Here we are, kids, Heat 6 is upon us, and this is the final heat of 2026! Wowzer!
Semi-finals next, and tonight, four bands are fighting it out for the last two spots. The heat has three new bands to me and one back for more after taking part in previous years. This year has been an interesting one; we have had a real mix of fresh-faced bands alongside experienced bands who have been banging their heads against the proverbial metal wall here in Northern Ireland for years. It’s great to see, as with every competition like this, you need a balance of old heads to guide the new heads along the ever-challenging landscape of the music industry, as you see it. I spent the earlier part of the night chewing the fat with the frontman of one of our favourite local bands and hearing all the bizz about their new album coming out and the pain, financial pain that such a venture incurs. Jesus wept, who would want to be in a band in 2026? #notme But tonight is a welcome distraction from all the chaos going on outside the four walls of our wee island, and I do wonder what the consequences of it will mean to the live music scene in 2026 with fuel costs going mental day by day. So, embrace the local scene, champion the lunatics out there putting their heart and soul into small venues like Voodoo and beyond.
First up tonight, we have El Toro, new to me. I wait to see what vibe they bring to the table. As the band kick off, they have a laboured sound, groove-laden and hefty, and I wasn’t quite sure which box to put them into. Still, as it turned out, their opening track was really meant to lure us into a false sense of security about what I thought I knew about this band, based on their opener. From there, they unleashed upon Voodoo holy hell as they laid an assault on the senses with a barrage of tracks that mean business. Their set was frenetic, a blistering collection of tracks that pummelled the audience from start to finish. I guess I didn’t quite know what I was in for, trying to figure out what kind of band you’re standing in front of without ever having heard their music and gauging them by their name alone leads you up the garden path, but El Toro delivered.
A great way to kick off the evening, and an opportunity for any bands watching who are due to follow to make sure they’re on their A Game tonight.
Up next, Mosaic, a band new to all of us, fresh-faced and a banging four-piece, they have a grungy edge, melodic hooks and a thick wall of distortion behind them directed at the Voodoo faithful. There’s a trio of ladies busting moves up at the front of the stage and one dude who’s hardcore and in it to win it. I assume Mosaic have brought the official fan club with them this evening, which is the name of the game. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the scene or an old school act, get the sheeple down to vote! A youthful band that got edgier as their set progressed – ending with a wall of heft, they will be ones to watch for sure, dipping their toes in at the deep end of M2TM will have done them the world of good. You can tell that, as a youthful band, they have room to grow, but nobody arrives on the live stage as a finished product, so embrace the chaos, learn from the experience, and when you bring the noise back, you’ll certainly have grown in stature. Mosaic represented themselves well, did a fine job, and the Voodoo crowd approved, so you can’t ask for more than that.
Up next are Fulgurite, a band with a lot of experience. Formed out of the ashes of previous heavyweights within the local scene, they bring years of honing their craft to the fore with a polished and disciplined performance. The riffs are slamming, the backline thunderous, Fulgurite have the mentalists at the front of the room giving it their all, what more could you ask for? The guitar tone is monstrous, like MONSTROUS! The basslines are sexy as fuck, and the drums thunderous. Here is where the experience comes to the fore, when a band crafts a sound that just has the people in the room transfixed. A tasty performance from start to finish.
Last up, we have previous M2TM fav’s and alt-rockers Mr Pink. These guys are a joy to watch; they always have a set that captures the imagination and a banging collection of tracks that showcase them flexing their musical muscles. Their guitar player is a monster, banging out gnarly, tasty riffs that force you to pull those stank faces that just say ‘Right On’, Right On! The backline just provides the sauce that sends these songs over the top. The quandary for Mr Pink is that they rock to fuck! But quite often find themselves in a room full of hardcore metalheads, by every metric that we can go by when watching a live band perform in this competition, they always deliver. You can’t ask for more than that.
A great way to wrap up the heats, the semi-finals are up next, kicking off on the 10th, 17th and 24th of April with the Grand Final on Friday, the 8th of May.
James announced it via the white smoke as usual: Congratulations to Fulgurite and El Toro on going through from last night’s final Metal 2 the Masses NI Heat. Thanks to all who came too! Full semi-finals will be announced next week, so keep an eye out for that. Cheers all!
Photography by Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
Feel free to use/share images on your socials, just give us a shout out.
