LIVE REVIEW: Vexed @ Fuel, Cardiff

VEXED have been making riffs for years and heading out on their first ever headline tour, in support of their new album Negative Energy, is marked with a lot of excitement and anticipation. It is a shocker that they haven’t embarked on their own headline tour before, which adds to the build up. We headed down to Cardiff to the legendary Fuel to catch one of these special moments. However, we still have a bit of a wait with the doors being pushed back but, by the time everyone is ready we have a nice crowd waiting to enter the room to see what the night has to offer.

Starting off the night are one of two local supports, LOVELETTER are bringing the heavy vibes as soon as we walk in to the room. Dropping everyone in to what the show is going to be like. Not one song in and we have some technical issues meaning there is a nice gap before they drop in to the second song. It definitely had an impact on the beginning of the set but this doesn’t stop the band from going full blast through the rest of their time on stage without any more issues, and by the end the crowd are loving it and feeling nice and toasty.

Rating: 7/10

A quick change over, with only enough time to take a breath and INDEVTH are taking to the stage. Somehow they have brought heavier riffs and really amping up the crowd with their hardcore vibes. Blasting through their songs with ease, however they run in to a snag half way through and a slight delay going in to a new song, even though their vocalist Sam Culverwell acknowledges “all these tracks are new to you” to a patient crowd. This little hiccup doesn’t stop them chugging through their songs and showing off what they can do. Everyone is firmly moved over in to camp INDEVTH by the end of the set.

Rating: 7/10

Birmingham’s PULSE take the stage as the main support for the whole tour. It’s quickly obvious why they were picked for this monumental slot. Showing off their own brand of hardcore and metalcore, oddly enough, they are the lightest band on the bill but only by a smidge. Starting the set of strong with Pieces Of Me and Devour, the crowd are quickly eager to hear more. Dropping in to the latter half of the set with songs like Worthless and Burial Ground, the crowd erupts into a swirling pit with arms and legs flying everywhere as some of that built of energy from the first supports has somewhere to go and PULSE are the perfect conductor. A solid set from the Birmingham quintet, firmly putting them on people’s maps for when they grace Cardiff again.

Rating: 8/10

Finally it’s time for VEXED to take to the stage. Getting everyone warmed up with their dance bangers playlist and CASCADA‘s Everytime We Touch doing just as good a job as all three prior supports. The lights drop and Sweet Caroline is heard to really lull everyone in to a false sense of security. The atmosphere is electric when VEXED take the stage and smash into PTSD and the crowd explodes with all the built up energy. Megan Targett is a powerhouse on stage, her vocals are next to none and one of the best vocalists in modern metal.

The show can only go up and dropping in to Anti Fetish and We Don’t Talk About It, the riffs are strong and bulky, willingly provided by Jay Bacon. The sea of heads bobbing along can’t take it any more and the pit opens up and no one is safe. The band don’t need to encourage anyone from this point, except for a nudge to open up for a wall of death. VEXED aren’t all about the pit though as Megan invites people up on stage who might not want to be in range of a stray fist flying towards them, so they can still enjoy the show and feel a bit safer. It’s a nice touch to the show to make sure everyone feels included because not everyone wants to be near the danger zone. The set runs smoothly and solidly with each song raising the bar until Nepotism arrives to be a perfect end to a perfect set. VEXED are going places and it’s a privilege to be able to see them in small intimate venues because bigger stages are beckoning.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Cardiff from Serena Hill Photography here:

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