Poster provided by Two Face Promotion
Heat 4 of Metal 2 The Masses wasn’t just heavy, it was downright brutal. Easily one of the nastiest and most cut throat heats I’ve witnessed since I first started following the competition back in 2023. I knew going in that all three bands had serious firepower, but nothing could have prepared the room for the sheer force they unleashed. With two seasoned contenders returning and a fierce newcomer thrown into the fray, the night felt like anyone’s victory to claim. As this heat was also a bit of a birthday bash I would like to shout out to Evy, whose birthday was March 1st, me, whose birthday was March 4th, and Hannah, whose birthday was the 7th! I brought cake!
Re:O
Re:O kicked off the night with the kind of explosive energy that makes you instantly aware you’re witnessing a band built for the stage. A four‑piece alternative metal/metalcore band from Maidenhead, and the only newcomers in this heat, they wasted absolutely no time proving they belonged in the competition. From the moment vocalist Rio bounded across the stage, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand! Jumping, hyping, and unleashing vocals that soared cleanly over the band’s razor‑tight musicianship. Tonnes of vocal power, tonnes of energy, and absolutely zero hesitation.
The set was a blur of headbanging (dangerously close to swinging guitars might I add), phones held high as people tried to capture the chaos from every angle, and a sea of phone torches lighting up the room on command. And just in front of the drums I noticed a Katana! I do love a good stage prop! By the time they demanded a circle pit for the final song, the crowd didn’t just oblige; they erupted! Rio commanded the pit with her katana, leaving the room in a whirlwind of adrenaline.
For the record, Re:O did try to bribe me with stickers after I gave them some of my birthday cake (in good humour of course), but honestly, they didn’t need to. Their talent, charisma, and stage presence were more than enough to carve out their place in Heat 4. If this was their first time at M2TM Oxford, the veterans should be nervous. Re:O came to make an impression, and they absolutely did.
RPC:
R.P.C. (Radioactive Puppies of Chernobyl) stormed into Heat 4 with the kind of ferocity only an Irish hardcore punk/thrash band could muster. I think all three times they have graced our M2TM stage they’ve been based in different areas, but now I’m told they’re a stone throw away in Bristol.
From the moment their vocalist, Ciara, stepped up to the mic, she unleashed on the crowd with a force that felt like it could peel paint off the walls. Every scream, shout, and snarled line landed exactly how it should. Occasionally, the guitarist, Jim, jumped in with gritty harsh vocals, adding an extra layer of bite that pushed the chaos even further.
Their bassist was a stand‑in for the night, but you’d never have known it. He played with absolute confidence, locked in seamlessly with the rest of the band, and carried himself onstage like he belonged.
They dropped two unreleased tracks, each one whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Delivered a killer drum solo. Then, with about ten minutes left, they asked the room about covers. Sam yelled from the back that they could and to my personal horror, they launched into Limp Bizkit. Just one of those days, indeed. But even as someone who’d happily avoid Limp Bizkit forever, I have to admit… they delivered a killer cover.
Jim was in the pit living his best life, the band kept the pace blisteringly fast, and the whole set was fun from start to finish. What else would you expect from last year’s Rabidfest openers?
The Blade Itself:
The Blade Itself returned to the M2TM battlefield with every intention of reclaiming their territory, and they did it with all the chaos you’d expect from them. Armed with inflatable swords and shields flying through the crowd, they turned the room into a warzone before they’d even hit the first breakdown.
Their vocalist took the stage wearing a mask, delivering harsh vocals that cut straight through the flashing lights! They had some of the flashiest lighting of the entire night, bathing the room in strobing intensity. And with five members squeezed onto that tiny stage, it was no surprise that the singer kept bouncing offstage to join the audience.
It’s not very often all three bands at metal to the masses get intense moshpits. The Blade Itself triggered the most intense moshpits of the night. At one point it felt like almost everyone in the room was involved, bodies colliding in a frenzy of energy and inflatable weaponry. Even the bass player dove into the circle pit, proving that this band doesn’t just encourage chaos – they actively participate in it!
What made them the perfect closer, though, was the sheer energy they radiated from start to finish. Every riff, every scream, every chaotic moment! They channelled the night’s wild momentum and amplified it, sending the crowd home buzzing, breathless, and grinning.
Outcome:
Our usual announcer was absent for heat 4 as he had another gig to attend, whatever, so we had returning winning band Stone Soup’s Chris to deliver the verdict! Chris knew how to build the tension, leaving some audience members practically holding their breath. Going through on the crowd vote was…RE:O! The crowd erupted in cheers! And going through on the judges vote, and honestly I don’t envy the judges because this heat was nasty, was the blade itself!! One of the tightest decisions I think we’ve seen at Oxford! Well done to both bands!!
And with that we have to bid farewell to RPC! They delivered a killer set and reminded Oxford that they are not a band to miss!
Some shows are live, some pre-recorded. All times are GMT
