Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes @ The Underworld, Camden.

If you've followed Frank Carter since Gallows you'll know he's had a tough 2014. He has returned with the super group Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, made up of ex Heights and Pure Love members. They exploded onto the scene with album ‘Blossom’ in April 2015 and started touring the UK and Mainland Europe in November an December. Monday 30th November, the gig was initially scheduled for Dingwalls. But everybody knows the brutality of a Frank Carter gig. The venue denied FC&TRS a gig absent of a barrier. Which in Frank Carters words was “a dick move”. The venue change happened on the night of the gig and moved to the infamous Underworld in Camden. Touring with Leeds lads Brawlers and Wolverhampton duo, God Damn. 

Once the first two bands had finished warming up the already elevated crowd, the room goes silent. Waiting. Watching. Ready for Frank Carter to make his entrance. The roar of the crowd fills the room with an electric energy as Frank saunters on stage, microphone in hand and piercing blue eyes scanning the crowd. “This stage is not just mine. This is your fucking stage too.” are the first words that comes out of his mouth before playing the chaotic ‘Devil Inside Me’. Loyal fans echoing the lyrics as whirlpools of mosh pits form around the stage. Bodies being thrown off the stage and small balcony bars into the the sea of hardcore fans. The tumult continues as he powers though ‘Blossom’, ‘Juggernaut’ and ‘Fangs’. Franks terrifying stare could turn you to stone, he's like the Medusa of the rock world. He continues to thank the crowd bluntly. “You guys are the fucking greatest. I fucking love you mugs”, talking about his tough year and leaving Gallows. 

After a significant amount of carnage on the stage and floor, Frank begins ‘Beautiful Death’ probably one of his most heart felt songs he's ever penned down. Requesting the whole crowd to crouch down, not for the cliche synchronised jumping, but instead the crowd fall silent for the whole 4 minuets. Uninterrupted. The heart wrenching song was dedicated to his wife and her father who had died the previous year. Safari as emotional hardcore shows go, this one was indelible. 

Frank Carter don’t do feelings for too long though. Finishing the set with ‘I Hate You’, the whole crowd chanting “You are nothing, you are nothing to me. You're a useless fucking cunt, you are nothing to me”. The heavy metal energy tore through the crowd like a tornado leaving everyone battered and bruised. And of course covered in beer.