Haemogoblin

There is no room for argument: the two best albums of the last 12 months are ‘Dark Ageism’ by Other Half and ‘Soul to Burn’ by Reciprocate. We simply will not broker any alternatives. So, when the veil begins to draw on 2024, we can think of no better way to mark the moment than to bring these two bands together with two more of our favourites - HANDCUFF and HEAMOGOBLIN - to manifest all the messy, abject, joy and horror of another confounding year on earth.

Some introductions, should they be required: Norwich's Other Half have been a mainstay of the UK DIY punk circuit for more years than they'd like to admit, puzzling audiences with a combination of caustic Dischord-style post-hardcore, sneering indie rock and tongue-in-cheek classic rock tropes, all tied together with vivid, slice-of-life lyricism. It’s US-style noise, thoroughly basted in the late-capitalist malaise of these sinking islands.

Reciprocate have undergone an even longer, stranger gestation period, tracing a jagged line through Sheild Your Eyes, Guns & Knives and The Wharves - bands that for me at least, essentially defined what DIY punk rock was - and one fateful motocross accident. That’s not to say they’re a punk band in form, because they’re something quite distinct; a twisting, undulating thread of soul, discordance and self-immolating guitar melodies that conjure a half-remembered musical past you will wish had actually existed.

Pretty exciting, huh? And if that wasn’t enough reason to part with a tenner (aka about the price of 1.5 Ok lagers, by this important metric cheaper than seeing Fugazi in the 90s) the presence of shout-along punks HANDCUFF and transcendent dirges of noise-rock wunderkinds (they’re probably about 30 now, but I’m basically made of dust at this point) HEAMOGOBLIN should about do it. That, friends, sounds like a party. Go buy a ticket, whilst you still can.

This is an 18+ event

Pink Mist

JaguarShoes Collective

Other Half

Trance State

Reciprocate

Incaseyouleave

Gigs

London

The Victoria

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