Tonight sees four incredibly noisy bands take to the stage in the Cluny’s main venue; we arrive slightly late but in time for main tour support God Damn.

From the off their brooding ferocity is made quite clear and we’re certain we are going to be deaf come the curfew.

Ploughing through a breathtaking set, we’re left aghast at the sheer power and strain that the PA is being put through, and it comes as little surprise that all of the bands can be heard as clear as day outside the venue. ‘Silver Spoon’ is a highlight of God Damn's set; brilliant lyrics coupled with relentless riffs and huge drums.

With ears sufficiently ringing, we prepare for the Hawk Eyes onslaught we're about to be subjected to. We know we’re in for a treat tonight, and as the four-piece take to the stage, the crowd draws in ever closer, the opening riffs ringing out through the venue, the volume even louder than before.

Yet we quickly settle into this barrage of heavy riffs and shouted vocals, the sharp bursts of power are mind blowing. Not only that, but they seem like genuinely approachable people. What’s often lacking now is decent stage banter, yet Hawk Eyes seem to have honed theirs perfectly, their patter full of daft stories and prime numbers.

Tracks off the new album go down incredibly well, and though there's little deviation from tried and tested format of earlier material, it proves that their own trademarked brand of intricate metal is alive and well. Tonight is testament to both that, and to writing phenomenal songs; musically they’re unbelievable. so few bands are this tight.

‘Die Trying’ is a huge highlight this evening, it's ferocious, it's hard, it's riff-laden and it's just breathtaking. And, like so many other tracks n their set, it tears the roof off the venue. It's been a long while since The Cluny experienced a pummelling like this.

As Hawk Eyes close out their set we exit the venue, our faces suitably melted and our hearing hanging on by a whisker. We cannot commend Hawk Eyes enough. Metal and hardcore at its best.  

With four month's to go until Camden Town is overrun once more, the first wave of acts for this year’s Camden Rocks festival have been announced.
 
Taking over various venues in Camden Town on Saturday May 30, Camden Rocks welcomes Welsh post-hardcore legends Funeral For A Friend, Austin alt. rockers ... And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Heavens Basement as three massive names for this year's event.

As a festival exclusive, Funeral For A Friend are planning something very special for fans. Frontman Matthew Davies says: “We’re thrilled to have been invited to play Camden Rocks. We’re looking forward to banging out three in your face sets across Camden during the day so make sure you’re in attendance as we’ll probably be mixing it up a fair bit!”

Renowned New York proto-punks The Dictators are joining the line-up alongside some of Britain's finest acts from the current crop of stellar rock, punk and metal acts, including Black Spiders, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Turbowolf, Feed The Rhino and God Damn.
 
Only 40 incredible acts have been announced and Camden Rocks still have over 200 more on the line-up for this year’s festivities. Now in its fourth year, Camden Rocks takes over the legendary venues, pubs and bars (Electric Ballroom, Underworld, Proud Camden, Barfly, Jazz Cafe, Dingwalls and more) in Camden Town and this year is set to be the biggest festival yet. 

Tickets are priced at £30 (plus booking fee) and are available now from the festival website.

The full list of bands announced so far: Funeral For A Friend, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Heavens Basement,  The Dictators, Black Spiders,Turbowolf, Lawnmower Deth, Dinosaur Pile Up, Feed The Rhino, Eureka Machines, Black Moth, Max Raptor, Martyr Defiled, God Damn, Rob Lynch,Cypher 16, Freeze The Atlantic, Attention Thieves, The One Hundred, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, Samoans, LTNT, Lucie Barat & The Au Revoirs, The St Pierre Snake Invasion, Beasts, Kyshera, Hunter & The Bear, The Scaramanga Six, Protafield, Dead, Buffalo Summer, Monument, High Hopes,Death Remains, Oxygen Thief, The Wild Lies, The Amorettes, Buck & Evans, State Of Play, Reverted, Dirt, Stellify, The Fourfits and The Assist.