Words: Druhan Wilson | Photography: Urte Kapilkate

Nothing warms up the early December chills like a hefty and crushing dose of late 2000s-esque metalcore on a bitingly cold Friday night. It’s a phrase I don’t think you’ll use too often, but hey, if you need a reason then, these are the shows you’ll want them for.

After meeting the band’s guitarist Dante at a recording session a few weeks ago, desperately eager to check out this refreshingly wild four-piece from London would be putting it lightly. Last Friday I made my way down to check out SCATTER THE TRIBE‘s closing show for 2023 with anticipation for a dastardly pit and some merciless breakdowns and man, did these boys deliver.

The set started as it promised to finish, launching off with a splendid blend of frantic whines and barbaric screams from vocalist Javi. The track itself, aptly named “RUSH”, begins to stir the growing crowd into a frenzy, thanks to a dedicated group of guys and girls starting a pit that generously endures throughout the band’s performance. “Do you guys like metalcore?!” was the question asked by our frontman (which was thankfully answered by a resounding “WOOOO!”) as we were brought into the next track “DESCENT”, which seemed as though it was almost edging on being a power ballad but delivered with that mighty metalcore sound. Fresh but familiar. Oh yeah, and then we got to experience our first backbreaking breakdown of the night. With many more to follow.

As this track drew to a close, I thought I heard the textbook intro to the token mid-set, slowed-down ballad; perhaps a chance for everyone to catch their collective breath? I was mistaken. The band’s third song of the night, “VACANT STARES” packed a powerful blow with a punched-up riff-laden verse alongside a hauntingly beautiful chorus. I’m sure I heard people singing along, but this was tough to pick out amongst the onslaught. With their set nearly coming to an end, the boys whisk the pit into yet another manic free-for-all with a new track “TEMPEST”. Much like the songs before, this was yet another crowd-crushing number set with an infectiously catchy chorus delivered by an unflagging and engaging frontman.

It’s the end of the set, and the seven-string guitar has been swapped in to give the crowd one last load of whiplash (as if they needed more!) The closer, “CONSUME”, was yet another hit of fantastically executed metal goodness, a fitting farewell after an exemplary set. It feels as though, with this song in particular, the vocalist was singing (or screaming) to everyone brave enough to get up to the front. A deserving reward, in my opinion.

Being the third band to play on a bill of five bands is always a tough position. It normally comes with the biggest draw of people waiting for you to clear off so they can see the headliner but after SCATTER THE TRIBE’s set, I am astounded it wasn’t them that had that headline slot. I certainly left very pleased and with a sore face from smiling too hard, a detail the band took great pleasure in. This was a band having fun and it seemed so was everyone else, which is always a great thing to see.

Whilst they haven’t got any material released on streaming platforms as of yet, you can keep up with them on Instagram for any show updates and to find material which I am informed will be coming by late January. This is definitely a band I will be catching up with again as I hope anyone who reads this will too.

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