LIVE REVIEW: Ruination Festival, The Underground / Nightrain, Bradford 11/05/24

With the morning’s breakfast digested and hangover managed, we make our way for the first band of today’s selection. We arrive at the venue 10 minutes early and are told we cannot enter, and we must queue. Instead of queuing we go for a pint, which makes us miss Dead Monarchs. Apologies. [Something tells me this isn’t the first time our Neil has done this!]

So, the first band we do catch is the first band back at the Underground is Dunes. My Bloodstock colleagues and I had the good fortune to witness them at said festival completely by chance. We were impressed then, and I was keen to know if they could do it again. It’s immediately apparent that the three-piece’s take on the stoner rock groove has lost none of the lustre that appealed to me a year earlier. With a similar sound to early Queens of the Stone Age, they entertain with their bouncy and occasionally heavy tunes. This band obviously are friends with the rehearsal room as they are tight and professional. We are requested to give our thoughts on new material, and the crowd says “yes”. 

Dunes

It’s a quick dash to The Nightrain for Iron Rat, another band I am very fond of. We walk past the mid-venue entertainment, (more of that later) to find that the band have begun their set already. It’s going to be one of those days, is it? Their massive riffier set is chocked full of new tracks for the crowd to enjoy. And enjoy they do. Iron Rat’s large sound fills this larger venue as Orange Amps pulse to the groove. More and more people arrive throughout the early stages of the set, all staying and bobbing their heads in time. They finish their set with the loudly requested massive riff tune Weed Machine and the dust is left to settle. 

Iron Rat

The two-man assault of Wall is next on the Nightrain stage, and their minimal band member count is not reflected in their sound. This is my first time seeing them live and it blows me away how a duo can create a sound which envelops the venue. Add to this the tiny size of Elliot Cole’s drum kit this makes the feat even more breath-taking. These brothers (Ryan Cole is the other half) from the legends Desert Storm are obviously no stranger to the stage or live experience but still, this is impressive. A Karma to Burn cover is thrown in and the air in the Nightrain continues to pulse.

Wall

A quick trip back up the hill takes us past the previously mentioned street entertainment of Latin tunes, performed by a seated gentleman while revellers of different stages of inebriation dance along. Very good of Iron Bore booking to consider the mid-venue entertainment. We are walking up to see a band two of my companions have been recommending for a while. We often agree on music choices, so it is with a large amount of confidence I re-enter the Underground. Fortunately, this confidence is not misplaced. Purple Kong are excellent. A three-pronged, groove-laden lightning strike hits the venue, and the crowd laps it up. Its wonderfully guitar based, with splashes of blues and Satan all around. With the bass player dancing and swerving around in a sultry manner, this merely adds to the atmosphere, the only reaction to this set is once again cheers and applause. 

Purple Kong

We stay in the Underground to see another favourite of mine, Barbarian Hermit. I have been a fan of this band for quite some time, and with returning vocalist Si Scarlett at the helm, my fondness has only strengthened. Hermit’s groovy sludge is infectious, and the enigmatic vocalist only adds to the atmosphere. Their set moves from slow and massive riffs to almost jaunty sing-along sections. Guitar solos pop up at the correct moments and gather appreciation from the crowd. With a new album to be released soon, this band have a promising future in front of them in my humble opinion. The video for the single Stitched Up is already out there and I urge you to check it out. 

It’s a quick sprint back to Nightrain for the spacey psychedelic music of The Brothers Keg. Their album Folklore, Myths and Legends of the Brothers Keg is a favourite of mine, and this will be my first time witnessing them live. Within mere moments it’s obvious that me and the audience at Ruination Festival will not be disappointed. Their slow noise has a hefty feel, causing the happy crowd to sway in time with the trippy all-encompassing tunes. The three guys take this occasion in their stride and the music, and the riffs do the talking. This has been a very strong, loud, and professional set showcasing what this band are all about. 

Brothers Keg

I catch the more purposely disjointed sounds of Under next. They are slower and have more of a progressive feel to them next to the other bands I have seen on the bill. Clean vocals mix with growls in their set. There are a lot of types of music in this short festival set, which manages to keep the crowd in place but causes less of an audience groove or head swing. The musicianship is impressive, and often spikey. 

Once more back up the hill to catch another favourite, Sea B'astard. I am aware the sluggish but terribly heavy riffs that this band give out are not to all tastes, but they are for me. They bludgeon into their set of heavy lumbering riffs with style and skill. A bare-chested Oli commands the stage while vocalist Monty plods around the stage like a demented metal troll. A band that can at times make Conan sound like thrash metal they punish Bradford into submission. It’s obvious this band is enjoying this set, which appears to be the same for those in the pit. When the band really slow it down and hold a riff and growl for what seems like an hour, it’s just pure metal bliss. With new material on the way, I am both a happy and excited man. 

Sea B'astard

We make our way once more down towards the second venue to catch Battalions. They are a professional unit now and tear into their funky groove immediately. The music causes the crowd to sway and dance, the band’s vocals scare a few individuals who are new to this band’s style, but overall, the large crowd who have gathered bang heads in time with the infectious rhythms. Many people can’t take their eyes off bass player Matt Dennett who confusingly viciously batters his bass strings and strokes them with love. He is never still and is a star to watch and hear. With tunes from their recent King of a Dead World album mixing with older tunes, Battalions have Bradford in the palm of their hands. 

Battalions

We remain in the Nightrain and await Desert Storm. It’s not long before they take to the stage and plough straight into their set with power and musical precision. We have already witnessed members of this band take to the stage with other bands, showing testament to their love of music. I have watched Desert Storm several times in their existence, and I have never been disappointed. This is again the case tonight. The sludgy groove and authority go down well in this venue. The vocal talent of Matt Ryan cannot be overstated, he can both soar and growl with equal passion and quality. He is also a decent frontman, managing to contend with Matt Dennett (who also plays in this band) for attention from the crowd. A crowd that is attentive and appreciative of what they have just observed. A main stage appearance at Bloodstock 2024 awaits this band, and I will be there. 

Desert Storm

It’s a final trip up the hill for the final band of this year’s Ruination Festival. 40-Watt Sun’s Introspective music closes this celebration of doom/sludge/stoner. They have a very calm style to finish off the weekend. The vocal approach of the legendary Patrick Walker is both warm and soothing. It is like a calming balm on the scars obtained throughout the weekend. Heads will not be banging during this mellow set, but smiles of joy are generated. 

40-Watt Sun

 This brings a fantastic weekend to a close. Both venues deserve admiration and Iron Boar bookings, and Riffulation Promotions should sit back in a comfy chair happy they supplied an excellent line-up with variation and talent. The same two friends who recommended Purple Kong were the ones who recommended this whole festival to me. In turn, I am recommending it to you. You will not be disappointed.

Review by Neil 'Thrashtash' Bolton. 

Ruination is likely to take place in early May 2025 so keep an eye on their socials (and ours).