five piece aren’t as tight as the recorded work and there is a touch of grind or metalcore that I wasn’t expecting. With an on-stage presence that was far from the po-faced, fun-free zone that was straight-edge in its heyday and some avant-garde, Bad Breeding style guitar squeals, Hour of Reprisal were thoroughly enjoyable.
Hour of Reprisal
I’d heard loads of good things about Manchester’s GOING OFF before tonight - and they got a big shout out from Hour of Reprisal - but I had neither seen or heard them. I can’t fault the commitment and they got the audience going but their heavy hardcore didn’t really do it for me. I feel like I should have enjoyed it more and can’t put my finger on exactly why I didn’t so I’ll just have to check ’em out again when I get the chance.
Going Off
Without getting hyperbolic, TERROR were immense tonight. Eleven songs in almost exactly - to the second - 30 minutes might leave some feeling shortchanged. Normally, I’d feel the same but that was just about the perfect set length for music this intense and visceral.
Another band I have have never seen before, I knew vocalist Scott Vogel’s reputation for high-energy performances and concentrating on making hardcore a fun and inclusive experience. He absolutely did not disappoint. Drummer Nick Jett and guitarists Martin Stewart and Jordan Posner put in full on performances, with bassist Chris Linkovich skanking so hard it was a miracle he kept in time.
Opening with the title track of last year’s most recent album Pain Into Power, there was no let up intensity. Stick Tight prompted one of the fastest circle moshes I have seen. Closer, Keepers of the Faith - with a gloriously filthy sounding bass solo - was my highlight of the evening.
Terror
Kudos and thanks to Epic, Be Sharp, Till The Wheel, New Cross Live and, of course, the three bands for bringing this to Norwich. Here’s to the next one.
Full photo gallery HERE
