Unite Asia Team up with Rucktion Records to Showcase the Future of London Hardcore
It was a cold and foggy night in London as wave after wave of hardcore fans descend upon The Dev in Camden, where UNITE ASIA was hosting three of London’s most exciting up and coming hardcore acts. Saturday night is also the highly anticipated debut show of Mashaal, who dropped their demo just two weeks ago and have already become one of the breakout bands of 2026. Upon arrival at The Dev, the venue is already at maximum capacity and the front of the stage is packed with people desperately trying to secure themselves a spot near the carnage.
State Sanctioned Violence opened up the night with wailing feedback and pounding drums before slamming into their first song, ‘Permanent Warfare’, the opening track off their self-titled EP. Their combination of crust punk intensity and ’88-era Metallica riffs makes State Sanctioned Violence the perfect opener; a ravenous audience erupts into chaos at every two-step riff and D-beat, desperately reaching for frontman Owen’s microphone as he bounds and contorts across the stage. The between-song chat and lyrics are heavily politicised, with one of the final songs of the set seeing Owen screaming, “You build a wasteland, then you call it peace”, into the faces of the audience before leaping down from the stage to join them in the chaos.
By the time State Sanction Violence have finished their set, every window of The Dev is clouded with condensation, much to the frustration of the queue of people peering through the windows desperate to get inside or at least a peek of the next band Mashaal.
Bollywood tunes replace the usual mix of hardcore and deathcore over the PA as one of UKHC’s most exciting bands of 2026, Mashaal, take to the stage. Having only announced their existence and dropped their demo on the 12th of December, it’s incredible to see the reception Mashaal is met with. Opening with ‘Terrorists’, the crowd surges forward, singing along to every word, not long after that stage divers are flying off the lighting rig. Between songs the band seem genuinely shocked at the response “These songs were written during the recent race riots, we had no clue they resonated with so many of you” they say before launching into the song ‘Where are you from’. They tear through all six songs on the demo and before you can catch your breath it’s all over.
Mashaal aren’t just an incredibly tight, politically charged hardcore band; they are an essential piece of representation within the UK hardcore scene, and if Saturday is anything to go by they are certainly ones to watch this year.
Recent Rucktion Records signing Agency have the unenviable task of rounding out Saturday night's show but with a call out of “If you're not into spin kicks look out” from frontman Alex crowd are right with them. Playing a mix of songs from their 2025 EP ‘Life Will Kill’ as well as new songs from their upcoming, yet currently unspecified Rucktion Records release, Agency put on a clinic of what London hardcore is all about: break neck rhythmic changes, mic grabs and all the breakdowns you could wish for on a Saturday night.
Saturday's show was a celebration of London hardcore and all those who operate within it, and with new bands and promotions popping up everyday, I hope hardcore in London can continue to diversify and show why London does it better than any other city.
