Live Review: Tech-Fest 10th Anniversary (Friday)

Today would have been the day that saw American Death Metal pioneers Suffocation headline but their seemingly last minute decision to pull out of their headlining tour left Tech-Fest in something of a bind. Fortunately they have a powerful reach and were able to pull in Conjurer at the last minute, promoting Loathe to main stage headliners…

Punchy Metallic Hardcore gets today set off as  Cavekiller [8/10] bring out the two steppers. Wearing brightly coloured flowery shirts they bring some brutal breakdowns and vocals that reach and touch the void into Deathcore, “Cursed To Suffer” a highlight. Continuing the skull batteringly heavy start to the day The Cartographer [8/10] who have dropped five singles since their 2021 EP “Mind Atlas” are in no mood to mess about. Rumbling bass and breakdowns they even go way back for some symphonic moments from their past in a set where “Misery System” shines. South Coast Metallic Hardcore heavyweights Glower [9/10] raise the roof with an exceptional drum sound and caustic vocals as they come for the crown of Knocked Loose on the night side. Bombastic rhythms and spin kickers are the order and the execute it in style. They get th first circle pit of the day with a special guest having flown in from the Canary Islands to bare witness to the carnage. What a legend. Basement Torture Killings [7/10] look the part, dressed like four deranged serial killers and armed with a giant cuddly teddy bear… who gets beheaded later in the show. The samples between the songs add atmospherics to the Death Grind sound, each song a lesson in violence at neck snapping speed with clinical solos and blunt force brutality.

As happens everywhere year, Tech-Fest pull out a band or two that you thought you would never get the opportunity to witness. Today that title goes to Italian stallions Despite Exile [10/10] whose collosal album “Wound” has long been a favourite. The Post-Deathcore quintet are in furious form, their trademark sound of Technical Deathcore riffs and aching dark melodic overtones is in full effect and at points their even reach cinematic levels. InRetrospect [8/10] are well on the way to bigger stages with their Progressive Metalcore offering that has all the range and dynamics needed to terraform Planet Metal into their own image. Having seen them live previously we already know the audience are in for a good time and they don’t disappoint, attracting a decent crowd in the process. Skillfully combining Thrash and Death Metal with a Punk aesthetic Cage Fight [8/10] are a band on the rise and rise, packing out the main stage for their mid-afternoon set. It would be interesting to know what the other members of TesseracT think of their guitarists side project, especially when faced by the feroisity of frontwoman Rachel Aspe. “Guillotine” is *ahem* as razor sharp as it is infectious before James Monteith appears in the crowd and starts a circle pit while playing along. Watching Forlorn [9/10] is a spellbinding, captivating and enthralling journey through sound. They seamlessly blend blunt force aggressive tendencies with expansive and ethereal atmospheres to create something as ugly is is beautiful. The raw banshee wails contrasted by stunning cleans, the thunderous percussion and wall of groove balancing the meloncholic meanderings before “The Weight Of It All” brings the house down in majestic fashion. Exist Immortal [7/10] surprise with a career spanning set that finds cameos from Dilan Alves of Harbinger fame and James Hewitt of Hacktivist. It feels like a purposeful move from the Progressive Metal quintet to pull out some of their heavier material when they are surrounded by heavier bands and it pays dividends. Their musicianship is as tight as ever and a couple of giant sing a long moments are majestic.

The return of Sworn Amongst [8/10] isn’t something we thought we’d see when they decided to call time on the band and yet here they are kicking up a ruckus with another electrified performance. New cuts “Restitution” and “Crucify” find the band once again shaking Death Thrash bones, while some early ones remind us just how Carcass inspired the band actually are. As darkly majestic as each time we’ve had the pleasure of seeing them previously Conjurer [9/10] are a band who can simply do no wrong. Their meloncholic meanderings and caustic vocals forge a path in Blackened Sludge Death Doom that is quite unlike any other. Gut punching and yet delicate and nurturing, each moment is not only sublime but confirms their status on the Global stage. Having announced the departure of Jot Maxi a day before their set and teased their replacement vocalist, former Borders man  Jordan “JJ” Olifent breaks his live duck with Hacktivist [10/10]. It’s clearly something that has been in the works for some time judging by the high quality of the performance which is so obviously well rehearsed as well as the presence of a brand new song in “Crooks And Criminals“. A music video for that is filmed during the show so we look forward to that. Elsewhere, they’re tight and energetic, the smoke machine and light show a fantastic accompaniment for everything from “Armoured Core” to “Elevate“, the band even joined by former Borders guitarist Gavin Burton for a final chorus flurry. Hacktivist are a hard act to follow but The Five Hundred [7/10] give it their best shot with cuts like “Smoke And Mirrors” and “The Rising Tide” darkly atmospheric and deeply personal. The band have just finished recording their next album and give us a taste of that with one called “Dragged Out” which fits like a glove into their set. Their fans are fiercely loyal and put throughout while those who aren’t in the pit are singing every single word.

Tech-Fest feels like a homecoming for tonight’s impromptu headliners and Deftones inspired Gloom Metal pioneers Loathe [10/10] who face a capacity crowd and play their hearts out. The movement is non stop as cuts like “Dance On My Skin” remind of their rich past and “Gored” of their sublime future. Having conquered America they’ve kept their live set heavy and energetic, skillfully taking a few moments to bring the temperature down before turn the heat up once more. On this evidence it won’t be long before the Liverpool natives reach arena stages, they already have to soundtrack for it…