Live Review: Clobber – Album Launch Show – Blondies

Theirs nothing quite like a gig on a Saturday night so to throw a launch party on one is probably a safe bet. Let alone playing in a venue that has become synonymous with rock and metal music over the years as it’s become the home of Kerrang!’s K! Pit. Clobber planned on making north London rock to their hardcore beat accompanied by Jawless and Dropset and I was there to watch the carnage unfold. Here’s what went down!

Opening the evening’s entertainment was Jawless, A female-fronted hardcore group from London who has a lot to prove. Right off the bat, the energy was intense and with how packed the tiny rock bar was, you could feel the excitement as Jawless went from song to song. Moshing, singing and even a little crowd surfing made the small room feel like a concert hall while the band put on a performance that was full of grit and charisma. Tracks like ‘Police Bastard’ and ‘Reborn’ really captured the crowd’s attention and it’s safe to say the room was more than warmed up.

Following that was Dropset and fans clearly knew who these guys were. Before the first riff even played, the room was pumped and the pit was open. What followed was a high paced barrage of no nonsense hardcore music. No matter where you looked, everyone in the room was moving throughout the band entire set. The venue was filled to the point you could barely move and people even gathered outside the front of the venue to listen to what was transpiring inside.

So, it’ was finally time for the headliners and Clobber wasted little time making the room their own with singer Charlie Longman climbing onto the bar and insisting the room gets going. Fans quickly obliged and before you knew it, everyone was dancing to the sound of UK hardcore. The energy only seemed to grow with each passing song with fans particularly liking ‘The World’s Gone Mental’ (Which the band played twice), ‘Fight For Your Right’ (Beastie Boys Cover) and ‘The Boy Who Destroyed The World’ (AFI Cover). Despite having such a short set, Clobber managed to leave their mark on the north London bar and by the last note, the room was drenched in sweat.

UK Hardcore has seen a massive resurgence as of late and with bands putting on shows with this level of intensity and energy, it’s clear to see why. Clobber are one of the latest bands to try and break out into the scene and if they can keep up this level of momentum, they will be nearing the top in no time.