LIVE FROM THE PIT: Desolated, Not Without Punishment, Concrete Jungle, Curfew, Hypnotize and Full Clip

Nothing says a gig is a hardcore gig more than a performance in an unexpected place. Tucked away in Southampton is the Edmund Kell Unitarian Church. An unassuming building from the outside, but a transformative space that is perfect for a hardcore show. 

The show was everything that a UK hardcore fan could dream of. It gave the reminiscing feel of a basement gig whilst showcasing talents of the present and future. With no barrier, a homemade set up of amps and cabs, and the house lights on, it was an experience for all that both played and attended. No frills, no hiding behind the grandeur of staging. Just talented performers showing an audience what the Southampton hardcore scene has to offer. 

Starting the evening were FULL CLIP, a band who have only just emerged on the Southampton hardcore scene. Taking to the stage for their live performance debut, the audience would never have known that this collaboration of established performers were taking to the stage together for the first time. As enthusiastic and polished as a new band can be, you could feel the energy building throughout the set and with a duo of vocals to give you a brilliant blend of sounds, there is some true promise of excellence woven through each song they played. 

No sooner did FULL CLIP come off stage, HYPNOTIZE had their turn. Opening with the shouts of ‘ thanks for coming home’, they truly brought the noise. For a set that was happening before it had even reached 7pm, there was a true sense of excitement as the vocalist encouraged the audience to come closer and mosh with him. With a cohesive sound, it reminds audience members that anyone can work hard to make great music. 

CURFEW took to the stage next. Full of angst and solid breakdowns, this band truly showed the audience why Southampton hardcore bands should be on everyone’s radars. With guttural growls and guitars that complimented the vocals brilliantly, it was the perfect signifier of why the local hardcore scene is something to be admired. 

The collective nature of the Southampton Hardcore (SOHC) is truly admirable. COLLECTIVE ON A DEBT seems to be capturing the scene in shows that elder generations could have only dreamed of. Each band knows the other and respects the talents that each other holds. They jump in to help each other out, support with gang vocals, and truly bring the noise to the room so that it feels electric. It’s an inspiring scene that comes together to celebrate all things hardcore. 

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Starting the second half of the bands on the roster is CONCRETE JUNGLE. A band filled with more energy than you could ever expect from a band. From the vocalist jumping into the audience, shouting mosh steps to others, to the rest of the band holding the song down for the audience, it was an infectious energy. At one point, you had to question who was in the band and audience members jumped into the performers area, screamed down the mic, and had their own go at being a singer in a form of unity between everyone in the room. 

NOT WITHOUT PUNISHMENT took the main headline slot. With a sound that is jam packed with mosh opportunities, riffs galore, and growls aplenty, these Southampton hardcore up and comers are definitely ones to watch. Filling their set with solid songs, you could see that they had refined their craft and are a band on the cusp of taking the next step. Professionalism ran throughout, and even when the fire alarm went off in the building during the set (due to the sheer heat of the room - no fires present) the crowd and band came together to solidify the power of the Southampton scene. 

Finally the band everyone was there to see took to the stage. DESOLATED haven’t played a show like this in a long time. Guitarist Richy announced to the audience and nights like the one they were playing were something that the youth of the generation before could have only dreamed of, that the scene is something special and this show was a time to celebrate. 

Opening with The Beginning, this was a no holds barred show and the band played as if this was a festival headliner moment. Cramming in as many songs as possible, the first part of their set finished with The End. Ten years after the album of the same name had been released, it felt like a cathartic moment for the band. Like the end of one chapter had finished and allowed them to then treat the audience with some tracks from the newest album Finding Peace. 

Victims 2.0 really ramped the night up a notch with bodies flying around the room and people taking their opportunities to scream down the microphone and back at the band. Ending the set with End Of The Line and Death By My Side, DESOLATED truly showed that paying back to your roots can truly give those memories of a lifetime. With an audience filled with friends, family, and fans, it felt like a Kodak moment.  But as vocalist Tony climbed atop an Orange cab during Death By My Side, audience members crowd around, screaming the lyrics back at the in a moment that truly felt like DESOLATED had made it. Whilst it wasn’t their usual gig set up these days, it truly felt like they were home. 

Words and photos: Laura Davies