MARTYR DEFILED

BORDERS THE JOINERS, SOUTHAMPTON

As Southampton prepares to experience the Martyr Defiled for the final time, BORDERS [6] commence the evening with a flurry of heavy rapcore. While boasting an energised stage presence and an armada of head-bang-inducing grooves, the lincoln youngsters fall victim to an apprehensive crowd, mostly cautious of the arm-swinging crowd-killers at the front.

MARTYR DEFILED [6] don’t fare much better. The strength of rowdy bruisers 616 and Lvcifer can’t be understated; each abrasive anthem brutalises with guttural breakdowns, amplified by the group’s black/death metal overtones. But their otherwise exciting set is dampened by a refusal to control tonight’s audience. “Everybody come to the front! It’s only PG-13 up here!” frontman Matthew Jones implores, minutes before an expletive-laden fight breaks out in the pit, to which he turns his back. A fun atmosphere does return, but a notable stain has been left on what should have been a harmonious farewell.

MATT MILLS