London Metal Coalition (LMC) Presents: Coalition Fest 2025 @ Signature Brew Blackhorse Road Day 2 31/08/2025 The Slaughtering, Tales of Perdition, Kardinal X Deity and Devilry, Contortious, Ravenhymn, Levee Davghter, The Heretic Order, The Hell + More

 

Having rested and recharged day two of the LMC Coalition Fest is ready to kick off with female fronted Death Metal new commers The Slaughtering. Made up of three members from Symbyote with Andi on vokills and Vienna on bass and they blend old school Death Metal with Hardcore aggression. Andi does a good job of warming the pit up jumping off the stage to get the first circle pit of the day moving even if everyone is still waking up. Tales of Perdition change the tone slightly with some Symphonic Metal grandeur. Alea’s vocals soar over intense chunky riffs and melodies which give a few necks a good working out. As do classic old school Heavy Metal four-piece Kardinal X who are described as the bastard love child of Led Zeppelin, Pantera, Dio era Black Sabbath and you can hear why. Heads are-a-banging and horns held a lot during their high energy set which is led by vocalist Jimi James and occasionally bassist and LMC honcho Ade, whilst Shaun shreds on guitar and a kilted John pounds the drum kit. Deity and Devilry bring things back to the symphonic with one of the most powerful vocal performances of the day from Francesca’s intense operatic vocals belting out across the venue, switching occasionally to Metal growls with ease adding some theatrics to the day. Another band who is just as visual as she ends the Gothic/Symphonic set literally spreading her wings. For those who have been around all weekend will have come across the group of 15 years olds who call themselves Contortious. Their Extreme Metal blends Black with Death Metal and they deliver the ferocious performance that everyone has been waiting to witness. Duel growling vocals, bludgeoning guitars and salmming tight rhythms blast through the room and the pit eats up every last moment. They’re a voice of new generation of Extreme Metal bands who give one of the weekends most intense performances, mangling pedophiles, talking about the genocide in Gaza and blasting through a cover of Slipknot’s Nero Forte. It seems a far cry form that as outside the Black Swan Morris Dancers have gathered for a display of ritualistic pagan dancing to the backdrop of Ravenhymn setting up inside, both of whom play traditional folk music. On the Vyte stage Ravenhymn, who are the only band of the weekend aside form the Black Swans who are using more tradiotinal instruments such as bagpipes, bodrahn drums and pipes to weave through tales of old which gives some necks rest and culminates Conga circle pit. Ben and Chole from Raven Records talk about their Camden based record shop which is also has an alcohol free bar, and offers services such as alcohol recovery meetings and peer to peer mental health sessions. Two Piece Heavy Rock Levee led by LMC main man Morten regales us of autobiographical tales from his experiences living abroad as a comedian, and his apperception for having found the LMC during a particularly dark period in his life. True Trans Black Metal band Davghter take to the stage with frontwoman Deadname draped in mourning wear and carrying a bouquet of red roses. They rip through a set of agonising Black Metal that deals with the prejudices of being transexual in today’s current climate, screaming back at a government that is denying the trans community their rights and voices. This will be the last they’ll be seen on stage for a while as Deadname is off to remove ‘the lump of flesh’ that found her, reassuring they will be back in 2026, six inches shorter. On the Matt stage there is stand-up from Viking fella called Lukey and his small companion Ragnar, a pint of Signature Brew lager. By his own admission he has killed a few Ragnars today already but his one- liner’s are form as his Happy Metal song.  The Heretic Order fuse Horror aesthetics with classic and Gothic Heavy Metal. Vocalist/guitarist Lord Ragnar Wagner leads their occult ritual Adorned in skulls and crucifixes they’re theatrically visual while their sound reeks of incense, bloodletting and doom. Ravenhymn play an extended more ‘acoustic set’ outside on the Matt stage which ends with another Conga line this time weaving its way around the stage area and the bar as more people join in. The Hell were one of the first bands announced for next years Bloodstock. And for those not aware of them this is a perfect introduction to their fuck you in your face Hardcore and the perfect way to end an incredible weekend. Bodies are literally flying through pit, one of the young men who accompanied Contortious takes a leap from the stage with his first stagedive and they’re also joined onstage by Levee’s Morten. The big finale outside on the Matt stage finishes things off with good ol’ acoustic sing-along as people start gathering their things and saying their goodbyes.

 

The LMC does indeed have a family feel to their organisation and welcomes newcomers with such positive attitudes. Its beautiful grassroots movement that networks, communicates and arrange gigs with each other cutting out the need for any external promoters. That’s something that makes this group of some 80 bands across the capital very special, and proof that Metalheads can arrange a piss up in brewery.