It’s been a long year and a half without proper live music, but here we are, finally back in business. (Hell, it’s been that long since I’ve been to an actual gig that I needed to remind myself how I used to format articles on here!) And what better way to celebrate a return to live music than an intimate, sweaty gig seeing Exhumation, Foetal Juice and Colpocleisis at one of my favourite venues in Liverpool (Outpost sells pizza as well as put on ace gigs, what’s not to like)? Fun fact: the last time I saw these three bands they were also sharing a bill at this very venue in 2018, back when it was still called Maguire’s.
After a live interview between The Spoken Metal Show and headliners Exhumation, openers Colpocleisis kicked things off with a bang. With their mighty onslaught of noise, it wasn’t long before the quickly-forming small crowd began to move to the music, and the songs hit hard and fast as the band progressed through their set. Highlight simply had to be closer Brokecrack Pounding – honestly, I don’t think the introduction to that track will ever stop being funny to me.
Up next was Foetal Juice, warming up ahead of their main stage appearance at Bloodstock in a couple of weeks. It was a solid performance, adding more and more momentum as the set progressed, and seeing how well-received they were was fantastic. Indeed, it’s always a good laugh seeing these guys play live, and after frontman Dez questioned why nobody was heckling, it didn’t take long for the crude sex moans to start from several members of the crowd, which naturally lasted for the rest of their set!
Headliners Exhumation were out to promote their brand new EP Sadistic Inhumanity, which was released last month, and it felt really rewarding to see them performing in front of a full room after having seen them playing to smaller crowds when they were first starting out. It didn’t take long for the pit to get going, and it was such a great feeling to be back in a room with so many people moving about and having such a great time. It was such a nice vibe and it was like we were one big family there to have a good time and enjoy the music and performance. Exhumation really gave it their all and it was just fantastic to see.
Live music has been sorely missed since March 2020, and holy fuck does it feel good to have it back. I know I’m definitely not just speaking for myself when I say this was very much needed – I’m already seriously excited to dive right back in to the gigging circuit once again. Massive thanks to Joe/UK Slam Fest for putting this on – you rule!
