Spotlight: 5 Possibilities for Summer Bash 6 from Mercury’s Well!

Saturday 13th July at The Facebar in Reading is where you’ll find no less than 10 (and possibly 11) bands on stage for this year’s incarnation of Summer Bash, subtitled 666: Hell In Hawaii. Metal Noise (who are they?!) have been announced as Media Partners for the second year in a row but… What’s the problem with issuing a save the date card? It doesn’t tell you what you’re saving the date for, now does it? Obviously we know that as our hosts, Progressive Death Metal Kings Mercury’s Well are going to be taking to the stage at their event and rightly so, but who else might be joining them? Speculation for s**** and giggles? Oh go on then…

It’s safe to say that Summer Bash has always had something for everyone from all walks of this Metal Life (trademark, patent pending) with a scattering of local bands as well as some heavy hitters from further a field. The focus has very much been on Underground Metal scene talent with Tribe Of Ghosts, Hundred Year Old Man and Treehouse all plaything their part, not to mention the inflatables, flower necklaces and Hawaiian shirts. So here are five bands who we think could be invited along…

First up are a pretty obvious choice. When Hundred Year Old Man brought Post Metal to Reading it and it went down a storm, Leeds purveyors of the genre Helve stand out like a sore thumb. December was the 8th anniversary of their EP “Faint Hope“, a record laced with Sludge and Doom Metal vibes so what chance them coming down South to perform that for us in full?

Leaping genres in one single death defying movement like the Incredible Hulk, next up are Hardcore homewreckers Sore Teeth. They tick the boxes of being as hard as nails as well as being local and having just started their live shows for 2024 will be warmed up by the time Summer Bash comes around. Fists in the air alongside gang chants of “Unite” anyone?

What about a headliner you cry? Having inked a deal with Candlelight Records for their fifth album “In Resonance Nexus” to be released on 21st June Earthtone9 would be an interesting choice for Summer Bash. Said to hark back to their more angular, chaotic and ferocious roots in heavy and intense fashion, judging by single “Oceanic Drift” we could be in for a scorching summer…

Earthtone9 out of reach? Well… Nottingham Death Metal mercinaries Kryptess are a far more… realistic bet. They already have a reputation for a fierce and fiery live show and armed with EP “One Girl, One Thousand Lacerations” they could reduce Reading to rubble. Who knows, they may have even switched their drum machine for someone of flesh, blood and bone by the time Summer Bash comes around.

Last but by no means least, how about purveyors of Nu-Metalcore Break Fifty? They have arisen from the ashes to make their presence felt once more with EP “Every Scream Became A Whisper In The Dark” and are playing shows with Pulse in May. Hailing from Guildford they could even get Ben Mason from Pint Glass and Bound In Fear to reprise his role on “Dreamland“…

Fancy a ticket? Fancy a pre-order t-shirt to collect on the door? Get them here.