26.05.2026 - Ayucaba/Diall/Dead Stare/Proposition - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

An awfully hot day in the North East to go a gig but in the end worth sweating like a motherfucker!

New kids on the block Proposition opened up, think maybe their fifth gig and were solid, nice mix of 80's inspired hardcore with a hint of fast hardcore and a nice Negative Approach cover thrown in, looking forward to a demo but has also made me think I need to start taking my recorder to gigs and try get sets recorded in case bands never release anything.

Another brilliant set from Dead Stare, heavy hardcore. Really like how they just blitz through there set, proper relentless as fuck! Think I saw they have recorded some new stuff so will be on the look out for that when it drops as their demo is pretty good.

Diall were class as always and think we are overdue a new release by them!

Ayucaba come from Barcelona, Spain, with members hailing from Argentina, Colombia and Spain and are current members of Muro (who played the Lubber last year and killed it) and Inyeccion. Some absolute class Japanese esque hardcore in the vein of The Execute/The Comes maybe Nurse but with a but UK82 to them. Really enjoyed their set, despite them being tired as they have been on tour for the past two months they still gave it 100% and regret not picking their LP up!
Was a fairly decent turn out for a Tuesday night and a day after the Bank Holiday Monday! Plus a nice early finish so wasn't to much of a fanny on getting home!

11.05.2026 - Pharmakon/Pale World/Public Affection - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

 

A decent turnout for a Monday night gig in Newcastle and had been looking forward to seeing Pharmakon as she was originally scheduled to play back in November but had to cancel the Euro tour to a medical issue.

First up was Public Affection, Mark from Diall's solo noise/ambient project. Was a decent set, nice mixes of ambient then heavy noise bits and only the second gig he has played as Public Affection, look forward to see how other gigs/releases may turn out.

Pale World replaced Natural Causes who were unable to play. Really decent dark ambient, heavy noise machine! Was hard to see him play as the lights were off but set was decent and loud! Did laugh a bit as there was nice quiet bit then hit with a loud load of noise which made a few people shit themselves!

Was definitely worth the wait to see Pharmakon play, nice loud noise, maybe edging on power electronics. Jumping into the crowd and screaming and creating from what I saw some people to feel uneasy with her being in their face which was class! Think she played for over an hour, really excellent stuff!

It also reminded me that I have still to pick up her last album, Maggot Mass up! Will sort that out soon!

10.05.2026 - Smote/Death Wvrm/Andi Jackson - The Cluny, Newcastle

 

A nice Sunday evening of music at the Cluny.

Andi Jackson opened up the night, replacing Louse who had to pull out. Don't really know much about him but he is part of Thraa.

Really great drone set with him using a Taishogoto through guitar pedals, that built up in a way that if I was at home I'd probably just sink into the ground and be away into the void! A lot of people missed out on how great his set was.

Not sure where Death Wvrm are from but a decent set, a bit post rocky/heavy psych, should have an album out soon so will probably check that out when it drops.

Smote as always killed it live, this time as a 6 piece, sure every time I've seen them their line up differs but think that what also makes what they do excellent, like slight changes. Always to me, feels like your watching something very special, kinda hoping from they played with Water Damage set gets released when they joined Water on stage as that was fantastic!

Did notice that Andi for the last song got on stage to play guitar with them but I had to dash for the bus home (Sunday night busses have shit last times!)