LIVE FROM THE PIT: Vexed, InRetrospect and Kila Kosa

Wednesday evenings are the best time to get down to Camden for a meaty line-up and a meatier moshpit, and who else should be commanding this celebration of alternative metal other than the almighty VEXED. Hailing from Hertfordshire, the three-piece, led by the front-woman Megan Targett, together with the guitarist Olly Hall, drummer Willem Mason-Geraghty, and live shows bassist Meyrick de La Fuentes, had already been on tours with bands such as IN DEPTHS and SILENT PLANET, and opened for the metal powerhouse SPIRITBOX on their two headline shows in London in 2022.

Taking onto the iconic The Black Heart after six years of waiting once again - and this time successfully, VEXED brought INRETROSPECT and KILA KOSA with them to show London what a proper sold out show at a infamous grass roots venue looks like.

Opening the night was one of the newest and definitely most exciting additions to the British metalcore scene, KILA KOSA. Although the venue was not filled when they began, the five-piece kept the energy levels high from the start and did not stop until the end of their - unfortunately short, set. Vocalist Anthony kept delivering brutal screams, as well as clears, supported by the guitarists, who were always up to move around the small stage as much as they could; even if it meant just frantically banging their heads. They played their recent releases Bodies and Pulse, as well as some new stuff, and although the crowd was still warming up, it was obvious the fans enjoyed their set and were ready for more - hopefully KILA KOSA will be back in the capital soon with their own headline show.

As the room started getting fuller, INRETROSPECT were preparing for their main support slot. Bringing into the room their groovy blend of metalcore and djent, it was hard to not bop along the whole time, as the songs got stuck in the head very easily. Vocalist Nath often used his clear vocals but was not shy of using fry screams either, the guitarist, together with the bassist kept delivering intricately beautiful riff lines and the drummer was on top of the beats with his crisp drumming, creating a sound that can sometimes be described as a melodic blend of SLIPKNOT, LIMP BIZKIT and LINKIN PARK. Each one of the members delivered a highly engaging performance that resonated throughout the venue, and to no surprise the band received some very nasty moshpits as a thank you from the fans. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrVx05brvIk

Both the Northern INRETROSPECT and the Southern KILA KOSA fulfilled their mission to hype up The Black Heart and all that was left was finally the very anticipated headline show from VEXED. In preparations for their set, the band have put on the stage four rhythm lights, that were - to a big surprise of the fans, very bright, resulting into the floor moaning and laughing after each testing. At that point, it was only the light technician’s job to dim the main lights down for the whole floor to go into an absolute frenzy, as VEXED once and for all took over the stage. Meghan dived right into Anti-Fetish with her unforgiving vocals and at that moment everyone present knew the set was going to be one for the books. 

The sold-out venue kept bursting with energy, understanding and rage as the set progressed further. Bringing out songs like X my <3 (Hope to die), Narcissist and Detonate, the emotions were at stake and only brought further up with Meghan’s chaotic, yet very professional delivery. And the same can absolutely be said about all members of VEXED, as the guitar parts played by Olly were elevating the melody, especially paired up with the bass and drums. At one point of the evening, Meghan tried to get the whole venue down on the floor, yet the breakdown betrayed her doing by starting earlier than anticipated, resulting into few seconds of awkwardness around the room. Nonetheless, these are exactly the moments that can only occur in an intimate venue like The Black Heart. 

Closing the evening with an encore of the banger that is Hideous, the band showed London that they are more than ready to conquer bigger stages - and hopefully this time, it will take them less than six years, as London is in dire need of more VEXED action.

Words and photos: Katerina Stepanikova