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HX24 Artists: Opensight, Kakihara, Volupta, Tiberius, Misophonia, Demolizer, and Crossfire
Hordes X is always a hotbed of the best in underground heavy music.
The lineup is curated with quality and real metal culture at the front of the mind, so here’s the final batch of breakdowns of artists appearing this year. If you want to keep your finger on the pulse, get stuck in…
Words: AVZD
OPENSIGHT (SATURDAY)
Self-acclaimed and Hordes approved “Metal innovators” Opensight are cooler than cool heavy metal. Their last full-length album Mondo Fiction continues themes of iconic cinema with metal, funk, rock and just the plain weird. “From car chases in a 70s crime film, or a plot twist in a murder mystery, all the way to a villain’s theme or the visit to an old graveyard in a supernatural thriller.” With panache comes adventure, an intrigue in movie soundtracks spirals through the UK picking up, sideshow oddities en route to Dundee.
Hidden in a shroud of mystery comes The Grindhouse Tapes (Forged in London), one of the very last metal performances captured at The Forge in Camden is soon to be released. Recently released single from the album, and previous set opener, In Here With Us is a typical slice of what’s in store for Opensight’s set, yet only touches the tip of the influential iceberg. Austin Hot Wax 505 style surf funk driven riffs, the marching beats of a satanic panic breakout and the persuasive vocals that can charm any Russ Meyer girl fuel this high-octane dragstrip track – that’s just one song. Be prepared to have your mind altered.
KAKIHARA (THURSDAY)
When asked to describe their music, Edinburgh five-piece Kakihara are not merely genre-bending, but pioneers of their newly named style of “BIG. STUPIT. BEATDOONS. A solid 7/10”. If the trail of previous gig debauchery is anything to go by, Kakihara is undoubtedly going to warm you up as they come face-to-face with the crowd in the pit.
Last year’s release Illuminate was a hastened voyeur into the mind of Kakihara with first and title track coming in at just under two minutes of unadulterated carnage. Expect fat beats, fast guitars and spit and sawdust growls. For As Long As I Can Remember, I’ve Had Memories appeases loss with a sense of unbelonging, bravado aside, lyrically much bleaker than the instrumental and perhaps a snapshot of a much complex band than self-simulated.
VOLUPTA (FRIDAY)
Just a stone’s throw away comes Aberdonian quintet Volupta. Relatively new on the scene, Volupta embrace the spiritual, gothic end of metal, infusing it with their own darkened art to produce a complex tapestry of sound that will be sure to be heard over Dundee on Friday evening.
Drawing you in to their ethereal world is almost unnoticeable it’s so instinctive. Lukasz (bass) and Maras (drums) drive a rockier metal path on Immaculate Sinner whilst Marek and Marcin guitars duel it out in unison, showcasing a seasoned range from a band in infancy. Volupta feel determined, focused and complelled and with the addition of Simona’s vocals, they are propelled into a polished, stand-alone outfit that will have Hordes in the palm of their hands.
HX24 Artists
TIBERIUS (SATURDAY)
Tiberius are anthemic Progressive Metal from Scotland’s capital, who like to hit up the festival scene across the UK and abroad, educating unsuspecting crowds to their ways, and now its Hordes turn with their Dundee debut! Hitting up their home country since their eponymous debut self-titled EP in 2015, Tiberius have evolved “to reflect the ambition and maturity of five individuals who seek to continually challenge themselves, writing music that they love, about topics of which they are passionate.”
A bold and not always attainable desire, Tiberius have taken no hostages thus far and have continued their musical venture with 2020’s full-length album, A Peaceful Annihilation. Incorporating djent and tech metal influence with harmonious engagement. Tiberius tracks are in the studio now awaiting release of their second full-length album as we hold our breath, begging the lads to give us a taste of things to come.
MISOPHONIA (FRIDAY)
Misophonia are a Glasgow based Misophenia wash up on the east coast shores with blackened alt melodeath ruling. A well of doom, melodic death, black metal and thrash delivers up something quite dark and unique.
Misophonia are a band that remain fluid, that are not scared to reinvent and play with tracks including debut album [De]void of Peace opener, Trial & Error. Discussing the track they share another version, “this is Trial and error ver 2.0 as it features an all new mix and master specifically for the accompanying 2024 promo video and features the keys debut of Sean McQueen”. Whilst closing tracks on [De]void of Peace include a remix of El silencio, ( Zi0Zer0 remix) and the 2024 demo Battles fought amongst its stellar eleven-track listing. The evolving of Misophonia is not eluded; its there in transparency, unapologetic nudity in a bare all methodology that brings band and listener close, “Purgatory awaits… In purgatory I remain.”
HX24 Artists
DEMOLIZER (THURSDAY)
Copenhagen bandits Demolizer are on a mission to “deliver a relentless onslaught of harder and faster thrash metal to the masses,” so get down early for the warmup show at Roots cause it’s going to get rowdy! Last year’s full-length album Post Necrotic Human is sure to feature on the headliners setlist and I’m starting to get the fear of burn out on Hordes Day One.
Leading the wake of destruction is Benjamin “Polle” Radtleff, (vocals / guitar) with cutting vocals and razor-sharp riffs. Shrinking and shaking stages throughout several European countries over the next couple of months will be the unyielding rhythmic foundation that is Max Petrén Bach Hansen (drums) and Bjørn Hjortgaard Larsen (bass). You think you know thrash? Bjørn hits fast. Max hits hard. The duo dares you to keep up. And concluding the juggernaut is lead guitar virtuoso Mike Dalsgaard, who, if you fall in the pit, will pick you back up the floor with blistering, ball-bruising riffs alone.
Four days of metal you say Mr Slowdragon?
Might as well call your bosses now. Nobody’s in work on Monday…
CROSSFIRE (SATURDAY)
Another Scottish exclusive in the form of Dublin Thrashers Crossfire, full-lengther Switch To Reset, (Wormholedeath Records) was a wanton assault on the thrash scene in 2023. Over a decade from their beginnings, it was unclear what the lads would actually put to tape, but what we got, was eight down and dirty old-school thrash tracks that did not falter.
Comparisons, as they often do, don’t quite hit the mark for me with Evile, Shrapnel and Xentrix being preferred reference. Nothing bad about being compared to these thrash peers, but the clinically cut debut demonstrated ease, almost effortless in execution. That the familiar fine line of influence vs mimic tipped very much in the favour of influence and that ten years of gigging cemented Crossfire in their own, founded element and I feel some comparatives will be in Crossfire’s rear-view mirror.
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