The Black Heart is one of the last great metal venues in Camden. Tucked away from the street performers and tourists who inhabit the high street, The Black Heart is a haven for those who want their music loud and abrasive. Tonight’s show, headlined by Liverpool’s own Horsebastard, is just that.
London-based powerviolence outfit Louse are the perfect opener. Their no-nonsense approach to hardcore is reminiscent of a band like Nails, with HM2-laden riffs pairing perfectly with a never-ending assault of D-beats and blast beats, plus some of the gnarliest pick scrapes ever produced. The few moments of calm between songs are filled with noise and samples before Louse launch into another onslaught of antifascist hardcore. Make sure you catch Louse at an upcoming show, especially Smash The Fash fest in February next year. You won’t be disappointed.
Nerve Peel are like nothing else on this line-up. Combining black metal, techno and hardstyle, the duo, bathed in red light and hunched over a table of drum machines and mixers, unleash a sonic assault of shrieking vocals and pounding bass upon the enraptured crowd. The performance is captivating and all-encompassing. The smashing of a single cymbal and the band’s intense concentration on the conjuring of vicious sounds make Nerve Peel difficult to tear your eyes away from. In the last two songs of their set, Nerve Peel’s vocalist jumps down into the crowd, joining in the fray of thrashing limbs and wide eyes, pulling them even further into their world of noise and frenzy. If you’ve ever wished that Igorrr had less accordion and operatic vocals, then Nerve Peel are certainly a band to check out.
Merit are making their London debut tonight, and after spending a day sightseeing, they are eager to show London what they’ve got. They open with Roller from their 2024 No One // Nowhere EP before tearing into multiple tracks from their 2026 album Sweetness Fades. Their energy is contagious, with the room erupting into slam dancing and mosh pits. Merit’s sound can be compared to the likes of Converge mixed with Full Of Hell: high-energy drums and riffs, ferocious vocals and oppressive noise. This combination of influences is represented perfectly on their recent single Calcium, which is dedicated to the sober people in the room and is met with a cheer. The head-spinning drum intro of Perpetual Hate leads to one last explosion of chaos: grinding, dissonant riffs, breakneck rhythmic changes and an outro that feels like it was taken straight from the You Fail Me era of Converge.
Finally, it’s time for Liverpool grindcore darlings Horsebastard. Whilst they’ve been a band since 2012, they’ve seen a rise in popularity over the last year, especially online, with their meme-based self-promotion and enthusiastic use of their own name whenever possible. Taking to the stage with a bottle of Jameson and multiple pints, Horsebastard deliver a never-ending barrage of grindcore bangers. As one song stops, another begins, often before any audience member even gets a chance to yell "HORSEBASTARD" – which they do. A lot.
The vocal acrobatics of Chris Reese are a feat to behold. What many bands would need two or even three vocalists for, Reese pulls off with ease. He even manages to execute them flawlessly whilst crowd-surfing, which he does multiple times during the set. There’s no denying that Horsebastard do what they do very well; however, after the far more dynamic sets before them, they do become slightly one-note. Even when the true meaning of Horsebastard is revealed (for those interested, it’s Free Palestine and Trans Rights Now), it’s met with a drunken roar of their own name being shouted back at them, as it has been all night.
Once again, Hollow Moon Promotions and The Black Heart have put together an incredible line-up, showcasing some of the best bands not just from around the UK but from around the world. If you like your metal/hardcore strange and unusual, keep an eye out for more of their shows.