GIÁ-BĂNG opened the year with uncompromising force. Hardcore and metal scenes collided as local and Japanese underground acts pushed the room past control. Breakdowns, bruises, and shared intent turned this live show into a statement, not a celebration.
Saigon hardcore outfit Under Pressure mark their arrival with “Omnipotent,” a blunt and disciplined debut EP released on New Year’s Eve. Five tracks of raw intent, unpolished force, and underground conviction set a hard foundation for what follows.
A night where sound fractured and reassembled in real time, from Thangca’s emotive Vietnamese rock roots, through The Broken Flowers’ relentless energy, into Phạm Thế Vũ’s immersive noise, and finally Ryosuke Kiyasu’s primal percussion ritual. A reminder that some music only truly exists live.
Hanoi metal act Gargoyles in the Night Wasteland return without warning with Scepters of Fate, a stark standalone single released after their self-titled debut. Grim, focused, and ritualistic, the track stands as an isolated statement rather than a continuation.
In a cramped Saigon courtyard, a “normal” Wednesday transformed into an explosive underground hardcore showcase. Featuring relentless sets from bands like Shiv, Born in Hatred, Happyco., Under Pressure, Empathize and Knife Sticking Head, the night bypassed personal space for raw violence and community spirit. It was a high energy celebration of passion over scale.
irihi reads like a fragmented diary of youth, blending J-punk and J-rock emo with sharp math-rock edges. Across five tracks, it moves through escape, waiting, separation, and uneasy forgiveness, before an acoustic closer leaves everything unresolved. Honest, disciplined, and quietly hopeful, this EP charts growth without forcing closure or pretension.
