Metal 2 The Masses // Heat 2 // Northern Ireland

So tonight will be a slightly different affair with Pure Sonic Outcasts sadly having to take a step back due to a family bereavement, leaving just three bands to slug it out on a cold Friday night in February. The start time has been kicked back also so when I land down at Voodoo, Belfast it feels quite light on the ground, I guess the PSO guys would have had their own support down in numbers so it is not surprising at the knock-on effect, I think we have been a little spoiled for the last few years as the popularity of this competition has grown exponentially.

So with only three bands and 90 minutes to make their mark it was new boys to M2TM Gravepath who are opening up tonight’s proceedings, a band new to me I honestly don’t know what we are in for and that new blood buzz is taking over me.

As a four-piece, they have a heavy stoner, Mastodon vibe, groove metal with big breakdowns and an intensely dark sound. The vocalist is really intense giving it his all, the bass player bouncing on his wha wha, their time signatures changing on a whim, they seem focused, with a gnarly punishing sound that they drive home with real ferocity. A solid performance from an unknown quantity sends out a warning shot for the rest of the bands to be on top of their game.

Sinocence is up next, a vastly experienced band, tight as fcuk with a punishing sound. Brutality from start to finish their experience shines through as they look comfortable on the stage, rallying the crowd to participate, whipping them up into a frenzy. Add a powerful vocal display matched with a savage backline and a new drummer playing out of his skin, and this 5 piece knows what it takes to deliver a killer performance, and the vocalist’s beard game is strong #respect

Two down and we are left with DynastyRNR

These guys are a breath of fresh air on the Norn Iron music scene, young lads with talent just oozing out of their pores it’s great to see. A quandary at the same time as they are a bunch of lads playing music that they weren’t even born to be around to enjoy at the time it was current! But ain’t that just the beauty of music? that regardless of when it crosses your path that it can inspire at any stage, and here we have the birth of a great band, rocking out to classic rock and hair metal like it’s nobody’s business. The crowd are into it and they have a great following who always turn up for them and they always win over an army of fans every time they play, what’s not to love about Dynasty!

A great night’s craic, a great night’s music from three solid bands, our thoughts go out to the guys from Pure Sonic Outcasts and wish them well. Thanks again to James Loveday @ The Distortion Project for another great show and of course our hosts Voodoo Belfast.

Photos By Mark McGrogan

https://markmcgrogan.com

#flashartmark @flashartmark

Band promos & commissions availabe on request: flashartphotography@gmail.com