The inaugural Gif3rd Festival MXXI saw seven truly talented metal/hardcore homegrown bands playing in White Studios at Fort Canning Park. The whole show was as how kids of the Interweb world would describe it; “br00tal”. In case you didn’t know, it’s just another spelling for the word ‘brutal.’
I was feeling rather excited as it was the first time in such a long time I attended a metal/hardcore gig. With bands Monsters In Living Flesh, No Rest For The Weary, Ruins & Remains, For Better Endings, Straight Forward, Caracal and Not The Fallen, who wouldn’t be exicited?
White Studios was small but it served as a really good venue because there the bands weren’t performing on a stage or a platform and it was intimate and interactive. Monsters In Living Flesh (MILF) started off the event. Sad to say though, I missed their set. I have heard from many friends that they were really good and judging from their EP, ‘An Apparition‘, that was recently released, they are definitely bound for great, and big shows in the future.
Caracal
For Better Endings
No Rest For The Weary
Crazy guitar riffs coupled with intense screams and vocals made the whole show really epic. I admit, I haven’t been giving my best support to the local music scene lately, and seeing the bands being fueled and propelled with so much passion makes me so proud that Lion City Hardcore is very, very much alive, and overwhelming indeed.
Not The Fallen
Ruins & Remains
Straight Forward
My favourite part of the whole night must have been during Straight Forward’s set. Staying true to any hardcore gig, a circle pit was prevalent and the moment the drummer played the first beat, the crowd went wild. The lead singer’s energy ignited the whole room and you could see that everyone was enjoying themselves and having a blast, whether it’s moshing around in the pit or just rocking out quietly at the back (me).
Big ups to the passionate boys from Gif3rd Clothing, and the awesome bands who played, and the kids who went down to support the local music scene. I can I can safely say it was a mind-blowing festival that even one of Singapore’s pioneer hardcore band Stompin’ Ground would be proud of!
You can view the whole album here on our Facebook page
Photo credits to Joshua Hoong.
