The Black Map #264: Crushed By Waves from Manchester! (Reading Rising IV Edition)

Even with the most experienced stage crew on Planet Metal, turning a stage around between bands at a show or festival ain’t like changing the tires on a Formula One car. It usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes to tear down a drum rig, swap cables, amps, pedal boards, place drinks, tape setlists and so on before a band is ready to blow you away with their offerings but fortunately Reading Rising have a cunning plan. 12 bands. 2 stages. 0 clashes. 18th November will see the event take place at The Facebar in Reading and you can walk between the two stages inside the venue through an adjoining door next to the bar, collecting a drink on the way. That means no filler music, no waiting around and no need to check your watch while the crew work. Sadly that doesn’t mean you won’t be saved from the odd arse crack on show or wardrobe malfunction but some things can’t be helped. Instead, you’ll get a day of wall to wall Rock and Metal for your viewing and listening pleasure and pure escapism. With another six bands yet to be announced, here’s the line up so far…

Red Room

Our Hollow Our Home (headliner)
InAir
Crushed By Waves

Blue Room

Confessions Of A Traitor (headliner)
Waterlines
NervEndings

Part #4 of this Sunday supplement finds us in Manchester, the home town of Crushed By Waves. A band who float between the World’s of Alternative Rock and Metal with anthemic sing-a-long choruses wrapped in Linkin Park style electronics, cathartic screamed vocal moments to enhance their glorious cleans and of course breakdowns, they’ve been doing it since 2020 single “Ceiling” made it’s debut. Five more singles have followed, each one building on the momentum of the last with July’s “Nothing Left” their most ambitious yet. Lyrical introspection points the fickle finger of fate at some Nu-Metal influences while Takedown, Hammerdown and Radar Festival have all been conquered in 2023.

The Down For Life Music “New Blood” Tour will find them joined by Lightwave, Royals and Two Year Break in October, so the band will be warmed up and fighting fit in their attempts to win over the Reading Rising crowds. So get your voices ready for fans favourite “Appetite” and “Disconnect” because this won’t be the first time they’ve shared the stage with the headliners…

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Reading Rising IV. If you want a ticket for this year’s incarnation you can find them here