The Black Map #230: Deference from Southampton!

From Birmingham and A Titan, A Deity we head to the south coast for this week’s entry in the encyclopedia of the UK Underground Metal scene that is The Black Map. Two hundred and thirty acts have appeared in the feature that continues to introduce new bands while celebrating older ones, something that makes it one of our most popular features.

Formed in 2014 as a Metalcore act, Deference have gradually evolved through extensive training in the live arena playing across Europe with the likes of Rolo Tomassi, Miss May I and Blessthefall from a middleweight prize fighter into something of a Heavyweight champion. Originally having arena sized choruses and technical moments they now bring a raw edge of the punch and aggression. A well received trio of EPs in 2015’s “XXXVII“, 2017’s “False Awakening” and 2019’s “Condemned to Repeat” have seen them sharpening their blades while 2021 bruiser of a single “Erase My Name” which features a guest vocal appearance from Ben Mason of Bound In Fear and Pintglass fame is arguably their heaviest to date. Statistics don’t lie and with their last two singles “Body Count” and “Shadow” hitting a combined 50k of Spotify streams alone making them the best received yet and confirming that their work refining their sound in the furnace of hell has paid off handsomely…