already-heardmusic:

For over the past 20 years, at the end of April, in the small village of Meerhout, Belgium, punks and hardcore kids of different nationalities gather for a festival specifically catered for them. From it’s small beginnings as a pop and rock festival, Groezrock has grown into one of the most well renowned punk and hardcore festivals in the world. Now in its 21st year, we at Already Heard venture to Belgium, to marvel at the bands, sights, and sounds. 

The first band to kick start off this adventure for Already Heard at Groezrock 2013 is the rock ‘n roll punk stylings of Texan lot The Riverboat Gamblers. Ecstatic and full of energy, the band provides the perfect dose of warming entertainment for this afternoon’s crowd. Every member of the band delivers a tightly wound performance, breathing life into every note they wield, and not willing to commit to anything less. Tracks like ‘Hey! Hey! Hey!’ and ‘On Again Off Again’ are brimming with catchiness, and this is all sealed by the bounding stature of frontman Mike Wiebe. (3.5/5)

Having recently announced an indefinite hiatus, Streetlight Manifesto play one of their last European shows to an eager ska-loving crowd. The concept of fun is the running theme across their entire set, as the band brilliantly provides chorus led chants and boisterous skank-mosh activity. The switching moods and rhythms that the band can maintain in songs like ‘We Will Fall Together’ and ‘Everything Goes Numb’ deliver something that is exciting and grandly assumes their position as a festival band. (4/5)

The moment the first few bass laden notes of ‘The King Is Dead’ are played, a sudden rush escalates amongst the crowd who widen a largely prepared mosh pit for A Wilhelm Scream. A high octane performance is delivered like an adrenaline shot to the heart as circle pits and scrambling increase. The band continues to tease with new material for an upcoming album via a couple of songs, but the album can wait as it’s the here and now that matters. Finishing on fan favourite ‘Famous Friends And Fashion Drunks’ the band once again proves to be a phenomenal live machine. (3.5/5)

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So here it is! My first part of my Groezrock adventure.

The first day in summary was hectic and exciting. I saw some incredible bands, and broke my nose.

ENJOY!

already-heardmusic:

With the Belgian festival just days away, it’s seems like “groez fever” has us in its grip.

There’s something for everyone at this festival, Whether it’s big hitters, like Rocket From The Crypt, Kid Dynamite, Killswitch Engage, and Bad Religion, or you want something a bit different, like the Aquabats, Masked Intruder or Turbonegro. 

To give you a taster of what’s to come this weekend, we’ve picked 20 bands you could give your time to this weekend at Groezrock 2013.

Kid Dynamite
Widely considered one of the most influential punk/hardcore bands, Kid Dynamite bring their honest brand of fast, loud, and highly crowd surf-able music to Europe for Groezrock at the end of this month. If you want that all your favourite bands listened to and were influenced by then I’d highly recommend you go watch them, and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. For the crowd participation alone, their set will be one of the best of the weekend. If you want to be musically prepared, whack on ‘Shorter, Faster, Louder’ and get hyped! (RK)

When & Where: 27th April 22:00 on the Etnies Stage.

Title Fight
Title Fight are a band that have grown musically and progressed with each record they’ve released. ‘Kingston’ will always have a place in my heart but ‘Floral Green’ put them on the radar for many and their set at Groezrock will prove to be a one to watch. They’re on the path of the grunge revival currently that so many others are, difference is that Title Fight do it well. I’ve seen them play several times before and their live show is really something special and again, they’re another band where the crowd participation will outweigh any musical judgements you have about them. (RK)

When & Where: 27th April 20:45 on the Etnies Stage.

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I’m at this tasty little festival this weekend. If you are too then check me and my fellow writers’ 20 recommendations for Groezrock.

Mine are Rocket from the Crypt, Polar Bear Club, Streetlight Manifesto, A Wilhelm Scream and Comeback Kid.

already-heardmusic:

Happy New Year! We’re really excited about 2013 here at Already Heard. We think it’s going to be another excellent year with new albums, new releases, awesome tours, amazing festivals and a whole lot more.

Over the next 12 months you’ll see countless bands and…

My picks for the top 50 included Vales, Defeater, Brontide, And So I Watch You from Afar, MINE, Muncie Girls and Crash of Rhinos.

This is a cracking eclectic list, and I highly recommend you check out all 50 of these bands in 2013.

I’m really pleased as fuck about the latest Groezrock additions.

So basically I’ll be hoping to see the following:
Less Than Jake, The Flatliners, Title Fight, Polar Bear Club, A Wilhelm Scream, Kid Dynamite, Trapped Under Ice, Pennywise, Comeback Kid, Nothington, Bad Religion, Rise Against, Streetlight Manifesto, Hatebreed, Iron Chic, The Riverboat Gamblers, Texas Is the Reason, Old Man Markley, Killswitch Engage and Strife. 

already-heardmusic:

The first band up for Already Heard on the opening day of Reading 2012 is Cancer Bats. This band has come a long way, graduating from the lock up stage to today earn a main stage slot. For a band so used to playing smaller venues, the Canadian hardcore outfit are starting to make larger stages their own and despite the usual grumbles about main stage sound they produce a solid set, full of fury and aggression and looking more and more like a massive live prospect.

Tom Delonge’s Angels And Airwaves are next up. Now a main-stay of the festival circuit, their epic sound combined with the undeniable rock-star presence of their front man makes them an entertaining live act. They do not disappoint today with a high energy, career spanning set, including hits like ‘The Adventure,’ ‘It Hurts’ and ‘Everything’s Magic.’ Whilst often underappreciated as a band in their own right, Angels And Airwaves today produce a worthy and competent main stage performance.

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Here is Already Heard’s review of Friday at Reading Festival 2012. Enjoy!

already-heardmusic:

From time to time, you thank yourself for small blessings. After partying hard on Friday night, some of Team Already Heard were feeling, let’s say, a little worse for wear on Saturday morning.  

It’s a shame when a young band with the potential to cause a hurricane amongst the masses begins to dissipate; Crocus play their last ever set with as much passion and emotion that they can muster. The screamo quartet have an admirable energy that succeeds in driving a stake into the eye sockets of the partially large number who are present here this morning. Even though only a couple of die-hard fans budge at the sight of them, the best the band can achieve in this last performance is a reaction that is a respectful hybrid of curiosity. (AL)

Rising Lincoln hardcore quintet Martyr Defiled are the type of band Hevy Fest was made; fast, pummelling drums, screamo vocals, the occasional breakdown and shitloads of hardcore dancing. Admittedly they’re not for everyone’s taste but they certainly know how to make their mark. (SR)

Punching the wall between the stage and the audience, Feed the Rhino embrace their guests with absolute swagger and mayhem that a lot of bands can only dream of. Crunchy meaty riffs are served with a loud yell from frontman Lee Tobin who throughout the duration of their set commands the crowd to wake up and start moving. A wall of death and many bruises later, all those attending have been greedily satisfied with this lunchtime meal of rock ‘n roll hardcore noise. (AL)

Photos by Sarah Louise Bennett.

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Part two of our review at Hevy Festival. Check it out!

already-heardmusic:

Back for it’s fourth year, Hevy Fest packs an almighty punch of rock, punk and hardcore. Oh, and a bit of everything in between of course. With the ‘typical British summer’ we’re currently having of rain and more rain, the organisers have opted for 3 stages under…

Here are ten bands that me and the guys at Already Heard recommend you check out if you’re going to Hevy Festival this weekend.

I’ll have to admit the Hevy line up is very good so far. At the moment I’m keen on Converge, Sharks, Balance and Composure, A Wilhelm Scream, Verse, Trapped Under Ice, and Pianos Become the Teeth. Plus even though I’ve not listened to a lot of their music, I’m curious to see Will Haven.

Take this sinking ship I’ll take all my friends down with because all my friends are anchor end.

The worst writers are the ones who fuck up happy endings. 
The best ones don’t bother to type.

I’ve been writing you a letter in my head for months with no reply. 
When did your interest in me die?
Take this sickening shiv I cut all my friends off with.
I lie to those who love me by reciprocating. 
I wish I felt sincere inside.
When I needed you to make me needy, how surprising!
You needed nothing of mine. 
Take this sinking ship I’ll take all my friends down with because all my friends are anchor end.
Piss, drunks, and love. These too are found in gutters. I won’t throw up.
I’m smarter now.