LIVE FROM THE PIT: Heriot, Grove Street and False Reality

The U.K. heavy music scene has never been more back! Heriot are a band that don't fit in any single genre (they just siege!) they brought the very best of U.K. hardcore across the country with them.

London’s finest False Reality opened the show and had limbs flying everywhere from the first note. Releasing their debut album a year ago has put False Reality on a path from the underground towards stardom in the U.K. hardcore scene and beyond. Their debut album 'Path of Self Destruct' released in April of 2024 to great acclaim and the crowd proved that in the year since it came out the hype has not died down in the slightest. They were a perfect choice to open the night by shaking the room with their colossal hardcore sound. Closing the set with their song Opposites Attract rounded out a fantastic set that brought the energy and left the crowd eager for the next band Grove Street. False Reality are ones to watch in the hardcore scene because they will be making big waves. 

Hailing from the south coast Grove Street brings the best of hardcore and thrash mixed together into a high energy sound. Having recently released the single 'Ultimate Penalty' with Josh Middleton of Sylosis, it shows that they are a band who are destined for greatness. The release of their LP 'The Path To Righteousness' in 2023 has brought in a wave of fans for the band and they've capitalised on this excitement by forging a name for themselves as one of the must see up and coming live bands in the heavy music scene. By their own words they are a band who want to make sure the crowd has fun and value that most of all. Vocalist Ben ‘Sully’ Sullivan encouraged the crowd to move in and make sure that the whole crowd had fun. With the band looking as though they're on the lead up to a new album it's definitely worth keeping an eye on them as they're onto big things.

Heriot are a band that have been rapidly building a big fan base since their self proclaimed “relaunch” in 2019 when they added vocalist and guitarist Debbie Gough to the lineup. Embarking on this headline tour across the U.K. after dropping their album Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell there was huge excitement to see how they could bring the sound of the album to live shows. Heriot are a band whose sound is like a wall of destructive noise hitting you with unrelenting force at their heaviest and an ethereal dreamscape in other parts. The shared vocals of guitarist Debbie Gough and bassist Jake Packer is the perfect dynamic to suit their unique style. Bone crushing riffs are ripped through by the sound of Debbie Gough’s cacophonous high screams and Jake Packer’s discordant low growls. 

Opening their set with the mighty 'Sentenced To The Blade' brought riffs that could be felt to the very core from the opening seconds and a snare drum that is probably still reverberating through the bones of everyone in the room. There was no moment to let the energy die down when they moved onto playing Enter The Flesh from their 2022 EP 'Profound Morality'. 

Moving into the lead single 'Siege Lord' from Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell showcased the craft that went into the new album and allowed the band to prove just how perfectly in sync with each other they are on stage. The song ending on a monumental breakdown that sent the moshers flying around the room. The set was a perfect blend of letting the fans hear the gargantuan sounds of the new album while also playing old fan favourites like the wildly popular 'Demure'. The slow build up of the song gave time to split the room in half and left a moment to breathe in anticipation of the thunderous mosh pit erupting when the crushing riffs hit.

Closing the set with 'At The Fortress Gate' got the crowd to bring the energy for one last audacious mosh pit that was absolutely full of bodies and limbs flying in all directions. The tour was an overwhelming success with multiple sold out shows in some of the most iconic underground venues through Scotland and England which culminated in Manchester’s exemplary venue Rebellion. Heriot are a band on an unstoppable rise through heavy music and this tour proved that there are countless reasons to keep them on your radar.

Words: Alex Long

Photos: Mia Gailey