10 Bands To Definitely See At Noizzefest

Back for its sophomore edition, Noizzefest is quickly cementing itself as a staple of the UK alternative music calendar. Noizzefest is taking over Cardiff’s Fuel Rock Club and Clwb Ifor Bach on April 26th for an evening of underground heaviness, genre-defying innovation, and boundary-pushing bands. Here are ten unmissable acts lighting up this year's bill.

UNPEOPLE

Exploding onto the scene like a pressure valve blown wide open, Unpeople are the alt-rock newcomers with serious talent behind them. With a debut EP that's been gaining a stir through its blend of pure chaos, razor-sharp hooks and vocal gymnastics, their Noizzefest set promises a whirlwind of frantic energy and riff-based release. If you like your melodies skewed and your mosh pits sing-along, don't miss out.#

KNIFE BRIDE

Knife Bride's theatricality and gothic sensibility, coupled with their dramatic songwriting, make them one of the most visually and aurally arresting bands on the bill. Equal parts theatrical and thunderous, their sound is akin to stepping into a twisted fairytale, where haunting melody crashes into ravaging riffage. Their live shows are intense, immersive, and harrowing, and their Noizzefest set is guaranteed to leave jaws dropped.

FORLORN

If you like your metal steeped in folklore and your atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife, Forlorn are not to be missed. Performing their debut album Aether from start to finish, this is a one-off and special event; a vertigo-inducing brew of pagan imagery, sweeping soundscapes and neck-snapping brutality. Expect to be completely transported to their world. Bonus points if you rock a flower crown and a thousand-yard stare.

ORCHARDS

For those requiring a dash of light amongst the darkness, Orchards provide groove-infused math-pop overflowing with colour, humour and surprise depth. That being said, don’t be fooled by their sunny outlook. Beneath the sparkling guitar work and springing choruses beats an emotional heart that packs as much punch as the breakdowns elsewhere on this bill. A masterclass in dynamic songcraft, their set will be a breath of fresh air.

HIGH REGARD

Charging ahead with irresistible force, High Regard fuse alt-rock urgency with melodic clarity and a bite of post-hardcore grit. Having gained serious momentum over the last year, this trio are on the cusp of something huge. Expect a tightly honed set packed with catchy choruses, snarling riffs, and the kind of confidence that makes you want to throw your drink in the air and scream along.

MASTIFF

Enter the void: Mastiff are here to crush everything in their way. With the weight of sludge, the speed of grind, and the ferocity of hardcore, their sound is nothing but aural torture, and their live shows are like surviving a breakdown intact. Grim, brutal, and utterly merciless, this is the set for anyone who wants to be sonically destroyed. Just don't forget your earplugs.

EL MOONO

Mixing post-hardcore soul with grunge soundscapes and frenzied intensity, El Moono make chaos cathartic. Their recent record The Waking Sun found them stepping into their own as a true force, both sonically and thematically. Live, they shift seamlessly between introspective and berserk, layering riff-based aggression with sections of unnerving quiet. Expect to be drawn in from the very first note.

HIDDEN MOTHERS

Hidden Mothers aren’t just playing music, they’re tearing open emotional wounds and stitching them shut in real time. Their blend of screamo, post-metal, and atmospheric intensity builds like a slow-burning panic attack before crashing into breathtaking release. If you’re the kind of person who cries in the pit (respect), this is the band for you. Bring tissues and prepare to feel your feelings.

COPSE

There's a bleak beauty to what Copse do, a raw, sorrowful swirl of post-black metal that sounds enormous, cinematic and deeply human. They balance brutality with moments of soul-scorching clarity to create a live performance that's immersive and unsettling. If you need to gaze into the void while someone shrieks prettily beside you, Copse are a necessity.

LOVE RARELY

Blending math rock intricacies with alt-emo sincerity, Love Rarely make music that feels like shrieking your innermost feelings into the abyss. Their music feels complex but never calculated, emotional but never melodramatic. Guitars twist and tumble over one another as vocals hit with disarmingly honesty. Catch them now, because this is the kind of band that people start cults over.

Words: Vee Richardson