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We got to the hotel, which was located a perfect distance from The Guildhall, and immediately ran into the wonderful Nickie and George of Devolution Magazine! We checked in, collapsed onto the bed for a bit and then it was action stations! Got ready and we headed over to the venue. On arrival we were given directions to the Press area, and my god was it like traversing the Back Rooms! As I told any bands who needed to make their way “when you think you’ve gone too far, keep going”.
We met so many wonderful people (and the one and only Peggy the Punk Poodle) and chatted a bit, til it was time for the Chaos to begin!
Back down in the main festival area it was buzzing with hyped up fans ready to start the weekend. We ran into the lovely Sheri of Red Death Media, and Hammerdown Harry himself, and then we got to checking out some bands!
We kicked it off at Total Rock stage to check out STONE SOUP – who were my and Mikki Nobody’s wedding band (which I did tell everyone who would listen) – and they kicked ASS! Opening up the festival on Total Rock stage, they set the bar high for energy! All over the stage and into the crowd, you can’t not dance about to that mix of some sweet blues harmonica and rock n roll vibes all round!
BLACKLIGHT VICE opened up for the other end of the venue on the Metal For Good stage, so we split between the two, and I’m so glad we did! Kick ass punk edge to strings, so much energy and jumping around, and just a lot of fun! Great way to start out the weekend if you started it off at Metal For Good stage! They had such a mix of genres to their music, and it blended SO well!
KILL THE LIGHTS really impressed me from the Phil Campbell stage (renamed from the Kerrang stage in his honour for the day) and oh my god those RIFFS! They were absolutely brilliant! The cleans and screams both took me back to 2000s emo/scream stuff and it hit me right in the nostalgia. Really great set.
We made our way back to the beautiful press area which also seems to be a music exhibit, as you’ll see in the interviews and some pics!
Our first interview of the weekend was with the lads of Blacklight Vice, and it was as funny, chaotic, and insightful as we could have wanted.
We had a break and a wander about the venue until our next interview with the crazy fun Stone Soup.
SOUTH OF SALEM were my band for the weekend, as a favourite of mine anyway, and they absolutely keep that bar rising at every show they do! Kicking things off with a mic moment, the crowd filled in immediately, showing how much of a fan base they had here which was lovely! And of course after those few seconds Joey got that gorgeous voice heard! I was lucky enough to be at the front for the majority of the set, and loved every moment! Having a touring guitarist and another brand new touring second guitarist, I was really impressed by how great they worked together on stage. It’s like they’ve been performing with the band from day one! The way they work around each other was great as always, and I honestly kinda hope both the touring lads stay put as well! I absolutely LIVE for the drum solo in Vultures every time, and it was a damn BEAUT once again! Can wait for the next show, and new album…
We had a Minute of Noise for late Phil Campbell after his recent passing, and it was a emotional moment. It was so beautiful to see how many people joined in, how loud it was, and how many emotions were going through that room. It was a lovely tribute.
Rushing back up after that for our King Kraken interview (LINK) that Doll had started off for us, it was so much fun, I was trying my best not to burst out laughing in the hallway off screen the whole time!
We chilled for a bit until it was time to rally the lovely lads of South of Salem for their interview, which again was just great fun and lots of laughs.
THERAPY? We all need it. They had the whole crowd jumping around! Really enjoyed their set, and they had so much energy which was a lovely end to day one.
We left, absolutely SHATTERED from day one, I got the most disappointing cheesy chips with suspiciously pink burger sauce, Doll saved the day with domino’s though, and we promptly passed the hell out.
We woke up, and started getting our shit together for day two of the chaos. I underestimated how much pain I’d be in from just using my stick all day Friday, so decided to actually use my walked today. God I missed my wheelchair, but without someone to push at all times, this was the best call. The overall hype of the festival had me mega motivated to push through anyway!
We arrived to see a hell of a queue to get in, so many happy faces and brilliant fashion, a sea of studs, patches, and bright hair, and some incredible makeup looks. I love it!
MONOCHROME was a heavy one to start the Sunday, we could barely get into the room! Enjoyed a bit of their set from near the back though!
Making our way over to the other stage to check out OVERGROWN, who were like if Deftones were actually good (yeah yeah hate me all you want) and had heavy as shit drums! LOVED them, and I’ll be checking out much more of them!
SLACKRR oh them punk vibes! Heavy straight off the get go. Love me a band with two vocalists. All over the stage, great energy between the members. Even being confined to sitting on the walker after yesterday’s chaos, I couldn’t not jump around anyway! Definitely a new fav band! Seeing the happy smiles and positive energy put me in a whole renewed good mood for sure!
VEXED are heavy as all hell!! What an INSANE range of vocal screams wow! Hearing them from outside the stage was incredible! Got in for a few mins but with a “one out, one in” policy, they were full to the brim! Maybe they should have been on the main stage. PACKED and about 30-40 people waiting to get in at any time.
And then began the back to back interviews – today the fab guy in charge of us press lot, Jordan, pointed out that I could just text him when I needed to be let in, and come via the step free non backrooms access which was VERY much appreciated, but when we realised we had set up out interview spot right by that door it made sense for Doll to let me in when needed, and that worked out lovely.
First up we had Waterlines, who were pure insanity, we basically couldn’t stop laughing! Then we got to chat to the most smiley punks ever, Slackrr! What a positive vibe to them on stage and off, just pure love and happiness.
Next, The Hara decided it was time to get pretty unhinged all round for their interview.
We caught Bex as I had a little fangirl moment about the Vocalist’s guitar jacket and they agreed to an interview which was equal parts lovely and badass.
Lastelle were our last interview of these back to back ones and they again brought humour and fun to it!
I made it down just in time to catch the first part of BEX, who super heavy punk as fuck – the energy was immediate and BIG from the first note! And WOW what a voice! Loads of fun!
I was a bit gutted to only catch a little bit of their set, but they were slightly behind on start time, and I had to rush back up for put next interview!
VEXED we’re as crazy off stage as on stage, and their interview was so much fun!
We had a bit of a breather and a sit down, it was time for me to go see Wargasm!
WARGASM were too good! Luckily it was timed just as the pain meds kicked in, cause I couldn’t stop myself jumping about a bit, even right at the back of the crowd. A little bit into their set, I ditched the walker with the LOVELY Charlie of Hail so I could get some footage and couldn’t resist filming a pit starting up – that’s where it all went wrong…or right? I ended up in it myself, and it was SO much fun! I’ll be paying for that for the next 7-10 working months. (updating/re writing this, I can confirm I spent 30+ hours confined to my bed from arriving home… Oops)
We were sad that they were unable to do an interview due to time restrictions, but as we went back up to collect our kit from the Press area and say goodbyes, we ran into them outside of their dressing room and they took the time out to take some photos with us, which was so lovely of them!
The final band of the weekend was PRESIDENT. I must say, while we definitely have no idea who this mystery vocalist is, it suits his voice beautifully. This absolutely brings out his vocals amazingly! The crowd was wild for them of course. I was a few minutes late to their set and the entire rest of the venue was like a ghost town – EVERYONE was at the Kerrang stage for them. No stragglers in the hallways/bars/smoking areas. Really surprising when the voice takes me back to the first well known band, and then he let’s out some INSANE screams! Just incredible to have that range. His voice is stunning, I have definitely been sleeping on President, I could listen to his voice for hours!
I did have to leave quite close to the end of their set because of the pain from rushing about for interviews and getting in a pit, I was a very exhausted and sore Ruby. Ending the night with the other half of Friday night’s pizza, and packing up ready for the drive home the next morning.
Overall, it was an absolutely amazing experience. Everyone was just so lovely! The other press, the fans, the bands, the staff, and of course the event organisers! What a weekend – bring on 2027!
Some shows are live, some pre-recorded. All times are GMT
