We all love a bit of punk by the seaside, so our Alex went to The Arch in Brighton to sample some hardcore punk and thrash metal courtesy of Municipal Waste, GEL and Undeath.
It’s strange to think that punks and metalheads used to regard each other with suspicion, if not outright hostility. When did things begin to thaw?
Motörhead certainly helped in the late 70s, but it was arguably the early-to-mid 80s fledgling thrash scenes that kicked down any remaining barriers. The likes of DRI, Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies clearly owed as much of a debt to Minor Threat and Black Flag as to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and to this day, there are plenty of bands breathing new life into crossover thrash and its similarly gnarly cousins.
Undeath’s rumbling, bass-heavy sound proves quite the test for those of us who haven’t fully digested our dinner yet (hey, it was early doors!).
Their vocalist certainly isn’t lacking in stage presence; the Mr Motivator of doom-tinged death metal, if you must. His exhortations for a chaotic pit go largely unheeded, but there’s still plenty of headbanging and devil-horn signs in the air; proof enough that hardcore and thrash crowds aren’t quite as closed minded as certain self-appointed tastemakers might have you believe.
After damn near obliterating London’s New Cross Inn back in February, and since receiving no end of plaudits their debut full-length ‘Only Constant’, you’d understand if GEL regarded this tour as something of a victory lap.
Thankfully, the New Jersey quintet still play with a ferocity and conviction of a band backed into a corner with plenty to prove. Beautifully bleak blasts of hardcore fury like ‘Out Of Mind’ and ‘The Way Out’ are prime examples of music as catharsis, and they’re greeted with the kind of delirium normally reserved for a headline act. The start of something big for GEL? Don’t bet against it.
Municipal Waste were once regarded by some as something of a joke, thanks to their hard-partying antics and irreverent lyrics, but these people had clearly overlooked the Waste’s serious musical chops.
Tonight, Tony Foresta’s crew can’t fail in front of such a devoted audience, but they push the energy levels through the roof anyway, unleashing warp-speed thrash anthem after anthem with palpable glee. Be it old favourites from debut album ‘Waste ‘Em All’ or newer gem ‘Slime And Punishment’., they’re delivered with the kind of musicianship that would make Cliff Burton (RIP) proud, and the kind of snotty-nosed punk attitude that would make Darby Crash (also RIP) even prouder.
It’s a wondrous sight to watch the band play with the same youthful vigour that they did back in the mid-00s. Plus, a huge chunk of credit goes to the crowd; there’s a real sense of brother/sisterhood tonight, with folks picking each other up, helping each other surf, slapping high fives and generally looking out for each other.
A night well worth schlepping all the way from London to Brighton, and proof enough that the worlds of hardcore punk and thrash metal can co-exist just fine. Long may this frenetic friendship continue.
The tour continues throughout October- get dates and ticket info HERE.
Main Photo Credit: Alex Goose
Follow Municipal Waste on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Slam Dunk Festival to celebrate 20th anniversary next year!
Slam Dunk, the UK’s biggest independent rock festival, has dropped its second and final wave of artists, completing the stacked line-up for 2026. Joining Good
Album Review: Vicious Bishop deliver ten high octane punk shots in ‘Raining Guillotines’
Formed in 2021, Vicious Bishop are a punk, ska punk, and punky reggae power trio, whose 2024 debut EP, ‘Miracle Formula 168’, showcased their raw,
EP Review: NONTHEWISER call out growing darkness in this world with ‘Injustice for All’
Taking everything they love from the Californian punk rock scene of the ’90s and mixing it with their Scandinavian heritage, Swedish punks NONTHEWISER create fast,
You’re being watched…LA’s CRYMWAV unleash new single video ‘Speak No Evil’
The mood is dark, but the music and message hit hard, stamped with CRYMWAV’s signature twist on the classic rock sound.. ‘Speak No Evil’ is
Album review: Half Dizzy release sophomore LP ‘Yard Sale’
Long Island, USA’s gritty skate punk rock band Half Dizzy released their long-awaited full-length album ‘Yard Sale’ on 12th December 2025, via Punkerton Records. Epic
Aerial Salad, London Blondies Bar, 12th Dec 2025
Aerial Salad have serious balls. How else to explain them dropping a whopping six new songs into their set this evening? It soon becomes clear,
I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
