Blinded Media Show: TornEnds Blinded EP Release Show / Support: DXWNSIDES, Old Wharf, Get //Rek’d
- Dane Barker
- Jan 14, 2019
- 4 min read
The Wagon & Horses, Birmingham, Friday 11th January 2019
New year, new bands and new shows popping up in the local scene. On Friday 11th January in the heart of Digbeth at the Wagon & Horses venue, up and coming Birmingham Hardcore quadruple TornEnds showcased an action-packed show full of various elements of metallic-based hardcore with support from hardcore band Get // Rek’d, brutal beatdown from Old Wharf and melodic hardcore band Dxwnsides with a taste of their early pop-punk roots. The show was organised by new promoters Blinded Media who should take this show as a complete win on their behalf as the show was completely sold out and exposed new faces to hardcore.
The show was kicked off by Redditch band Get // Rek’d who got the crowd warmed up with a blend of melodic vocal lines compelled with stomping riffs and kicking breakdowns. A great blend of OG NYHC with modern hardcore. Straight away lead vocalist Tom Adams revs up the crowd with blistering vocals of pure emotion getting heads moving along with the cymbal crashes and intense riffing.
The second band on the line-up were Old Wharf who fully set the venue alight with beatdown fury which set kids moshing straight off the get-go. The band unravelled utter chaos in the crowd with mosh moves being throwdown and bodies flying into the side of the pit and even at one moment through the fire exit door! I truly enjoyed getting down in the pit to these lads as they set me off with sludgy beatdown riffing and blast beats which made myself fly around the room like a Beyblade. Vocals were accompanied with pig squeals and dirty gutturals then some bars were spit like those of grime beatdown band Gassed Up. The band were on point from beginning to end, they went in there to show what they had to offer and brought a gift of naughty slams blended with two-step rhythms. These guys are for the moshers, taking inspiration from metalcore and beatdown hardcore and comprising it into something which would get anyone swinging. SCHC keep your eyes peeled out for Old Wharf, these lads are going far. A personal favourite from the night to say so myself.
Melodic Hardcore band DXWNSIDES came out at this show and blended their early pop-punk roots with their new heavier brand to create a fun set full of sing-along moments accompanied with chaotic moshing. As someone who has known of this band since they first emerged onto the Birmingham scene and only seeing them for the first time now was a great experience. Singing along with their early pop-punk single ‘Distant’ which was a favourite of mine a few years back and throwing down to a surprise Knocked Loose cover of ‘Counting Worms’ which saw spin-kicks being thrown out like nobody’s business, it was bouncing back and forth all over the spectrum. Another awesome moment was when the band covered The Story So Far’s ‘High Regard’ which saw me screaming the lyrics right back at lead vocalist Christian Gallagher. The band have a sound that links to bands such as Casey from their recent single ‘Bleed’ which is a new endeavour of melodic anger. As I know the set was a combination of both pop-punk and melodic hardcore I still believe this was an amazing set from the band and I’ll defiantly be on the lookout for their heavier projects and shows to come. DXWNSIDES will be playing at the Hare & Hounds Venue in Kings Heath on January 24th alongside new Hardcore trailblazers in the Second City scene ILL VISION and alt-pop band FULLSHORE.
Headliners, TornEnds came on after a stacked support line-up and held up to the hype they’ve been generating over the past few months. Playing songs off their new EP release Blinded which was released a day before the show. The band got the pit moving with intense riffing off their single ‘Unkept Promises’ which saw moshers throwing down to heavy breakdowns of pure metalcore aggression like those of Malevolence. The band also whipped out a cover from Kentucky Metallic Hardcore band Knocked Loose, ‘Billy No Mates’ featuring DXWNSIDES vocalist Christian Gallagher who blasted out his aggressive vocals to the crowd with intensity. Other key songs that stuck to my head from their EP that the band showcased to the crowd included ‘No Purpose’ and ‘Retaliate’ which got kids throwing out their mosh skills and getting their two-step on. Drummer and lead vocalist Devan Loines screamed his furious vocals consistently throughout their set whilst providing accurate drumming patterns, an impressive display. Guitarists Michael Stewart and Aidan Amphlett provided riffs with energetic enthusiasm whilst getting the crowd pumped up with chanting alongside Devan, Aidan shouting gutturals down the microphone igniting the breakdowns and Michael getting in the crowd with bassist Mason Hussain strumming down slappy bass lines and getting a circle pit going.
These lads presented true hardcore spirit that night and are going to cement themselves into the Second City Hardcore scene for sure. A new breed of metallic hardcore for Birmingham! Check out TornEnds new EP release ‘Blinded’ on major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music! I am looking forward to more Blinded Media shows and for more amazing memories like this one!
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