There is nothing quite like a hardcore punk night; the fast, aggressive and mean nature of the genre makes it a perfect way to discharge energy and rage. Whether you are bringing the fight against an oppressive system that keeps its boot on your head, defending human and egalitarian rights, or just want an escape from the dreadful daily grind of life, everyone is welcome and embraced within the hardcore punk scene. Two weeks ago, we got the chance of returning to LAV, in Lisbon, for one such night, featuring four incredible bands that are pushing the boundaries of the genre one way or another. And it all started with No Cure, a North American hardcore punk band that is been causing shockwaves around the scene due to their relentlessly devastating sound. Armed with a brand-new EP, I Hope I Die Here, No Cure brough violence and fury to the stage, like a hurricane smashing up the state. We could feel the brutality of No Cure’s tremendous sound on our very bones, and not even a small technical issue midway through their set was able to stop them from continuously annihilating the audience. In turn, the audience responded quite nicely with the first cirple pits of the evening.
As soon as No Cure’s brutal display of force was over, the Nintendo Wii’s shop theme starting banging, serving as a humourous interlude that gave us a small breather before Elwood Stray came on stage. With fierce intensity and raw hardness, the German hardcore punk outfit managed to get some blood pumping, even if they ended up sounding a bit repetitive by the end. That repetitiveness, we feel, is due to their insistence on combining hard-hitting hardcore sonorities with a tragic plague called pop punk. And not even the Florida-based Bodysnatcher could save us from that sinking feeling, even though they sound considerably better, with their combination of metalcore and deathcore. Still, the monotony was still there and eventually dawned upon us, which is weird considering this was supposed to be a punishing show.
Luckily, the North American melodic hardcore quintet, and headliners of the night, Stick To Your Guns were here to save us from that midcard boredom. Starting things off with “Against Them All”, the Jesse Barnett-led band shifted between their brand-new release, Keep Planting Flowers, and older studio gems such as Diamond, Disobedient and True View. All throughout their set, Barnett addressed the audience to thank them for their presence, explaining how the tour almost did not happen due to the wildfires that are currently razing California. Barnett also took every opportunity to address social and humanitarian issues that are afflicting the planet, proving that more than ever, we are in dire need of bands that are not scared to take a stance in the current sociopolitical landscape. An example of this was “What Choice Did You Give Us?”, before which Barnett gave a speech in support of Palestine, as a flag was being waved by the audience, or “More Than A Witness”, where Barnett spoke of the life of the working class, dedicating the song to everyone present that night. All through the band’s set, you could feel the emotion and passion in the air, as the audience sang and felt every lyric, every riff, and every drum beat, as they threw themselves in the air in a constant wave of crowdsurfing and moshing. “Married To The Noise” and “Nobody” ended what was a truly outstanding and unforgettable performance by one of the best bands in the hardcore punk scene today, one we hope to repeat sometime in the near future.
Words by Filipe Silva
Photos by Alexandra Ramos
