14.03.2025 Ignorance/Tormented Imp/Votiv/Diall - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

Night after Negative Approach and was feeling like an 80 year old bloke, but still managed to get myself along to the Lubberfiend for this.

Didn't seem as busy for a gig on a Friday night compared to the night before but feel a lot of people only turn up for the bigger turns, which is a bit shit as it's not really supporting the DIY scene and plus you miss out of some good bands.

Ignorance are from Helsinki, Finland playing a crusty d-beat raw punk.Really punishing stuff throughout their set. Picked up both the 7"'s they have out, the self titled and Nothing Changed, both on Iron Lung records.

From Leeds were Tormented Imp, made up of members from such bands like Ona Snop, The Shits and The Reflecting Skin and more!

Loud and fast punk so always good stuff! Finally picked up a copy of their S/T on Brainrotter Records

Also hailing from Leeds are Votiv, playing some d-beat punk, decent stuff! Picked up their split with Stray Bullet on the now defunct Scene Report Records.

Local's Diall opened up with a canny set and seem to be settling in with the new bass player.

13.03.2025 - Negative Approach/Bleaks/Spit/Aperture/Burial Plot - The Grove, Byker

Got told about this gig back in January when at the Total Con gig and was pretty siked as never thought I'd see Negative Approach play ever, especially in Byker! Believe it to be the only gig they are doing outside of the dates in the UK with Circle Jerks and the Descendants (which would have been class to see!).

Great set and proper relentless, bass player was pissed off when some kid knocked him during the second song and knackered his bass tuning and for the rest of the set was calling him an asshole and just very annoyed!

Was a bit of an incident during Can't Tell No One, during the mosh where mostly if people fell they would be helped up, but some dickhead decided to try have a fight and got put on his arse then had to been taken out of the gig. Stupid to act like a dick, mean I'm not a mosher or a fan of the whole kung fu shit at a gig but most of the time it is harmless and kids just letting off steam.

Second time seeing Bleaks, their mini LP, The Mess is belting like!

Great set by them and hopefully get to see them again at some point.

Locals Spit were class as always, second gig with their newer line up, new bass player and a second guitarist (though sure when then started they were a five piece then went to a four piece?!) Hopefully a 7" is coming out this year from them, feels like a long time coming!

Aperture are always class live, always feel like if I was to first experience old Napalm Death, Doom and Extreme Noise Terror back in the 80's just smashing it!

Second gig (I think) for Burial Plot, short set, maybe 10 or 15 minutes of heavy hardcore.

Good night, bar the kid being a tit and getting kicked out.

Currently, I feel like I cannot move much despite not getting in on the mosh. Can only assume now at 40 that just standing watching bands is too much for me!

06.03.2025 - Napalm Death/Crowbar/Full of Hell/Brat - Newcastle University, Newcastle

Think the last time I was at Newcastle University may have been when I saw Boris play, forgot how small the venue seems inside. Also, second time I've seen a walk-through metal detector at a gig, last one being the Slayer gig at the arena!

Was an early door as well, 6pm and the first band was on at 6:30pm

First up were Brat, metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana, I think, mean singer only mentioned it about ten times during their set...

Pretty shit to be honest, between songs they had Britney Spears playing, a bit of ABBA and before they were on stage we had Darude's Sandstorm playing...

Third time seeing Full of Hell and another great set, like their mix of noise and grind and punishing blast beats. Great seeing them play again!

First time seeing or hearing Crowbar, knew of them but never listened to them. 

Also, from New Orleans but singer only had to tell the crowd once this! Sludge metal band, actually weren't too bad. They got Shane from Napalm to play bass on one song during their set.

Finally, Napalm played, and they were great, the sound was a lot better than the last time I saw them at Anarchy Brewery! Only the second time I've seen them play despite playing Newcastle loads over the years! Despite being a lot older nowadays they can still play like maniacs!

Nice early finish too so got home at a reasonable time! 

Only downside of the gig, was too many smelly metal heads, least have a wash man, a few times in the crowd it smelled like someone has shit themselves, absolute horrid like!

Crowbar with Shane on bass

Full of Hell

Full of Hell

Napalm Death