London’s largest & best gathering of leading stoner rock, doom, psych & heavy music is once again the highlight of 2024. Featuring one of its most expansive lineups in some time, We at RnL did our best to capture this mammoth event!
First up opening The Roundhouse are one of the best current UKHC bands, Leeds thrashers Pest Control. The groups first full length “Don’t Test the Pest” took the scene by storm in 2023 & they have been ripping stages since. Opening such a large venue at 4pm can be a scary task but the ground takes to it like a duck to water, like they have been doing since the group’s inception. Vocalist Leah Massey-Hay’s energy is always so infectious. Her love for this music shines through every time I see these guys play. Guitarists Joe Kerry & Joe Williams are thrash masters when it comes to riffs. A perfect blend of that classic crossover sound but enough heavy hardcore stomp it gets your blood pumping. If these guys are at a venue near you please give them a watch & start that circle pit!
Next up for a change of pace & bringing that classic stoner doom sound are the mighty Acid King. Hailing from San Francisco, California these guys are the OGs when it comes to this genre. Coming out with thick & solid sound & getting heads moving. Unfortunately there was a technical issue with the PA (so heavy that they blew the thing i bet ha) which cut their set in half while sorting out the issue but once coming back on stage it was like nothing happened. Lori S with her seminal fuzzed out guitar tone & sultry vocals fill the space of the venue with ease & create a reverberating wall of sound that was so impactful. Captivating truly.
Now the next group is a band I’ve been a longtime fan of but unfortunately have seen yet, so today’s show for Bongripper was an exciting one for me & boy did they deliver. Opening with “Nothing” from their newest album “Empty” I could feel the walls shake with power as their feedback rang & those first few huge chords echoed through your gut. Bongripper are one the heaviest bands in the sludge scene. Writing these epic albums that thankfully are perfectly performed live, and might I say even heavier live. Which can be worrying sometimes for a group but damn they blew my socks off. Bassist Ronald Petzke’s furious & hypnotic performance has your eyes focused on the power the band give their instruments & the ungodly sounds they produce. I hope they come back to the UK soon for a headline tour.
Bringing back the intensity & speed are the Canadian powerhouse Cancer Bats. Brandishing their blend of rock & roll inspired harcore punk with that perfect splash of entombed worship. As soon as these guys take the stage the crowd is in a blood frenzy. Leave it to Cancer Bats to turn the whole venue into one big party. Playing some newer tracks of their newset album “Psychic Jailbreak” that get the crowd jumping & grooving. This is where it started to become a sweaty one! Closing out with the double knock out of their classic Beastie Boys “Sabotage” cover & “Hail Destroyer” shows that this band will never slow down & will always bring it to whatever city they are in!
Now for the headlining event, the mighty Suicidal Tendencies.
Opening with the legendary track “You Can’t Bring Me Down” as legendary frontman Mike Muir runs onto stage in his enigmatic style & gets the crowd circle pitting already. Not only are ST pretty much the creators of skate punk they are filled to the brim with a line up right now that has some of the best musicians from music. Ben Weinman (Dillinger Escape Plan), Tye Trujillo & Jay Weinberg (Ex Slipknot). So not only is their live performance full of the most power I’ve seen a legacy act ever had their talent is off the charts. “Freedumb” & “Possessed To Skate” are just some highlights of the killer set the group brought to the round house. With multiple circle pits & even two walls of death. The perfect way to close out day two & one we are going to remember for a while!
Review: Joseph Mitchell
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