From the first blast beat to the final chant for an encore, this show was built on raw momentum and zero mercy. Each band brought a distinct strain of heaviness, but together they formed a single, relentless arc. One that kept the room boiling until the very last note rang out.
Kinh — Surgical Precision from the First Strike
Opening the night is never easy, but KINH treated it like a declaration of war. Their signature technical death metal sound was frantic, menacing, and instantly commanding, snapping the crowd to attention within seconds. There was no warm-up period, just straightforward intensity.
A memorable moment came courtesy of the drummer, who dropped his sticks not once, not twice, but three times, only to bounce back harder each time. Any doubts vanished as his blast beats and double-bass runs thundered through the room, proving that precision and power matter more than perfection.
Elbowdrop — Hardcore Season Officially Open
With Elbowdrop stepping onstage, the night tipped fully into violence, in the best possible way. This marked their official kick-off show of the year, and the crowd responded accordingly. The pit cracked open the moment the first riff landed, escalating the energy into something feral and uncontained.
Every breakdown felt like a trigger, every shout a signal. If this show is any indication, the year ahead is primed for new material, and the scene will be ready for it.
Body Rag — Infinite Violence and a Ton of Feedback
Flying in from Kuala Lumpur, Body Rag delivered a grindcore assault that felt far larger than their three-piece lineup suggested. Their sound was dense, hostile, and completely unforgiving. The wall of noise swallowed the room whole.
There was no filler here, just pure abrasion and momentum. Anyone unfamiliar with the band would do well to seek out their latest LP immediately; this set was a live demonstration of just how devastating grindcore can be when executed with intent.
Guilt Trip — Six Years of Waiting, Absolutely Worth It for the One Night of Mayhem
The hunger in the room was palpable by the time Guilt Trip took the stage. After six long years of anticipation, their first-ever Southeast Asia appearance (Vietnam included) did not disappoint. From the opening moments and a Machine Head cover, it was clear they were operating on a world-class level.
Stage dives came nonstop. Two-step and spin kicks erupted everywhere. Fans surged forward, grabbing microphones alongside the vocalist and guitarist, blurring the line between band and crowd. Despite a long, punishing set that sounded as tight as studio recordings, the audience still demanded more.
Answering chants of “one more song,” “Broken Wings” detonated through the venue, sealing the night in absolute chaos. A promise to return only fueled the collective hope that this wouldn’t be the last time.
