LIVE FROM THE PIT: Employed To Serve, Celestial Sanctuary and Burner

Employed To Serve are a band in full flight right now. With their brand new album ‘Fallen Star’ dropping the day after the show, they’ve been tearing through a run of intimate venues across the UK, and Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach was one of the final stops. On April 24, they brought the chaos, the catharsis, and the kind of energy that makes you feel lucky to be packed into a tiny room with them — and it’s safe to say they left it all on stage.

Joined by London’s Burner and East Anglia’s Celestial Sanctuary, the night promised a snapshot of the UK’s thriving heavy scene: diverse, uncompromising, and full of heart.

First up was Burner, who brought a raw, explosive energy that immediately loosened up the crowd. Their blend of hardcore ferocity and metallic punch was impossible to ignore — the riffs hit hard, the drums felt like gut-punches, and the frontman’s constant encouragement kept spirits high.

Between songs, they hyped not only their own material but also shouted out Celestial Sanctuary and Employed To Serve, too, creating a real sense of community in the room. It felt less like an opener trying to prove themselves, and more like a band proud to be part of something bigger. Burner didn't just warm up the room — they cracked it wide open.

Celestial Sanctuary

Celestial Sanctuary took the stage next, shifting the night’s energy into heavier territory with their slab of old-school death metal grooves. Their set was relentless without feeling repetitive — dark, crushing, and immersive.

From the first riff, heads across the room started banging in time, pulled into the band’s thick, chugging sound. Their set wasn’t about chaos — it was about locking the room into a heavy, relentless rhythm. Every song hit like a slow-moving avalanche, building the tension and setting the stage perfectly for what was still to come.

When Employed To Serve appeared, the room exploded. Launching straight into ‘Atonement’, they immediately commanded Clwb Ifor Bach like it was an arena. Vocalist Justine Jones was a force of nature, roaring through tracks with feral energy, while guitarist Sammy Urwin drove the band’s signature sound — a massive, metallic blend of groove and hardcore.

Employed To Serve

The set leaned heavily into ‘Fallen Star’ material, including ‘Fallen Star’, ‘Owed Zero’, and ‘Breaks Me Down’, but was balanced with fan favourites like ‘Eternal Forward Motion’ and ‘I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away)’. Every track landed with the precision of a wrecking ball.

At one point, Jones reminded the crowd that ‘Fallen Star’ would be out at midnight — not so much an announcement as a shared countdown between band and fans, most of whom were already itching to hear it.

Circle pits ruled the floor for most of the set, and while there were no crowd surfers, the sheer volume of movement kept security on their toes. Tracks like ‘Party’s Over’ and ‘Mark of the Grave’ saw the room ignite, with bodies colliding but smiles everywhere. Employed To Serve know how to summon chaos — but they also know how to make it feel like a celebration.

By the time the final notes rang out, the walls felt like they were sweating. It was sweaty, cathartic, and brilliant — exactly what live heavy music should be.

Lights like this are exactly why Employed To Serve remain one of the most important bands in UK heavy music. Their set was tight, furious, and bursting with heart — and with ‘Fallen Star’ now officially released, it feels like they’re only just getting started.

Burner set the fire, Celestial Sanctuary kept it burning, and Employed To Serve tore the roof off. Clwb Ifor Bach might be small, but on April 24, it felt like the centre of the heavy music universe.

Words and Photos: Klaudia Skalska