Provided by Reckoner
The venue was already crowded by the time I arrived and I was early! With tickets sold out online and only a handful left on the door, it was clear that Chaos had chosen the right night to take a break from their usual Metal to the Masses duties and throw their support behind Oxfordshire’s own Reckoner. I’ve caught Reckoner a few times over the years, ever since their set at Mangata Festival in July of 2024, so I knew to expect energy – but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer, unfiltered madness that unfolded tonight. It was also great to see Intrusion/Metaaal/Lose It organiser Mark and his team prowling the room, cameras in hand, ready to capture every wild moment!
Stage Times provided by Reckoner
Bear Trap didn’t so much start their set, more like detonate it! At 7:30 on the dot, the Oxfordshire alt‑rock/post‑hardcore trio slammed straight into a barrage of heavy guitar riffs that hit like a defibrillator to the chest, helped along by that heartbeat‑style intro that made the whole room feel like it was bracing for impact. The sound was clean, you could actually hear the vocalist cutting through the distortion, which only made the chaos feel sharper. The vocalist was in full shred‑mode from the first note, with a snazzy mid‑set guitar swap and a quick tune the room was back in full swing. Even the bass player jumped in with the occasional vocal line, adding another layer to the noise-storm. Mosh pit attempts kept erupting like tiny, determined rebellions, always threatening to spill over but we needed that one mental patient to really kick them off. By the time they saved the title track for last, the room was sweaty, loud, and absolutely feral. Bear Trap didn’t just warm up the night – they tore it open. The singer also mentioned that he had not been in this venue before and can I just say we will welcome you back!
Being at the front I didn’t really pay much attention to the happenings behind me but when I turned around I finally noticed the absolutely packed room. The Jericho Tavern was heaving! What a fantastic turn out!
Arimea strutted onto the stage with a slightly late start, but the moment that glittery microphone caught the lights, the whole room snapped to attention like someone had flipped a switch. Shoes off – because absolutely why not? – Wantage’s own four‑piece nu‑metal/alt‑rock hybrid wasted absolutely no time before hurling themselves into a set that ricocheted between shimmering clean vocals and throat‑ripping harsh ones. The vocalist didn’t just move around the stage either; she took over it, bouncing from one end to the other like she was trying to physically drag the entire crowd into the music with her. Quick side note: when she announced their next track was called “Castiel,” I genuinely thought my Supernatural‑obsessed ass was playing tricks on me. But no! Confirmed. Song name Castiel. I ascended. Anyway, moving on before I spiral. The whole band were locked in from start to finish, focusing on making sure every note was perfect. The drummer was loud and unforgiving, the bass and guitar was bouncing off eachother and everything felt right. Mosh pit attempts kept bubbling up over and over until the heaviest part of their set finally blew the room wide open, detonating into a proper, well‑managed pit that felt like it had been threatening to erupt all night – and it was long overdue! Every cheer hit like a wave, loud, eager and completely locked in, as if the whole crowd had collectively decided that Arimea were the only thing that mattered in that moment. They finished their set with a bang, and left the crowd wanting more.
It is at this time I should mention that when I walked into the room, I saw netting above the stage holding balloons. Now, to be clear, I am terrified of balloons. I am not joking, absolutely terrified but I couldn’t not be at the front for Reckoner now could?
The second Reckoner hit that first heavy note, the room snapped from mild disorder into full‑scale bedlam. A mosh pit erupted immediately, first song, zero hesitation, like the crowd had been waiting all night for permission to cross that line. Who needs a night of theatrics when you have Reckoner on stage!? They pulled out every stop! Crowd surfers started appearing in waves, so many that the (I think) stage manager kept eagerly jumping at the stage side ready to catch them and safely hurtle them back into the crowd. People were climbing onstage, diving off again, piling toward the front until the stage end looked like it was begging for mercy.
Now, the minute that netting opened and the room was converted into a circus the audience erupted. It looked like a birthday party gone feral: balloons everywhere, people kicking them around like chaotic toddlers, and headbanging them off into the distance!
Phil, absolute menace that he is, crowd‑surfed from the stage, back to the stage, and somehow kept singing through the whole thing like this was just another Saturday. Even the guitarist, Ed, wasn’t content with staying put – he fancied himself into the crowd mid‑riff.
Somewhere in the chaos, they mentioned an EP coming out, though the room was too busy combusting to process anything beyond “more Reckoner soon.”
Remember when I said Reckoner pulled out all the stops: balloons, moshpits, crowd surfers, well they weren’t done yet! The guitarist called for the room to split, and the crowd parted like they’d rehearsed it, everyone knew what was expected. Forming a wall of death that hit with the force of a small natural disaster.
When the set wrapped, the crowd immediately launched into bargaining mode – ten more songs! One more! Seven? Anything? – like a mob haggling at a metal marketplace. But alas, no more songs could be played. Still, Reckoner left the room sweaty, breathless, and absolutely feral. An incredible end to the night and leaving their mark on Oxford once again.
Did you read that part about new EP coming soon? 👀
What a fantastic night! I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Some shows are live, some pre-recorded. All times are GMT
