LIVE FROM THE PIT: EMPLOYED TO SERVE, PUPIL SLICER AND GOING OFF, NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham’s Bodega has stood as a proud place of musical enrichment for many years.

Serving itself as a venue for early shows for artists such as Coldplay, the Arctic Monkeys, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and many more storied names. Tonight seemed like another such evening - we were about to get battered braindead by Going Off, Pupil Slicer, and Employed To Serve.

Manchester’s Going Off opened the evening with a pleasant dash of hardcore goodness, to

warm up the crowd and start the mosh pit off nice and early - even getting the odd audience

member on the mic and some good old karate kicks and windmilling arms. With a sixteen song set over in less than half an hour, it was a proper dose of true hardcore that is always welcome in my eyes.

Pupil Slicer then took to the stage for a very different style of set, choosing to play only four

songs across half an hour; but when each song is a masterpiece it’s a completely allowable

decision. No Temple and Departure In Solitude were a stunning first half of the set, before

Blossom gave us a moment of introspection set to a nice heavy soundscape, and The Song At Creations End closed their set in spectacular fashion. This being arguably the best song on their incredible new album ‘Blossom’. Props to whoever made their physical setlist too, the small footnote saying thank you was a fun touch!

Once both acts had vacated the stage, and some Pupil Slicer merch was bought, it was time for the mighty Employed To Serve. Having seen them at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena opening for Gojira just this year, to see them in a 200 capacity room was sensational. Woking’s finest had the room in upheaval, with mosh pits galore for the entire set. Their groove-ridden sound was built to melt faces at close range and it was impossible not to headbang along with songs like Exist, Eternal Forward Motion, and Conquering.

Having seen all of these bands at least once before (this was my sixth time seeing Pupil Slicer, Slicer Nation ‘til I die), in varying sizes of venues, it was not only incredibly enjoyable but genuinely a privilege to see them in such a small room. The energy was electric, the noise was visceral, and the whole evening was a stunning success in showing off the very best of British metal. 

Long may these bands reign.