After a hectic day in the office what better way to spend the evening than popping over to the Edge of the Wedge for a night that would make the following one just a little bit harder to hear…
EMPLOYED TO SERVE
This evening wasn’t exactly going to be a quiet one, but I don’t think anything was likely to prepare your ears for Woking’s Employed to Serve as if the twin guitars and rhythm section don’t get you, then the deep growls of lead vocalist Justine Jones will.
There was little breathe between songs as Employed to Serve were determined to make the trip down to Portsmouth worthwhile and make an impression on their new audience, so to say I was impressed would be an understatement and as such the night had got off to great start – be sure to check them out on record too.
JOYTHIEF
Having released four tracks from their demo “Hobbies and Keepsakes” online it was a sneak preview into what to expect, so if you like your grindcore “smashing into your skull and tearing the smile off your face from the inside” (there words not mine) then Joythief are the band for you.
The aforementioned demo weighs in at just over ten minutes with eleven short tracks, which live Joythief blast through with just as much venom as on record. You can tell this is the band ex-Ed Wood bassist Damo longed to form, whilst sharing joint vocals on songs that are going to make fans of Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer and Discordance Axis very happy.
THE DIVORCEE
Evolving from the remains of hardcore band Senator the Divorcee have been a firm local favourite when it comes to all things noisey and chaotic for some time now, so with their previous vocalist calling it a day after last years’ Southseafest I was somewhat unsure who could replace the vocals, so step up Joythief frontman/guitarist Daniel Ryan.
Any concerns were soon forgotten as Ryan did the rest of the band justice whilst screaming his heart out for the second set of the night, whilst the rest of the band threw shapes and somehow remain incredibly tight as they rock out like there’s no tomorrow… but alas the Divorcee are soon to lose another member when Ginge hangs up his bass after what was another electrifying performance.
STALLONE
The second of tonight’s touring bands are held together by some insane drumming, that’s no disrespect to the rest of the band but it was from the offset that Stallone had you captured by the speed of the drum fills.
That said Stallone’s vocalist constantly prowling in front of the crowd like a caged hungry dog along with some heavy riffs meant that these lads had some decent loud and angry tunes to throw at us.
RAZOREATER
It was a relief to see everyone’s ears managed to last until the headliners, although they were still in for a pounding as if you thought what came earlier was heavy then be scared – in a good way…
Razoreater had been on the road with Stallone and Employed to Serve but by all accounts this wasn’t their first appearance and weren’t going to let the Edge down providing superb end to the night.
Screaming vocals and brutal riffs, Razoreater were probably the most metal band this evening with the night having seen a fantastic array of thrash, hardcore and grind from both locally and elsewhere proving that the underground scene continues to go from strength to strength.
Photos used courtesy of Sam Taylor @ Pantha Photography: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pantha-Photography-by-Sam-Taylor/195937350539742?fref=ts
