WHO CARES?
“After 18 months, I thought I’d have a bit more chat.” WHO CARES?’ guitarist has just snapped his string, and while he takes an age to sort it, the imposing frontman is stalking the stage, trying to wrap his brain around a seated room. An offhand comment about Kiss suddenly leads to I Was Born For Loving You filling the room, as the rhythm section plays along. It’s not like it isn’t a bit surreal anyway. When WC? are playing, the benches give the impression the Black Heart is hosting an apocalyptic cult. It’s also the perfect way to break your metal gig fast, with their torrential powerviolence assault forcing all your gig senses back into action while sneaking in some punk grooves while they’re at it. The ultimately inert thrash revival was an easy way to start a metal band without anyone questioning your credentials. Crossover crew INHUMAN NATURE are almost unique in sounding genuinely frenzied, and of this tempestuous moment, not by trying to sound ‘modern’ but by sheer conviction, shifting into organically doomy tempos and riffing at optimum lose-your-shit frequency. This is thrash not just as a live but lived experience. Thank fuck it’s back.