40OZ at World Head Quarters - Newcastle, Sat 2st Jan [Review]
WHQ (World Head Quarters) is not the typical venue you would associate with Metal Hardcore. One of the oldest clubs in Newcastle City Centre it has a long history steeped in soul, reggae and jazz. Once one of the coolest venues in the City the effect of economic change has seen a change of direction for the club and now it opens its doors to Newcastle’s finest new Hardcore bands.
The headline band tonight is ‘Black Mass’ from Leeds but it’s the 3 local Metal Hardcore bands playing the bill that have swelled the crowd. Tonight’s opening band ‘Iced Out’ from Durham play a set that is raw, aggressive and stays true to New York’s finest Hardcore. Each track is delivered with intense precision and sets the scene nicely for tonight’s blazing onslaught. ‘Iced Out’ complete an impressive set with power and passion and should be headlining venues within months.
Next up are Newcastle band ‘Hades’: a full on sonic attack with dual guitars that surge aggressively at the audience. Lead singer Ian Hunter demands attention from the opening riffs and leaves the stage to join the now thrashing mob at the front of the crowd. “Fuck this horseshoe divide” he screams at the crowd to join him and be part of the show which they willingly oblige. Ian comfortably controls the crowd and builds up the frenzy with every track. His vocal range is strong and aggressive and the band deliver a thunderous set that surely establishes them as one of the most exciting new Hardcore bands around. The break finds ‘Hades’ mingling with the crowd and handing out bourbon biscuits. What more could you ask for! J
There is a distinct and subtle difference between these bands and the current wave of new metal bands. This is true Hardcore purveying gritty power with disgruntled meaningful lyrics and not at all about how cool your fringe or jeans are. Take Note!
With the crowd now hungry for further relentless hardcore they are rewarded with local band ‘40OZ’ (pronounced Forty Ounce). Fresh from recording their debut demo e.p ‘Pig Iron’ 40OZ open up their set with a brutality that fires up the crowd to boiling point. Tonight is not about going through the motions at all; there is a steely determination in the band to thrash and test the new material live.
As with ‘Iced Out’ & ‘Hades’, ‘40OZ’ have a unique Hardcore style. Powerful drumming from Michael Warnaby and a Bass pounder in Matty ‘fucking’ Reid that gives 40OZ a pile driver effect on every track in pure Hardcore tradition. Aaron Bertram on guitar pours out some seriously dark and aggressive riffs that Trash Talk would be proud of and yet influences of Iommi meets Kerry King creep into the style.
As 40OZ belt out 1st track ‘Bulldozer’, vocalist Mark Ward roars with serious brutality at the crowd in almost a hybrid mix of Frank Carter and Phil Anselmo. His sheer intimidating presence in the centre of the bedlam incites the crowd into a crazed mass that further fuels the barrage of oncoming tracks. The songs are strong and raging and would make the ‘Napalm Death’ proud with an average time of 2 minutes.
The lyrics are seething with anger to match the ferocity of the sound and next track ‘True’ challenges bands and fans alike that follow the ever changing metal trends.
When 40OZ reach the point in the set where they unleash ‘Pig Iron’ they are at full throttle with this scathing attack on modern society. The chorus of ‘You’re going to need a warrant to check my shit’ is chanted loud and proud by all the converts.
The set includes a cover of Trash Talk’s ‘Lepers to feed the Lepers’ but followed by the bands own ‘Tortured’ , ‘Blame’ , ‘No Heart No Soul’ it actually highlights how strong the set of original 40OZ track’s are.
The band end their night with the intensity of ‘Hypocrite’ and from the reaction around WHQ it certainly is ‘job done’. Hypocrite echoes the values of 40OZ, Hades and Iced Out alike in that with true Hardcore, integrity is the key and that’s what you have with this collective new breed in the North East.
Tonight is a triumph for 3 bands forging a new direction in Hardcore. Time to sit up & listen!
Words: Graham Ward
