Hardcore Still Lives: Lionheart, Madball, Gideon and Slope Hit the Netherlands
Tuesday night at 013 in Tilburg was a full-force celebration of hardcore in all its forms, with a stacked lineup that delivered intensity, community and plenty of bruises for those brave enough to step into the pit.
Opening duties fell to Slope, and they wasted no time setting the tone. The German crossover outfit sounded sharp, tight and absolutely fired up, quickly winning over early arrivals. Their new single ‘Same Blues’, released on January 9th, landed particularly well, its groovy urgency making it feel like a future staple already. Placing it just before closing their set with ‘9/5’ was a smart move — ending on a song that perfectly captured the shared exhaustion of a weekday crowd still willing to give everything they had. Considering it was a work night, the response was impressive, and Slope proved once again that they are far more than just a warm-up band.
Next up were Gideon, straight out of Alabama and proudly dressed head-to-toe in Alabama-themed outfits. They opened with ‘Wrong One’, instantly igniting the room. Fresh off signing a new label deal with Sumerian Records in 2025, the band has entered a new era, marked by the release of two absolute sledgehammer tracks: ‘Wrong One’ and ‘Til The Wheels Fall Off’. Both featured in their Tilburg set and both hit like a wrecking ball. The Dutch crowd responded with pure chaos, forming what was arguably the biggest mosh pit of the night during ‘MORE POWER. MORE PAIN.’ Gideon clearly left a lasting impression. With their upcoming UK headline tour stopping at venues like Thekla in Bristol (26.01.26), Rebellion in Manchester (28.01.26) and The Dome in London (31.01.26), this set felt like a powerful preview of what’s to come. The last time they were in the UK they supported The Ghost Inside and blew the roof off every venue they touched, so definitely check them out if you’ve got a chance.
Madball followed, and despite the crowd being a little sluggish at the start, the New York hardcore legends once again proved why they are untouchable. Freddy’s energy remains pure and infectious — jumping around the stage with the same passion he’s had for decades. At one point, noticing the lukewarm response, he jokingly asked security to check the crowd’s pulse to see if they were still alive. The set also looked firmly toward the future: the band played their new single ‘Tethered’, which dropped in November 2025 and is set to appear on their upcoming album, expected in March 2026 — a track that already sounded right at home in the Tilburg crowd. Guest appearances added extra fire, with Chris Weber of Slope joining them for a track, and later Rob Franssen of Dutch legends Born From Pain stepping in for ‘Pride’. They closed with ‘Hardcore Still Lives’, a fitting finale for a band whose legacy speaks for itself.
Headliners Lionheart closed the night in crushing fashion. Kicking off with ‘Cali Stomp’, they immediately reminded everyone why they sit at the top of the modern hardcore pile. Their new album Valley of Death II, released January 9th, 2026 via Arising Empire, is darker, heavier, and more relentless than its 2019 predecessor—and tracks like ‘Death Grip’, ‘Bulletproof’, and ‘Roll Call’ translated perfectly to the live setting. The night ended on a high with a cover of the Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight For Your Right’, before finishing with fan favourite ‘LHHC’. A powerful ending to a night that showcased hardcore at its absolute best.
