I think it’s fair to say the announcement that Boston’s current hardcore kings The Rival Mob were to be playing two exclusive UK shows alongside Mind Eraser was greeted with a veritable frenzy of rabid excitement. A UK appearance from both bands has been long overdue but it was Violent Reaction’s Tom Pimlott (the UK’s very own hardcore exchange student) who was the man with the connections to finally make it happen, facilitated by zine guru & promotional mastermind Max Mitchell handling organisation and logistics. These two gentlemen get full props from Corehammer for the way in which these shows happened. No booking agent bullshit, no absurd demands or rock star nonsense, just well laid plans and flyers in hands. Everyone’s a winner.

So with all that said and done, the CH Crew saddled up and made our various ways down to the Steel City to converge at it’s now infamous venue, The Broomhall Centre. I’ve seen so many good shows in this place over the years it’s ridiculous. As a home for all ages DIY shows, it’s absolutely perfect in size, location and function with a low, deep stage ideal for diving and rooms off to the side that double up as a vegan snackbar and tea room thanks to the continued efforts of the local punks. More often than not when I ocassionally try to explain to norms the juxtaposition of aggressive music and ill behaviour with the grass roots ethical enterprises and lack of a bar, I’m greeted with complete bafflement. To many, that equation of elements simply does not stack up, yet to me and the other denizens of this often bizarre underground it will always make perfect sense. I guess that’s being out of step for you. Anyway it’s a blessing that Max has managed to retain such a good relationship with the owners for so long considering the potential for aggro and injury that walks hand in hand with punk rock. No bar/booze may discourage some of the “not as good as it was in my day” brigade, but that’s no fucking loss. Hardcore was built on defiance of bullshit accepted standards and for the most part it’s the youth that keeps that middle finger flag flying, who make the zines and start the bands. More kids wrecking themselves at shows and less washed up barflys getting in the bloody way. Hardcore for hardcore.

Blind Authority were a late addition to the bill and I only caught a song because I’d gone off to find a cash machine and a coke but what I did see was a fairly accurate approximation of Think I Care’s early works. Pondeorus and dirgey peppered with some gnarly fast bits. Niall’s got a decent set of lungs on him, however he loses points for repping the kinda naff shirt that Conan Roberts would have worn during his Brighton period. Apparently there was some fierce stage talk during the BA set too, I look forward to absolutely nothing coming of that.

Yorkshire’s own straight edge boot boys Obstruct were up next. I thought the sound was a bit thin and the band lacked the crunch that their early Slapshot meets DYS brand of vintage hardcore requires. However audio grumbles didn’t stop the Mongrel youth in the pit from stomping around and making good use of that stage. Wasn’t sure why beanpole bassist Ross was sporting a pair of fingerless leather gloves throughout the set, looked strangely like a member of The Damned. Singer seemed to have some good stuff to say judging by the approving response he received but I missed what he were saying because I was telling my mate a joke. Soz fella.

Bang Bros have gradually become one of the bands I most look forward to watching live and tonight was no disappointment. Classic, immediately catchy Youth Crew inspired hardcore played with sincerity and energy. My wife Sarah had come along with us for this show and despite having grown up listening to Death and Bolt Thrower she hasnt been to an actual show in quite some time so I found her observations on the current breed of moshers style quite amusing, she remarked that during one of the slow skank parts the crowd looked as though they were moshing underwater!!! Bang Bros sets are 100% fun, no silly bullshit or thug attitudes, just people getting loose within an uplifting positive atmosphere. A great set from an excellent band, come back soon.

Another band that we’ve been championing for a while is Liverpool’s Violent Reaction. Vocalist Tom was one of the men behind tonights festivities and alongside Pat Hassan is possibly UKHC’s MVP right now such is his commitment to touring, recording and getting bands going. Nothing but respect for that young man. Violent Reaction, like Obstruct, take influence from the early days of Boston hardcore an inject a streetpunk sensibility with catchy riffs and great singalongs. A core of abject straight edge defiance runs through this band and is apparent but not alienating during their performance. The band hit the stage hard and the growing crowd responded in kind by erupting across the dancefloor like one of those fistfight dust clouds you used to see in The Beano. The band was solid and it was cool to see guitarist Charlie singing along as he played. ‘Violent reaction take no shit, Straight Edge. Fuck You.’

The vibe darkened somewhat as the long awaited prodigal sons Mind Eraser unleashed their brand of seething violence upon the Broomhall. I’d been informed by friends that the previous nights set in London had been one of those rare (but awesome) mosh to survive situations so expectation was high. Vocalist Justin is a man with a very commanding stage presence, glaring and gurning into the depths of the venue like a Rune Priest watching for a stirring in the warp. I expected the place to explode when they launched into the opening song but the crowd seemed transfixed and somewhat subdued. In all honesty this didn’t appear to phase Mind Eraser at all who continued to howl through a set touching upon material drawn from the full breadth of their extensive discography as well as a fearsome Siege cover. The sheer weight, density and volume of the band was staggering as they crushed the audience with a barrage of hardcore that went from harrowing powerviolence grinding into tectonic slow parts. The pit eventually boiled over as Justin writhed and bellowed from the lip of the stage, overseeing the thrashing dancefloor like a demented Ahab raging upon the prow of the Pequod. A Glacial Reign indeed.

The Rival Mob seemed to be the band that were the big draw here and perhaps rightly so. Their brand of fast and furious,immediately catchy hardcore really is hard to beat and from the start people went absolutely apeshit. Not a bit mad or a little crazy for certain songs, I mean I was actually scared for peoples wellbeing for the entirety of the set. I’m afraid I can’t even tell you what was happening onstage or what the band looked like as for the most part I was actively trying to avoid getting kicked in the teeth by the constant and increasingly reckless stream of stage divers hurling themselves into the void. At one point i was stood round the side of the stage so I couldnt actually see the band and it just looked like kids were being catapulted out of a giant sling shot aimed at the wall. I’ll say that the band were tight as hell and played with a fury that was joyful to behold and the singers sharp wit was wonderfully at odds with his belligerent stage presence and somewhat cro-magnon appearance, bearing more than a passing resemblance to a young Ron Pearlman. They played all the bangers from their 7″s and the LP on Rev as well as throwing in Agnostic Front cover. Short, sweet and absolutely insane. Perfect

The evening finished up, as is tradition, with a curry at Butlers in the company of old friends, before making our seperate ways home. Shout out to Max and Tom for the great show, Stocks for fighting pirates when he should have been moshing, UK hardcore for still being on top, Corhammer Crew and in particular my man David Ager for driving us all down.

All pictures come courtesy of the very talented from Josh Rock Check out his page for more great pictures.
(Except Mind Eraser pic taken by yours truly)