Live Review: Power Trip – Bristol

Live Review: Power Trip - Marble Factory, Bristol

Support: Overpower, Grove Street
24th February 2025

Words: Richard Oliver
Photo: Tim Finch

Resilience and the power to overcome adversity are key themes of thrash metal. Considering this is a genre that was seen as dead in the water after it’s 1980’s heyday it is reassuring to see that thrash is very much still thriving and as potent as ever. One band that represents the enduring power of thrash metal in the 21st century are Texan powerhouse five piece Power Trip who have been supporting Pantera on their UK run of shows but have also been stopping to do some of their own headline shows which this show in Bristol was one of.

Upon arriving at the venue, it was great to see that it was heaving ahead of any band taking the stage. This was definitely an audience hungry for some thrashing and kicking things off were local crossover thrashers Overpower. The past two occasions I had managed to catch Overpower they had been drafted in as a last minute replacement for another band but the band were clearly thrilled to playing to a big crowd and their brand of old school style crossover certainly got the crowd moving with circle pits forming and hardcore dancers flailing from early on in their set. With this being home turf for Overpower, there were plenty of their mates and local fans in the audience but there were definitely some newbies who were won over. It was a short but sweet set with fast and energetic songs with bags of attitude and the deranged vocals of the chainmail hood wearing frontman Matt. This was a great set to warm up the crowd for the further carnage to come.

Grove Street are a band that I have heard of and seen on Bloodstock line ups but not one I had ever checked out prior to this support slot. Formed in Southampton in 2012, the band mix crossover thrash with some nu metal leanings, plenty of groove and a big New York hardcore influence. Some of the songs were a bit too hardcore leaning for my own personal tastes and the nu metal influence did absolutely nothing for me but when these guys threw out the thrash goodness it hit good. Despite the band not being completely to my tastes, there was no denying that Grove Street know how to put on a good show and the band definitely had a large, loud and enthusiastic fanbase at the show with plenty of moshpit action as well as cheers and chanting. The band themselves are a whirlwind of energy on stage throwing themselves around and rarely keeping still with the band and crowd both feeding off the energy of each other. Grove Street are probably not a band I would actively go and watch but if they were supporting another band I would happily watch again. These guys know what they are doing and do it damn well.

I mentioned earlier of the resilience of thrash metal and that endurance and perseverance can really be attributed to Power Trip who were thoroughly derailed back in 2020 when frontman Riley Gale tragically passed. After taking time to heal and regroup, the band have continued with Seth Gilmore (of Fugitive and Skourge) now taking the reins of frontman. This was a show where the band were determined to show that they are back all guns blazing whilst at the same time ensuring that Riley’s legacy endures. This was most definitely achieved in one of the most skull crushing hours of thrash that Bristol has seen in a good while.

From the opening of ‘Soul Sacrifice’ to the finale of ‘Crossbreaker’, this was pure intensity from start to finish and with a crowd that barely stopped moving from insane circle pits to waves of crowd surfers ensuring that the venue security were worked hard. Unlike a lot of crossover which veers on the fun side, Power Trip are very much on the vicious and relentless side of crossover with tunes such as ‘Firing Squad’, ‘Crucifixation’ and fan favourite ‘Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe)’ guaranteeing there would be sore necks and bruised bodies the next day. The band themselves weren’t quite as active on stage as the support acts but there was little need to with the band concentrating on bludgeoning the crowd as much as possible with a barrage of crushing riffs, squealing solos, thunderous bass and pounding drums. Although he has big shoes to fill, Seth fits in perfectly with Power Trip with his abrasive barks fitting perfectly with the vicious music of the band and he certainly knows how to work a thrash crowd from fronting Skourge and Fugitive.

Power Trip were one of those bands I kept managing to miss for whatever reason so finally seeing them was long overdue and seriously did not disappoint. I may not have gotten to see the band when Riley was in the band but from this show it is safe to say that Power Trip endure and that there is still a shit ton of firepower in the band. A killer evening of thrashing goodness.