LIVE FROM THE PIT: HECK, Chaos Reigns and Ruena

Walking into HECK’s last ever (but one) show at Signature Brew Haggerston, the room is packed and full of energy from doors - friendly and familiar faces in all corners. There’s a feeling of enthusiastic anticipation - it’s clear from the vibe that it’s not this crowd's first rodeo with HECK and they know exactly what they have got themselves in for.

The gig kicked off with RUENA who, fresh off of her first tour where she cycled cross country from gig to gig, you’d think she wouldn’t have much left to give - but you’d be wrong. Bouncing onto stage and launching into her anthemic track Kamikaze, she demands your attention with an unwavering vibrant and powerful energy. Her set ranges from trudging guitars fit for a good ol’ hair flinging head bang, to faster paced moments performed with an infectious energy the crowd can’t help but move to. With a set list full of words worthy of a chorus, a highlight track was Feel the Fear (and do it anyway), which RUENA introduced to the audience from the middle of the crowd, encouraging us all to just go and do the thing, and do it scared!

Next up were CHAOS REIGNS, who immediately kicked it up a notch, living up to their self described ‘feral hardcore’ energy. With the front-man chucking the mic stand off stage and jumping off the drum kit within what feels like seconds, it’s hard to avoid getting swept up in their force. If the crowd wasn’t convinced by the first track, when they launched into Sins of Success, a scorcher of a track from their recent EP Sweet Violence, it’s hard to ignore the fury of the lyrics. Screams of “LIE. CHEAT. STEAL. KILL. Whatever it takes to pay the bills” detailing a deserved discontent with the state of the world. The band’s energy is unfaltering throughout the rest of their set. With many moments of catharsis reminiscent of our headliners to come, it’s no surprise when their front man shouts out the influence HECK have had in paving the way for them and many bands alike. 

And finally our headliners, the formidable HECK. Take a second to blink and a mic is already hanging off the lighting rig with the audience scrambling to get their moment to get stuck in, Matt’s on the floor and Johnny has already done a lap around the venue - everyone is everywhere. If you thought the crowd was lively before, when HECK arrived on stage it was immediately clear the whole room had been storing their energy for this moment. 

There is no doubt that HECK’s legacy will be true chaos, and we are shoved into it before you realise. The first half of the set is a whirlwind, stacked from top to bottom with hits from their 16 years of wrecking havoc, only offering a moment of calm when we reach the track Totem for a brief reprise. Matt checks in with the crowd, making sure everyone’s survived their wrath up until this point with a thumbs up, and states “When someone asks what your best gig of 2026 is we better be on the fucking list!” - a deadset for this crowd who commit with everything they have until the last note. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqy4bEJjyoU&list=RDGqy4bEJjyoU&start_radio=1

The intensity returns, with their disorder only ceasing for fleeting moments of concentration to nail insane riffs, demonstrating that even though their live show has always been a pull, they have the musicianship to prove they were always everything but a gimmick. Powering their way through the setlist, handily written up Matt’s arm, they still find the time to perform from all corners of the venue; from multiple flight cases in the pit, up on the bar, storming the merch desk, and so far back from the stage they’ve basically left the venue.

As a fan, the moment a band disbands is bittersweet, but there’s barely time to think about it as in classic hardcore fashion, Matt lines the crowd up for a wall of death telling the crowd that this moment is all about love, assuring us that “no love was ever lost in this band, it was just time”. 

Following a good ol’ singalong and a brief stage invasion for the classic track Powerboat Disaster, we arrive at the last song. The band convene around the bar - drums and all - to play us out, swapping instruments as they do, sustaining the chaos until the very last note. Blink again and they are back on the stage, thanking the crowd for the past 16 years, smiles on their faces. 

At one point in the beautifully manic set, HECK take a moment to try flog the CDs they have of their 2016 album Instructions, pleading “If you haven’t heard it, please take a fucking CD”, going on to say that any that are left are going in the canal. After their stellar last but one performance, there is no doubt the CDs would’ve flown off the merch desk, but if any did make it to the canal it’s a weird comfort that they will live on, in true chaotic HECK style, in a plastic wrapped CD at the bottom of an east London canal.

HECK played their last ever show at ArcTanGent on Friday on the Yohkai Stage. Once that was over, the next best thing will be fishing for a copy of Instructions along the Union Canal.

Words and photos: Georgia Grant