Review by Maria Glover for MPM
Heretic Fest is Sheffield’s newest indoor rock & metal music festival based out of The Corporation and the brainchild of the tiny yet mighty Hanna Heretic.
What started as a uni project has snowballed into the hottest new show around and that is all a testament to Hannah’s hard work and perseverance.
Day 1 – Friday 13th May 2022
Schedule:
• Unknown Refuge
• Dig Lazarus
• CDMC
• Oli Brown & The Dead Collective
• Inglorious
Unknown Refuge
This young band made me feel old but opened the weekend in style with a mature sound which shows great potential! They released their debut album ‘From the Darkness’ in March 2021 and have been garnering a reputation as one to watch out for live.
The sound is big and the vocals easy on the ear, and by gods give them a few years and they’ll be headlining events like this. The set included ‘Shadows’, ‘If The Gods Be Good’ and my favourite ‘Palace Walls’.
Links:
Web https://unknown-refuge.yolasite.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnknownRefuge
Twitter https://twitter.com/unknown_refuge
Dig Lazarus
The Midlands are known for turning out some great music and this band is no exception. They make a huge noise for a band of 3 people and tear through 10 tracks. Their debut album ‘Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time’ was released October 2021.
They are exciting, they are tight, they are riff heavy. They rock. ‘Roadrunner’ is based around a strong and heavy riff, with pounding drums that lit the stage alight.
Satisfied’ has more licks than Brighton beach in summer. Big fan of this band now. They have it all; melody, power and evocative lyrics. Go check them out. My favourite of the set was ‘Outlaw’ (those who know me won’t be at all surprised) which is coated with menace.
Links:
Web https://www.diglazarus.co.uk/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diglazarusUK
Twitter https://twitter.com/Dig_Lazarus
CDMC
The Goodwin brothers have a very strong beard game that takes some beating and a unique and diverse sound, fusing urban hiphop and hard rock and delivering a fierce and engaging set.
They don’t play by the rules, they make their own, and they enjoy every second of it. This is face melting stuff, the songs filling every inch of the room, the grinding riffs floating up above the thunderous drum beat, and raps so fast I can’t keep up.
Backlash’ has a taste of Run DMC about it, while ‘Tightrope’ is more bluesy – in fact the first time I saw the band was HRH Blues but that is just a small side of their true nature, they are so much more. ‘You Got This’ is short yet visceral. Lots of interaction with the audience, these local lads put on a fantastic show as usual and no doubt grabbed themselves a few new fans. One of the highlights of the weekend.
Links:
Web https://www.cellardoormooncrow.co.uk/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cellardoormooncrow
Twitter https://twitter.com/CDMCband
Oli Brown & The Dead Collective
Just in case you’ve been under a rock recently, Oli Brown is a British blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. You may recognise him as a founding member of RavenEye. He has just released his debut single as Oli Brown & The Dead Collective, ‘Haunted’.
He smashes it out of then park with a set of 9 tracks, with a style and panache which seems to come with ease. ‘Everything You Want’ is incredibly soulful and ‘Sinking Ship’ is one of those “wow” moments. Joined by Sam Wood on guitar, this is a belter of a show and this is a band you must see. ‘Haunted’ is out now.
Links:
Web https://www.olibrownofficial.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OliBrownOfficial
Twitter https://twitter.com/OliBrownMusic
Inglorious (Headliner)
You’d have to look hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of Inglorious and frontman Nathan James. Formed in 2014 the band have released 4 albums, a covers album and a live album.
This 5-piece band are built around the phenomenal powerhouse vocals of Nathan, who has an astonishing range and can wipe out your eyebrows with one note.
Their sound is one of the forerunners of the New Wave of classic rock movement and reminiscent of Coverdale, Hughes and so many more greats.
Phil Beaver is one of my all time favourite drummers #captaincaveman and Danny De La Cruz is an impressive young guitarist with a very bright future. Their debut album remains my favourite as that is what introduced me to them, and I am sporting my tshirt today!
The set opens with ‘She Won’t Let You Go’ from the ‘We Will Ride’ album, and includes benchmark classics from the first album – the incomparable ‘Holy Water’ and second single release ‘Until I Die’. In ‘Holy Water’ Nathan does his trademark walkaround the crowd much to everyone’s delight.
Tons of selfies later… This man is the ultimate frontman, oozing charisma and charm, and can work a crowd like few others. His voice and presence fill the room to the rafters, and he is the best at making eye contact with the crowd.
‘I Don’t Need Your Loving’, ‘Read All About It’, and throw in a Miley Cyrus cover from ‘Heroine’, and the audience is all singing along. I love this guy’s voice but I will and do sing along myself at every opportunity.
You need to see Inglorious live at least once – their stage show is primal and fierce, high energy and immense fun, and quite literally does remove the roof.
Fantastic close to day 1!
Set: She Won’t Let You Go; Messiah; Midnight Sky (Miley Cyrus cover); Where Are You Now?; Read All About It; Medusa; Holy Water; He Will Provide; I Don’t Need Your Loving; Eye of the Storm; We Will Ride; Until I Die
Links:
Web http://inglorious.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/weareinglorious
Twitter https://twitter.com/WeAreInglorious
Photography by – Cecil Paul Studios for MPM
