Throwing shapes like a ruptured rhomboid, The Blackout singers Sean Smith and Gavin Butler do the shout-growl-scream-sing-double-hander like a crack-addled Ren and Stimpey. Gurgling guitars, splat drumming and slam dance breakdowns conspire to produce a melodic hardcore, rap rock, bounce ‘n’ roll that flips a cheeky black-nailed finger to the world. ‘The Devil Inside’ adds metal grit to the punk pop-pourri, whilst ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things’ splices staccato downtuned riffing with a soaring singalong chorus.
More tattooed, more street and less likely to be taken home to mother, New Found Glory hit the stage, full-speed throttle. ‘Ready Aim Fire’, from current album Radiosurgery, is an alternative rock fumble on a Green Day date. Samizdat relationship advice is offered over the battering drums and high-kick guitar chords of ‘Don’t Let Her Pull You Down’.
Earnest and energetic, they catapult a number of covers from the garage. The Ramones’ ‘Hey Ho Let’s Go’ gets blitzkrieged and Sixpence None The Richer’s ‘Kiss Me’ jangles, jumps and jerks across the stage. An encore of ‘My Friends Over You’ and Green Day’s ‘Basket Case’ allow for one more melody-mosh-circle-pit-flail. Kerrang! bang, thank you ma’am.