Change. Change can be welcomed by some and undesired by others. In the case of the metal scene in Carlisle the balance seems to be shifting into welcoming with arms wide open ready for a big bear hug, rather than being shunned.
Not too long ago promoters and venues in this city would be reluctant to put on a stand-alone original music metal show (cover bands have fared fine). The ones who did put themselves out there were often greeted to half empty venues with only a few diehards bothered to buy tickets or even show up.
Then suddenly something changed. Promoters started booking bands and took a chance. They put a call out to the city’s metalheads and music lovers to try to revitalise the scene that once was strong. The city responded. Now this once starved area of the UK has started to attract bigger bands that people actually turn up to.
Opening tonight and hitting the stage for the first time in nearly six years are local noise merchants, Clunge Destroyer. Returning as a newly formed four-piece for this possible one-off show the Carlisle lads waste no time launching into their brand of grindcore. Taking inspiration from 1980s grindcore, crust and hardcore bands, these guys funnel these inspirations into a fantastic selection of classic short grind songs and longer more groove-laden heaviness.
Pulling no punches and in classic nihilistic fashion hammer into songs “Kill Donald Trump” and a cover of Anal Cunt’s (sorry, if you’re offended then please read that as AxCx) “You’re a Cunt” (oops), which start to get the crowd going who seem to feed off the shorter numbers. The band fly through their 40-minute set with a mix of originals, covers and a bit of mirth, from a blistering cover of S.O.D’s “Speak English or Die” to “No More Ziplines”, “The Only Thing This Town Needs Is A Mexican Takeaway” and finishing up with “We Are Clunge Destroyer”. This band did exactly what you want from an opening act and really got the crowd going.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Up next are Whitehaven’s own death/doom outfit, Void Below. “Formed in the darkest edges of West Cumbria, bordered by the murky waters of the deep” this four-piece draw on the work of HP Lovecraft to weave dark and twisted tales of the unsettling deep into their music. The crowd has really started to pack out the Brickyard now and the energy keeps on growing, especially when commanding vocalist and guitarist James Maxwell barks at the crowd to open things up “this isn’t a library, it’s a grindcore show”. This is a man you don’t want to argue with when he is on stage. This group seems to be going from strength to strength. They sound fantastic and well-polished tonight and get better every time I see them.
As the night progresses the crowd are growing more enthusiastic despite the locality and reach of the support bands, which goes to show the burgeoning scene that is getting created in this city.
Hitting the stage for the first time in Carlisle are Singapore grind icons, Wormrot. Back with the original line-up, they waste no time upping the intensity and volume diving headfirst into “No one gives a shit”, “The darkest burden” and “Behind closed doors”. I still can’t quite comprehend how busy it is for a night of extreme metal in this city. The crowd lap up this sonic assault turning absolutely rabid for our Far East visitors.
As for Wormrot they continue to plough their way through their 23-song set, sounding as good live as they do in the studio, from the speed and precision of Fitri Hamind on the drums, to the tightness of the guitar work by Rasyid Juraimi and the ferocity of Arif Rot on vocals, this trio leave nothing in the tank expelling every ounce of energy into their performance, I’m exhausted just watching them. The final song “Glass Shards” is not enough for this crowd, demanding one more song. Wormrot oblige with one final intense push giving everything they have which in turn send the fans crazy, building to a crescendo that erupts into carnage, bodies fly, heads bang and ear drums rupture.
Even though Wormrot’s time is short tonight with the set lasting just over half an hour you will be hard-pushed to find a band that is that intense and lays everything out the way these guys did tonight. As they say it’s best to burn bright for a short time than be dim for a long one.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Photos by James Hadley
