Live Review: Heriot - The Asylum, Birmingham
Support: Grove Street and False Reality
12th April 2025
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
Over the past few years it has been wonderful watching Heriot rise through the ranks to be one of the leading lights of the younger generation in British metal scene. Tonight that culminates in a sold out show at Birmingham’s Asylum, a homecoming show for guitarist/vocalist Debbie Gough.
False Reality might have opened the, but they wasted no time setting the tone for what would become an unrelenting evening of metallic aggression. As the first band on the bill they faced the uphill task of warming up a crowd still filtering in. but by the end of their set, they’d more than earned their place on the stage.
Kicking off with ‘Chained’, the band came out swinging. There’s a sharpened precision to their live delivery, and the tightness of their playing suggests a group that’s been putting in serious hours behind the scenes. ‘The Further’ and ‘Pressure’ kept the momentum surging, with ‘Pressure’ in particular standing out, its riffwork hinted at peak-era Biohazard, all groove-laden menace and streetwise stomp.
False Reality also treated the crowd to a brand-new track, ‘Snake Eyes’ -a song not yet available on streaming services. If tonight’s performance was any indication, it’s going to become a staple in their setlist. The track showed signs of a band unafraid to push their sound further, incorporating subtle shifts in tempo and some of their most dynamic riffing of the night.
Closing with ‘Opposites React’, False Reality left the stage to a significantly more energised crowd than they met at the start.
Sandwiched in the middle slot on tonight’s stacked bill, Grove Street came out swinging with zero interest in being overlooked. If False Reality lit the fuse, Grove Street detonated it, bringing a riotous mix of metallic hardcore and no-nonsense street energy to The Asylum’s stage.
From the first note, it was clear the Southampton crew had one mission: total chaos. Their blend of thrash-tinged hardcore hit like a brick wall at full sprint. Riffs flew thick and fast, the grooves were relentless, and the band played with an intensity that felt ready to boil over at any second. It’s a sound that channels the raw fury of early '90s hardcore, but with a polished edge that keeps things tight and purposeful.
Vocalist Ben Sullivan stalked the stage with the confidence of someone who’s been in the trenches, firing off vocals with venom, rallying the crowd with ease, and never letting the energy dip. The band’s chemistry is undeniable; every breakdown felt like a cue to start a pit, and the audience gladly obliged.
But amidst the ferocity, there’s groove and lots of it. Grove Street have mastered the art of balancing sheer aggression with undeniable bounce, a trait that made their set not only punishing but seriously fun. For a band that thrives on movement, tonight’s crowd gave it right back, turning the floor into a swirling mass of limbs and sweat.
If ever there was a band destined to level venues through sheer sonic force, it’s Heriot. Taking the stage at The Asylum for the final set of the night, the collective brought with them a sense of ceremony, this wasn’t just a headline show, it was a full-blown reckoning.
Opening with the unrelenting ‘Sentenced to the Blade’ Heriot wasted no time establishing their signature atmosphere: oppressive, cathartic, and impossibly heavy. The low-end hit like a tidal wave, while Debbie Gough and Jake Packer’s dual vocal assault cut through with terrifying precision. From that first drop, the crowd was in the palm of their hand.
What followed was a masterclass in modern extremity. ‘Enter the Flesh’ and ‘Siege Lord’ snarled with a feral intensity, pairing industrial heft with sludge-drenched breakdowns that felt custom-built to make your ribcage vibrate. The band's chemistry is frighteningly tight, they don’t just perform their songs, they smash them into your face!
The band’s stage presence is magnetic. Gough moves with a mix of ritualistic calm and explosive fury, commanding attention even in the quietest moments.
‘Soul Chasm’ and ‘Mourn’ pushed the emotional weight even further, revealing the bleak undercurrent that runs through Heriot’s music. It’s not just heavy for the sake of it, there’s real depth here, a feeling of existential dread the band have developed to perfection over time.
Closing with the crushing trifecta of ‘Dispirit’, ‘Opaline’ and ‘At the Fortress Gate’, Heriot ended the night with a sonic exorcism. The final moments were a blur of blastbeats, feedback, and guttural screams, the band giving everything and leaving nothing behind.
Heriot are one of a handful of band’s seen as the future of the British metal scene, and tonights performance showed exactly why we should all sit up and take notice.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
Be the first to comment