Female Powerhouse
Brat is about to end their This Time It’s Personal tour with Eskröta, Hatebreed, and Carcass. This European tour is such a treat and it’s sad it’s coming to an end on the 4th of July in France. I wish I had seen it all, but the Barbicore punk smashed the London stage at New Cross Inn last night and I’m glad I was there to witness it.
Brat, together with London support from Skrapper and Jawless and Brazilian crossover thrash Eskröta delivered a sick performance that proved why this modest venue remains a beloved hub for underground hardcore and metal fans.
Redhill hardcore punk, Skrapper opened the evening. They might be a relatively new band, but their sound is solid and they’re worth checking out for sure.
Next was another London based hardcore band – Jawless. They wasted no time grabbing the room by the throat. Their sound is aggressive, hammering through short, rapid-fire songs that left barely a breath between tracks. Despite the small stage size, they managed to create an atmosphere that felt much bigger.
Following them, Eskröta took the stage and delivered a blistering burst of Brazilian feminist crossover thrash that pushed the energy even higher. The band’s latest album Blasfêmea released in April this year really stands out and with the right type of exposure they are truly a band to keep an eye for. Brat’s singer Liz Selfish even joined them on stage for one of the songs. By the end of their set the crowd seemed more than ready for the night’s headliner.
When Brat finally came out, the room erupted. The New Orleans band has been gaining a reputation for what they call Barbie-grinding Bimboviolence, and last night was a perfect example of their solid sound and social statement. Seeing the metal/hardcore kids in the crowd singing “Give me a sign.. Hit me, baby, one more time” by Britney Spears while singer Liz Selfish was practising her fitness moves was so memorable and in such contrast with the heavy sound that followed. The band wore all black with light pink scrunchies, a symbol of feminism embraced to challenge traditional gender stereotypes and reclaim femininity as a source of empowerment. One of the night’s most impressive aspects was also how tight Brat sounded as a live unit. The band’s charisma shone through as well, there was a strong connection between them and the audience, with no barrier separating performers from fans everyone could jump on stage and sing their lungs out.
Seeing Brat for the first time was an experience I will remember. It was a performance that perfectly embodied the spirit of the underground scene. It was loud, intense and top-notch from guitars to drums to vocals and act.
Special thanks to @real.life.presents for having me cover this gig.
