27/10/2026
Another wicked review from our friends at Metallum Sub Terra of our very special secret show with Special Move, Splitknuckle and Power Failure
Live Review.
Game Of Death (SPECIAL MOVE), SPLITKNUCKLE, Power Failure.
Radio City Social 22/10/2026.
School night gigs are so often the best. Nothing better than getting to the venue what I thought was early (my bad, missing the start of Power Failure) to discover it already rammed......
Power Failure unleashed a brutality that doesn't start to tell it with a huge setlist of relentless (and at times madly short in length) Essex hardcore.
The place was so rammed on arrival, Dan kindly let me go behind the bar (to watch lol) so I could catch up on the vibe which was packed with all ages eager to unite behind a local hardcore scene I was just realising existed in no uncertain terms.
Splitknuckle quickly bought me some challenges - it was so rammed I had little hope of reviewing the night (particularly once the crowdkill began....) so thankfully I could hide/watch/write from the safety of the bar again.
What was clear here is the utter passion this night was showing - the crowd were 200% in for a band who brought another explosive display with piercing metallic riffs and bass matched by a superb drummer.
Some superb melodies in places and within the set of intensity on display it felt like a time to catch your breath!
Some quality two step on show and I'd add an excellent frontman who was very humble with the crowd.
Game Of Death had been away for 15 years and within seconds of them starting simply confirmed it was a very good idea for me to book the night off.
It was immediately clear the kind of passion they brought in both music and crowd - riffs and pit were both on a scale of duck and cover if you don't know what's coming haha
Again more humility with their apologies for being away so long, celebrating the (packed) venue.
A two step masterclass from some of those with unnatural energy levels at the front.
Precision drumming and riffs that in the very best way took me back to discovering the music (S.O.D, Gang Green, The Exploited).
Also props to the frontman who asked for a raise of hands of the over 50's (including his fine self we were about four in number) dedicated a song to us with the words 'If I look out of shape and like I don't know the words - both of those are true' which feels like most days for me anyway 🤔🤣
All in all it was the kind of show in a small venue that was an intensity rarely seen where between sets there was a camaraderie and a friendship between all that simply reminded of how great the scene is once again.
I realised tonight was a first for a while - first time for as long as I can remember all three bands had bass players (look after them).
To briefly touch on crowdkill - every one to their own. We are who we are and celebrate live music in our own ways. What I wasn't sure of is why in a venue that small the spinning body parts and flailing limbs were notably happening in other peoples space (on the edge of the pit and at times in others faces literally at times) rather than your own looked and felt a little uncomfortable for those just wanting to see the bands.
Thanks to Dan and the RCS team for some wonderful hospitality this evening and loved catch up with Joey and Jasper also
