LIVE FROM THE PIT: Ten56, Dali, VCTMS and Cabal

Since 2021 TEN56 have been making waves in the modern metal scene all the way from France, opening for the likes of LANDMVRKS and WHILE SHE SLEEPS, it's likely you've heard their name around. TEN56 refuse to be put in any box with their music bringing in influences from a range of genres like deathcore, nu-metalcore and rap.

This tour is their first ever headline tour with shows in Europe and the UK, with support from DALI, VCTMS and CABAL, all three of them being able to storm the stage at The Dome in London. 

First onto the stage was DALI wowing the crowd with their Modern Metal bangers. These guys are also from France and their tunes were jam packed with half time rock beats, essential for headbanging. The four piece band have been in the scene since 2012 so they're anything but new to warming up a crowd.

Their experience showed being the first of 4 bands up they knew what they had to do. As they started mosh pits slowly started to build and long haired figures in their battle jackets caught onto their rhythms. They made the whole crowd get down on the ground including every person in the room, a great way to end a warm up slot. 

Next was VCTMS, another modern metal powerhouse all the way from Illinois. Their drummer being the only female to rock the stage that night as MEREDITH HENDERSON showcased ravenous beats and fills she also flaunted vocals in synchrony with lead vocalist JOHN MATALONE

The band melding metalcore, hardcore and hip-hop perfectly melded into the line-up which received great reception from the audience. Mosh pits growing bigger with each banger with more bodies for the carnage arriving and joining throughout their set. Some fans along the front sang along with the band, a rare thing to find when opening to an audience at the other side of the planet! 

Last of the openers was the apocalyptic deathmetal CABAL, from the very first track every member of the crowd was head banging in sync and the mosh pits were brutal including a wall of death to close out their set. The Danish four piece have been in the scene since 2015 and their experience shows.

From hairography with the guitarists whipping their locks simultaneously to giving the crowd the mic they knew how to put on a show. They made the stage their own with insane blast beats, pig squeals and fry screams, not one person in the room could stay still.

Finally it was time for the main act, TEN56 came out one member at a time building the intensity of the music slowly before dropping directly into the deep end. The most pits were already the largest they'd been all night as they opened with the song's GOOD MORNING, Saiko and Diazepam. 

The dome venue offers 360 lighting which intensified the show but with a band like this it almost felt too small a stage for them, we can only imagine the kind of show they could put on with more free reign for things like lasers and pyrotechnics. They filled the room with intense rage and raw energy, The band constantly moving around the stage with the bassist and guitarists swapping mics on the stage despite the lack of space.

The songs were easy to follow with the next bar always being led into by the last, the intensity being levels high that the ears expect. The band also gave a moment for there to be a female only mosh pit which was almost more brutal than all the rest, getting all the girls in the room involved and letting everyone enjoy the show the way they wanted. 

As lead vocalist AARON MATTS asked the crowd whoever there were day ones an overwhelming amount of the crowd responded, the fanbase truly are a loyal one. 

The band all throughout the set were interacting with the crowd and each other with the guitarists swapping the symbols, bassist and guitarists jokingly fighting over the mic. You can tell the band not only enjoy being on the stage, but being on it together, they're clearly a close knit group.

A moment was taken to strip the music back with just AARON and a guitarist on stage, AARON taking a moment to flaunt his rap flow before the rest of the band came in for a monumental breakdown at the end of the song. He also took a moment to speak about his struggles with substance abuse and reminded those in the audience that there are always better days on the horizon no matter your struggles, a very heart warming moment. 

The momentum continued with the band closing out with their tracks IO and Boy, the heaviest of the lot. The crowd erupted and the mosh pits were somehow the most insane of any that night, punches and kicks being thrown left and right the onslaught was tremendous. As the band said their final goodbye the applause didn't slow, the fans truly love this band and no one wanted the night to be over. 

First headline tours and shape that make it or break it moment for smaller bands but this was clearly an “I made it moment” for this 5 piece from France. Modern metal is a genre that is hard for some to grasp but this band shows what it truly can become if you give it a chance. This is a night we're sure the bands and the fans alike will never forget!

Words: Amy Smyth