The annual fest of noise, CORE, lived up to expectations. A weekend of headbanging, two-stepping and crowd surfing along to a large variety of bands across the two venues: Woodside Halls and The Hug & Pint. I went along to capture and enjoy the Friday and Saturday.

Friday started with a bang at The Hug & Pint, the venue packed in anticipation for God Alone from Cork, Ireland. Their math-rock melodies brought the high energy needed to kick off the fest.

Over at Woodside Halls, the main stage began with doom metal outfit OMO, who are no strangers to the CORE stage. The vocalist, dressed in a striking bright red habit, was a comedic juxtaposition to their damning sound, making for one of the most memorable sets of the weekend.

The melodic three-piece Helms Alee followed, their complex and hypnotic compositions entrancing the crowd. With vocals shared by all three members, the result was a rich sound blending harsh and soulful moments.

Stoner rock legends Torche closed the evening on an upbeat and ferocious note, returning after a three-year hiatus. This was met with a joyous reaction from the crowd, with many fans leaving with big smiles on their faces.

Day two brought an eclectic mix of noise, with artists from Glasgow’s hardcore scene taking the forefront early in the day. Gout delivered a particularly deafening and angry performance at The Hug & Pint, setting a high bar for the following acts.

Shooting Daggers brought the energy to Stage 2, flying the flag for female and queer fans. Their hardcore riffs and beatdowns, combined with punk-like vocals, fuelled a frenetic set. Encouraging women and queer fans to the front to dance, this was not men’s time.

The two-piece hardcore noise band Moni Jitchell opened the main stage with their eccentric performance style and ferocious guitar work. A highlight of the set came when vocalist Grant Donaldson left the stage to perform among the crowd.

One of the most unique performances came from noise-rock band Ditz, a personal highlight on Stage 2. Turning off the main lights and letting only dim natural light in from above set the mood for a noisy yet emotional performance. The vocalist casually swung the hanging pendants and wandered through the crowd as if they weren’t even there, keeping everyone on the edge of their metaphorical seats.

Leeds hardcore favourites Pest Control kept the momentum alive on the main stage, following a strong and powerful set from fellow female-fronted band Roman Candle. Two-stepping and side-to-side pits carried on throughout Pest Control’s set, with fans grabbing the mic and crowd surfing from the stage. This energy perfectly set up melodic hardcore heavyweights Defeater, who closed the main stage with the ideal mix of singalongs and headbanging.

Saturday was a packed day, with a variety of artists across the two venues and three stages—many of whom I didn’t manage to catch at The Hug & Pint.

Overall, the two days had something for everyone. The energy across the weekend was fantastic, with many people reuniting with familiar faces and meeting new friends. The array of merchandise and vendors was impressive—there was even a vegan bake stall. Next year can only be bigger and better, with the exciting news of possible new venues. We’ll see what’s to come!

Article: Reanne McArthur