Chaos Reigns released their new EP Sweet Violence back in November, and if you follow emerging artists, you probably didn’t miss this drop. It has been very well received by most heavy music media outlets, including our team here at Metal Junkbox. This time, we report to you from The Black Heart, where we had the opportunity to catch this group of punks live and soak up their offerings in a real-life setting.
They certainly live up to their name. I’ve been to many shows where an epic band name was attached to a set that was—perhaps objectively—not so epic, when the name just doesn’t match what you see on stage. Well, Chaos Reigns does exactly what it says on the tin. They are true representatives of hardcore punk, with some extra sprinkles of spice added to the mix. Listening and watching closely, just when you start to settle into a song section or a riff, they immediately switch it up. They parkour between everything they can get away with—swapping between slow and fast, mellow and noisy distortion, rhythmic or outright chaotic.
The Sweet Violence EP’s aesthetic and themes played out on stage as well. We found ourselves submerged in deep reds and near-complete darkness. This bloody immersive experience felt pleasurably suffocating—elevating that eclectic noise and drowning your eyes in monochrome. The band wasn’t just playing through their set and checking songs off a list but constantly moving, jump-kicking across the space, bodies acted as extensions of their riffs. Jason, their vocalist, spent over half of the set in the crowd, enticing fans to go wild, screaming lyrics right into their faces, and coming up face-to-face with anyone in his way. If you see them on any lineup, you won’t be disappointed—especially if you’re looking for a thrilling performance.
That night wasn’t just about Chaos Reigns. They played as support for another local London band, State of You, who were celebrating the release of their new EP, On a Knife’s Edge. Their style is pure rock and roll, almost merging into hard rock—reminding me of Audioslave, but with faster punk undertones and raw, powerful vocals. I hope that makes sense, but if not—just listen to the album. They ignited the wild side of the crowd, which included a stag party that had wandered in to experience a bit of Camden culture. I wonder if the band’s new songs became the soundtrack to some unforgettable or regrettable memories that night—at least, for those who didn’t blackout by the end of it.
State of You’s sound is incredibly versatile—it allows you to rage with a beer in hand, or, if you prefer, shake your hips and dance away your worries. Any alternative music DJ should seriously consider spinning their tracks at parties.
Follow the bands on social media for updates on upcoming gigs and new music releases!
Artists: Chaos Reigns, State Of You
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