The last gig of the year at the Underworld sees 2016 out with a bang, with some of heaviest and craziest bands that post metal and avant-garde currently has to offer. Owing to car troubles, original openers Opium Lord are forced to pull out, leaving it up to Dutch sludge six-piece, Izah, to start the show. This is the band’s first UK performance and they make a staggering first impression. Relentlessly heavy, the reverberations emanating from the amps send shock waves through the venue, creating ripples that can be felt underfoot. While Izah may fall under the umbrella of sludge, it’s not the stereotypical chug of guitars you’d expect from the genre –there’s some definite Cult of Luna influence at play here – the riffs are loud and sprawling, while the vocals rumble forth with a throaty, roared delivery that feels slow and deliberate.

When Hemelbestormer played Roadburn back in April, they were placed on a stage so tiny that it was impossible to get inside to see them. The Belgian quartet are also making their UK debut today and it’s great to see them play a stage a size that is comparative to their talents. Rolling instrumental soundscapes encapsulate the small crowd that has gathered to watch, and every band member plays with a fierce determination. The intricate layers of guitar swell and crash like giant waves, amidst metronomic-like percussion. For many present, this is a first encounter with Hemelbestormer, however, judging from the reception they receive it absolutely won’t be their last.

Japanese experimental noise/electronic black metal troupe, Violent Magic Orchestra, are a strange but completely captivating act to watch live. They weave together power electronics, hardcore and black metal to create one of the most caustic listening experiences most will have ever seen. Their seven members fill the stage, as three blinding strobes flash sporadically throughout the performance – one member seems present only to dance, wave around torches and jump on unsuspecting members of the crowd. They put on a show that’s chaotic, completely unpredictable but undeniably entertaining.  The audience start out not really sure of what to expect and are left blown away.

The members of Violent Magic Orchestra take to the stage once more this evening, with an additional three members, to make up Vampillia. Described only as ‘brutal orchestra’ it is yet more of what we’ve just seen with the inclusion of operatic vocals, violin and keyboards. With the dancer from the previous set now preoccupied with a bass guitar, the vocalist seizes the opportunity to take responsibility for the role of jumping into the crowd, skinning his elbows in the process. The soprano lilt of the synth player’s voice alongside the guttural screams of the frontman, strangely, work rather well. Once more, this is a performance that is completely batshit crazy in every conceivable way, but one that you can’t help but fall in love with a little bit too.

The allure of Celeste’s post hardcore heaviness is impossible to resist. Despite not having released any new material for the last three years, the French four-piece are in high demand for live performances – when you actually watch the band perform it’s incredibly easy to see why. The combination of strobes, red head torches and thick smog makes for an intense spectacle that compliments the abrasive nature of their music. The ebbs and flows of the riffs and vocals synchronise perfectly with the stage lighting, creating a true theatrical experience that is flawless in every respect. Celeste may not have released anything new for a while, but when your existing back catalogue feels this grandiose, who really cares? Every show they put on is a reminder to go back and listen to it all again.

(Review by Angela Davey)