Sometimes you’re at a gig and it just feels that little bit more special, that it’s a night you’ll tell the kids about and could be one of those watershed “I was there” moments. Tonight feels like one of those times. All three bands end up performing phenomenal sets, and in particular for headliners LANDMVRKS you feel that this should be the start of something massive.

But first things first. It should’ve been Glassbone kicking us off on this tour, but due to administrative issues they couldn’t make it for the UK dates. It means Resolve are opening proceedings and what a start they provide. They bound about the stage, owning it like headliners. The crowd is already fairly full and there’s plenty of dancing and moshing to their brand of melodic hardcore infused metalcore. Fans of Normandie and Led by Lanterns will really enjoy this Lyon originating crew. They mix up tempo tech-hardcore stompers with slower atmospheric segments and in vocalist Anthony Diliberto they have a dynamic yet relatable singer who delightfully mixes harsh and beautiful cleans effortlessly. They perform a range of tracks and highlights such as Seasick Sailor from album Between Me and The Machine go down a treat with the crowd. Their set is filled with fantastic songwriting, variety and a really good example of how to blend melody and passion.

Now if we’re talking raw passion, the award for intensity and full-on bludgeoning tech-deathcore heaviness has to go to ten56. I’ve been a massive fan of theirs since the tech-supergroup first teased their existence, and it’s no secret Aaron Matts is one of my favourite vocalists right now. It’s likely you’ll either know him from his Betraying the Martyrs days or more recently have heard him featuring as a guest on tracks by bands like Hacktivist or HOCICO, as well as tonight’s headliners (more on that later). It’s a brutal, guttural onslaught of a vocal that blazes the way forward for the band, but my oh my the rest of the band are more than equal to the task of matching those levels. The guitar and bass viciously rip and gnaw away while the drums blast and drill through the set. The moments of slow rumbling synth and menacing talking intersperse the awesome assault, and the crowd is going wild at every chance they get. The closest thing to their sound is Emmure, but it’s fair to say this band are as unique and fresh as they come. I stay down the front for the whole set and can see how much the band are enjoying plying their trade to such an eager and receptive crowd. ten56. exceeded my already high expectations and for any fans of this kind of genre they’re a must.

Put this date in the diary because this is the moment LANDMVRKS released all the potential they’ve always promised. The set tonight from them start to finish is a perfect masterclass in melodic, passionate, furiously aggressive yet dynamically musical hardcore metal. The Marseille band simply put are brilliant and professionally perform a slew of perfectly written songs. They evoke so much energy and joy in the crowd in not just a physical but also emotional manner that it’s an honor to be right down the front and experiencing it up-close. Like Malevolence they meld together so many different elements of hardcore punk and metalcore, but add in rap and dare I say pop music hooks and melody. Every song is delivered tightly and expertly, with ‘Death’ being a standout track demonstrating not only the full repertoire of the band but also the connection they have between themselves and the crowd. Florent Salfati fronts the band brilliantly with superb harsh and clean vocals, but it’s the cohesive gelling of the band both in their songwriting and performance that takes them to another level. We’re treated to Aaron Matts coming on to perform ‘Say No Word’, and then the encore to end all encores of ‘Self-Made Black Hole’, complete with Anthony Diliberto, and the anthemic yet razor-sharp ‘Fantasy’. LANDMVRKS are here and they mean business.