﻿Pretty much one year on from the Conan show that Islanders were treated to, we were reminded, once again, of what it means to be a moth. Rather than flying into a burning hot lamp, the audience that regularly show up to the Twice Dead events return each time to drown themselves in beer and have their ear canals caved in.

The show lived up to, and exceeded, all of my expectations. The moment that the landlord started getting upset when the bands were soundchecking, everybody knew that it was going to be a nice, noisy night.

A big shout out to all of the bands involved, especially to Bast and Byzanthian Neckbeard for travelling such a distance to come over. Many thanks to everyone who came down, and to those behind the scenes, the sound desk and merch tables - this could not happen without you.

I’m going to hand over the keyboard to Soraya now as I was playing with these guys!

So, post-hardcore (if that’s what you can call it) four piece, Hank Chinaski, opened up the night with their unique and melancholic set.

Chinaski often catch the audience off guard with just how much the sound changes over the course of their set. Opening up with some more Deftones sounding tracks, the sound gets ever heavier. With the quieter and calmer parts of the opening songs, you don't expect the set to finish with the down-tuned aggression that it does. Mikey, on drums, played an exceptionally hard-hitting and rhythmically diverse set, with a very minimal set-up and my rug from my hallway to stop him sliding around the dancefloor! This was all held together with Chris' thundering bass and James’ riffs and occasional shouting.

The point that really marked the change in musical direction, to a much more angry one, was when the guitar change brought the tuning down a good few steps. Tom, on vocals, managed to keep up the energy and terrorise the audience beautifully, running and flailing himself around. It was a great way to start the night!

Masticated simply make what they do look far too simple. It is simply not fair to anybody who has ever picked up a guitar and given it their very best, only to be rewarded with frustration, sore fingers and broken strings. From the drums, through to the bass and guitars, each member of Masticated is at the highest of levels in their field of music. The audience were really digging it, and so were they. It is a reminder that the music that we all have come to enjoy is a labour of love, rather than something that does not bear any fruit worth eating.

Everyone in the room, from what I can remember, was absolutely transfixed upon what was happening on the stage. There could have been anything happening around the room; there could have been a crucifixion or any other range of cruel and unusual punishment taking place, but if it wasn't taking place on the stage then nobody would have cared.

- And what a soundtrack for such events this would have provided. As per usual, Masticated delivered a very well rehearsed and polished set of their highly technical death metal.

I've not seen these guys play since the Conan show, and holy bollocks was I caught by surprise. I was expecting a great set, but what I received was a truly magnificent effort.

If you have ever seen Dragonball Z, then you'll be familiar with the character Goku, and his habit of disappearing and then coming back about 100x stronger. Well, this is how I would describe Neckbeard. The fascinating thing too, is that they've actually lost a member. It is perhaps the equivalent of having a leg cut off, but still managing to come first place in the Olympic sprints. I was just so bloody impressed with the band, and I think that the audience noticed a strong change too.

The Byzanthian that I once knew were a very good band, but this was just something else. A set that truly made me consider my place in the universe, and probably burned off the evening's beer through giving my core a good rumbling.

To have some of the bands we’ve had over the last year, when in the many years before we had fuck all like it, we should all be pretty grateful. Conan, Intensive Square and Bast I believe are all doing great things in the UK metal scene right now. I was very excited when the latter were announced, as I'd been very much into what they've been up to since their debut Spectres was released a few years ago.

There are a lot of very good doom and sludge bands out there at the moment, but what I really enjoy about Bast is their ability to blacken their sound. Deafheaven and Alcest for a while before them, have taken a new stab at black metal by sewing it together with a shoe-gaze sound. Some bands have done this with a more black and sludge approach, Twilight being one of them (the band, not the FUCKING FILM) and Bast do it really very well.

It was very loud, and by now everyone had drunk their fair share of alcohol. It was the perfect storm really. Sonic waves crashing down on a well weathered audience; being blown about and beaten around the chops with crushing riffs.​Bast treated us to a set replete with familiar tracks, all of which sounded just great. Until I caught the band live, I’d no idea that their drummer, Jon, also provided the higher range of blackened vocals. Alongside Craig’s lower range vocals, these two sounds sounded brilliant through the PA. It was a towering and menacing set that three young men should have absolutely no business in bringing about.

As well as getting to hear some already well established tracks, it was great to be exposed to some new material. Both old and new, the set went down very well with all who came to the show

A top bunch of guys, who I really enjoyed getting the chance to see.

​Eyes peeledI definitely really needed this gig. The opening few months of the year can be dreary and it is always cathartic to be able to hear some good music, and catch up with those that come out. Thanks to all involved, it was a really good night.

There is a lot going on this year, that is for sure. Without a doubt, there will be a lot more for you all to hear and for me to write about, so bring it on. Twice Dead will always be going the extra mile to keep these shows coming.