with Kharma, Voidwalker, Mortis, Grunk and Portrayal of Ruinn
Organised by Metal 2 the Masses, Leicester and Resin events
Reviewed by Imogen Cresswell
Metal to the Masses heat two came and saw four hard-hitting bands all fired up to show us what they are made of, with the aim of participating in Uprising and thrash on the stages of Bloodstock. It was probably the most intense and passionate Leicestershire gig I have ever participated in, stood amongst the competitors Mortis, Grunk, Kharma and Voidwalker. The guest band Portrayal of Ruinn closed the night as the votes rolled in for which band continued to the next series of performances.
Kickstarting the night was Mortis, a band originating from Coventry to grace Leicester soil with their grungey riffs and energetic shredding. I was amazed to speak to the band after the set to find they have only been a band for just over a year, yet their coordination and synchronisation on stage was at an expert level. The choreography of movement, transition and instrumentation was nothing short of impressive, and their tailored sound was so unique, I could not help but fall in love with the band.
Never would I have expected a five-piece in shirts to get on stage and make quite the noise that they did. Next time I see them I do hope they get a bigger stage so that they can do more with the talent they have.
Following Mortis was Grunk– a band almost too good to even write about!
I observed as I watched the band stand on stage, then in a blink of an eye there was chaos in the pit. One vocalist was on the floor, the other screaming on stage. I exclaimed “where did he go?!” as the vocalist sprinted across the venue screaming about how he needed to take a number two. This band is so specialised in Grindcore that the entertainment is enough to bewilder any new listener.
They are a band you MUST see live to truly appreciate their art and chaos, so keep an eye out for their next gig because you definitely do not want to miss them.
Kharma took it back down to a calmer level, still upholding the expectations that all the metal-heads had in the room. Despite not having quite the same energy as Grunk, they still delivered and even got the audience involved. This part of the gig really highlighted why I love small, local venues and gigs.
One day, one of these bands are going to perform on a stage where they cannot drag you on stage, so savour those moments and appreciate our local musicians.
Lastly we had Voidwalker– the tech-death band that was voted through to the next round!
How they are not already world-wide famous I do not know. Everything about this band is flawless, from the guttural vocals to the relentless music crafted from pure perfection. I have been following this band since 2019, and watching them grow in popularity and mature brings me so much pride as someone who has invested my hope in this band for so long. What is even better, is how Voidwalker, even after those four years, still rocks on the same stage they started on.
You cannot get humbler than that, which is why I agree with the decisions made to put them through.
Thank you to Portrayal of Ruinn for rounding off the night and finalising the show with a demonstration of what arising metal bands should aspire to be like. Additionally, a huge thank you to the judges for their fair judgement and honest reviews to ensure the best of the best get through.
And lastly, congratulations to Voidwalker- your fans did not let you down, so do them proud and see you at Bloodstock!
Organised by Metal 2 the Masses, Leicester and Resin events
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