The co-headlining gig of Goatwhore and Eyehategod at The Garage in London was an anticipated event for extreme and sludge metal fans. Part of their UK & Ireland tour, Turned Troubled Tables, the show brought together two iconic representatives of the NOLA scene?a unique blend of sounds from New Orleans, Louisiana, a highly influential region in the metal world. Both bands dropped on us raw, Southern-style sets that left no chunky riffs behind, causing mayhem and chaos at the venue.
Goatwhore
When I tell my non-metalhead friends the names of the bands I will see, their “What the hell” faces always make me laugh. Goatwhore is a band forged in the close-knit NOLA, and their passion for metal and the genre’s raw energy is evident on stage. Extreme metal goes places where bands chasing commercial success overlook, however packed venue that night proved there is an appetite for something beyond conventional.
From the moment Goatwhore stepped on stage, it was clear they loved performing. For 45 minutes, it felt like being trapped in a relentless hamster wheel, driven by their tight thrash influences pouring from the speakers because of the razor-sharp, fast riffs played at ultraspeeds.
Frontman Benjamin kept the energy levels bubbling, riling up the crowd and fueling their enthusiasm with genuine fan interactions. There was plenty of space for fist-pumps, and high-fives, and his husky screams got lubricated with countless sips of beer between songs. In one interview, he declared:
“Metal is about the devil and heavy-ass guitars that are loud.”
And that night, they did just that.
Eyeategod
Moving on to Eyehategod?let?s start with their soundcheck. How often do you see artists come on stage and just start jamming live before their set even begins for a quick line check? Call me a novice, but I?d never seen that before, and I loved it. That single act stripped away the invisible hierarchy of “the headline star” and reminded everyone what gigs should always be about: the music and no need for worshipping anyone or anything.
Eyehategod embodies pure sludge, leaning unapologetically into distorted, slowed-down, downtuned guitars?the polar opposite of what Goatwhore brought to the stage. Yet, the contrast worked beautifully, both bands balanced each other perfectly. Middle fingers were exchanged as acts of love and appreciation between the band members and the fans?a true love language shared by real friends.
The vibe of Eyehategod?s set was pure swampy chaos: slow, heavy, and immersive, like trudging through muddy waters. Vocalist Mike Williams clutched the mic like a lifeline, swinging it around, while Aaron Hill was practically laying down on his drum kit, lost in the groove. The distorted messy sound left the crowd wanting more as the curfew hit. If you ever get the chance, don?t miss seeing these bands during the festival season.
Artists: Eyehategod, Goatwhore
