Reality Unfolds 2024: The Review – Sunday

The atmosphere of the Sunday and final day of Reality Unfolds 2024 is undeniably more chilled. Yet with eye-bags and yawns aplenty amongst faithful festival goers the insane level of savagery that unfolds throughout the day is certainly not compromised.

Following on from the relentlessness exhibited from BN1 legends, No Relief, Iron Deficiency made no haste triggering a violent tempest of flying limbs to the background of piercing vocals and distorted grooves. Mixing chunky breakdowns with faster sections to wake everyone back up, there is a clear overwhelming appreciation for the Lyon based band who evidence, once again, that straight edge bands do it best.

Nothing could have prepared the New Cross Inn from the utter lunacy that unfolded from German hardcore (or better termed, partycore) outfit, Ghetto Justice. From blood pouring down the vocalist’s face, to the faint smell of burning that lingered in the air from the BTEC pyrotechnics to the ruckus of two-stepping and cartwheels dominating the pit, the Berliner’s ensured complete havoc reigned during their entire performance. It is not only buffoonery that makes Ghetto Justice’s set a highlight of the weekend, they also supplied pulversing, heavy, aggressive hardcore supplemented with industrial elements and superbly fitting samples before overwhelmingly punishing breakdowns. As the Pet Shop Boys “It’s a Sin” plays out signifying the end of their antics, the crowd is left elated, bewildered and dancing.

Once some order has been restored in the New Cross Inn thanks to the sad melodies of Chalk Hands, it’s time to crank up the intensity and immerse face-first into pugnacious thrash. It is clear why Inhuman Nature are so high up the bill tonight as they waste no time diving into vigorous shredding and awe-inducing solos sounding as impactful as they do on record. The thundering riff in ‘Carnivorous Lunar Activities’ hits like a train, paired with vocalist Chris Barling’s sinister growls as he leans over the monitors while pounding drum work initiates a burst of headbanging and thrusting fists.

Sadly, the night and weekend is drawing to close as London-based Cage Fight explode into the second to last performance of the night, a set that finishes just as stupidly heavy as it started. They’re a band that have it all, brutal frantic riffs, punishing drums, demonic vocals and IQ level dropping breakdowns. Notably, the ludicrous vocal range of Rachel Aspe is astonishing to behold, switching between variations of screams and growls with complete ease and mastery. Cage Fight absolutely dominate the stage throughout their performance and their ferocious new song, ‘I Hate Your Guts’ is met with triumphant approval from the crowd. The New Cross Inn may not be as lively as it has been but Cage Fight have managed to squeeze energy out of some members of the crowd while others remain transfixed to the stage witnessing the greatness of this band.

From the opening note it seems that Washington DC based Genocide Pact have been sent here to wake us all the fuck up and excavate what’s left of our brains, punching straight into a vile eruption of no-nonsense riffs and malignant gruffs. Effectively demonstrating that 3 piece death metal bands are always remarkably brutal and that chaos is inevitable when the bass is played at knee-level, their offensively sinister and crushing sound easily reaps the attention and respect of the stank-faced crowd. If you’re not wasting your last morsel of energy bounding around the pit, you’re definitely hypnotised by the ting of the cymbal, banging your head and questioning what the fuck they’re putting in these riffs. Banishing any malevolent forces from South London with their abundent rage and shattering the ear drums of many local residents, Genocide Pact established that there is no better way to round off a weekend than with swelteringly brutal death metal and wrap up a monumental weekend

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