LIVE FROM THE PIT: Haggard Cat, Every Hell and Arid Wave

HAGGARD CAT are a band that are consistently pushing the boundaries of what it means to be creative. Having released their third album The Pain That Orbits Life, the Nottingham duo are on tour to celebrate not only the new release, but the fantastic work they have created up until now. 

Taking to the stage first was ARID WAVE, a Southampton based grunge metal three piece that had the prospect of warming up a crowd on one of the hottest weeks of the year. The band managed to set the tone of the show as they exploded onto stage with frantic noise that seemed both chaotic yet perfectly harmoniously placed at the same time. With the confidence on stage that they too could headline a show, their set was full of preciseness and cohesive chaos as they bounded around the stage engaging the audience. 

Giving elements of Royal Blood and early Gallows, you truly felt like their niche was somewhere beyond the mainstream. Their song Life is Combat allowed their on track collaboration to come to life with HAGGARD CAT’s Matt Reynolds joining them on stage to a rapturous applause and really got the audience ready for what else was to come of the night. 

 Next to grace the Joiners stage were EVERY HELL. Putting themselves into a genre of something altogether unique, they have a sound like no other and were ready to continue the wave of energy that was running throughout the evening. A perfect blend of keys, screams, and razor sharp riffs galore meant that each song stood alone as certified tune whilst the band appeared to be having as much fun as the audience were. 

Vocalist Will Gardner gave us singing that was akin to Matt Bellamy from MUSE and was able to showcase his range alongside his incredible saxophone playing weaved throughout the set. The versatility on show from all was second to none and the audience seemed to be constantly wishing for more from this band. EVERY HELL were a tight fusion of so many different genres, and for a band that only released their first EP in 2024, it’s testament to how dedicated they are to creating something that justifies a chef’s kiss for every ounce of their originality. 

After two incredible support acts, you could feel the energy vibrating in the room in anticipation of the headliners HAGGARD CAT. The hardcore punk-metal duo from Nottingham originated HAGGARD CAT as a side project, however when their previous band HECK split, it naturally turned into their main project and they subsequently have grown into a successful act in their own right. 

Opening the set with I Hate It Here from their new album The Pain That Orbits Life, it shows an audience that a lot of sound can come from just two people. Despite the album only releasing at the start of May, there seemed to be a really fantastic response from the audience to these songs being played throughout the evening. Even though this was an album heavy tour, the songs weaved seamlessly from one to another and there were enough throwbacks for fans to get stuck into. 

Drawing similarities to ROYAL BLOOD and other explosive acts, the duo have created a set comprised of constant energy and noise that when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger and louder, it did. Throwing it back to an early single American Graffiti part way through the set, vocalist Matt Reynolds had the audience screaming back at him in a moment that seemed to be truly special for both band and audience. Reynolds even saying later in the evening that everyone came as fans, but left as friends, lending to the magic of an intimate gig. 

Throughout the show the energy never wavered, giving the audience songs that they could reminisce with and dance the night away too. The duo giving it their all from the first song until the last, showcasing the true range of diverse skills and abilities to everyone in the room. Merging genres and noise, HAGGARD CAT are truly a spectacle and a blueprint for organised chaos on stage. 

Ending the show with a mix of old and new in Quit Your Job and eight minute track Apnoea truly allowed the band to showcase what they could truly do with their instruments. With crowdsurfers going ahead of the audience and mosh pits forming, the band showed skill and perfection making you feel that there was an army on stage as the guitars of Reynolds and the drums of  Tom Marsh truly rattled your bones and left you wishing that there could be just one more song. HAGGARD CAT are a band like no other, and this tour has proven that genre bending music can lift your spirits and engage an audience from the first beat to the last.

Words: Laura Davies

Photos: Luke Storey