As I was working the show, Paul Hutchings gathered his thoughts from the 2 days of Coalville festival, here’s his Friday run down!

They say you should never return to the scene of the crime, but with prices for this two-day mini festival being an absolute steal, it was a no-brainer to head back to Leicestershire for the third instalment of this fabulous event run by Unearthed Music. A showcase of their stable, it’s becoming a staple in the dairy.   

I’ll caveat all my reviews with the fact that I had ended a long week with quite a few medicinal sherries and as this event proved last year, the opportunity to catch up with many friends meant that it was not possible to get to see every band. So, apologies to any band not included in this review.  

Arriving about an hour before the first band, it was time to reacquaint ourselves with the venue. The outside area was the location for base camp, and table acquired, it was soon time for the first band to get things moving. East Midlands trio Bury Me Where I Fall drew the honour of kicking open the event and they did so with a vibrant, and entertaining set that got the early punters in the mood. Big riffs, solid song structures and a mix of old and new songs ensured that the heads were nodding early doors.  

One of the joys of this event is the non-stop action. With a five-minute turn around, it was Kvilla who opened the evening on the indoor stage. The six-piece were crammed on the stage, but this didn’t stop them from giving it 110%. The early evening punters enjoyed a solid set which combined elements from various genres. My time was limited but I liked what I saw. Talking of solid sets, Blackpool’s Blacklist made sure that the thrash was flowing with a vibrant and energetic half hour on the outside stage. Their track Naotorum Demonto debuted on the excellent Moshin the Roof On Vol 4 and it sounded excellent live too. Ferocious from start to finish, they claimed the first real movement of the day in the pit.  

Back inside and the sludgy sounds of Birmingham’s Kill the Witch was hitting all the right notes, with a healthy gathering enjoying the doom-soaked metal that the band bring. Promoted from the inside stage, Warlock AD’s high energy power metal brought a sweet change of pace. This is a band who are big on the theatrics, and the crowd quickly warmed to their set. A genre that isn’t my favourite, it was still a 30-minutes of fun and enjoyment with smiles all round. Highly rated Recall the Remains proved a big hit indoors, their powerful, muscular metalcore drawing one of the biggest crowds. I only caught a few songs, but this is a band tipped to go onto bigger things and it was easy to see why with an assured and confident showing. 

Switching outside again, the punishing Hounds showed why they were placed high up the bill with an assured set. With a refreshed line-up, the Isle of Wight band probably had one of the longest trips, but their large breakdowns and high-level riffs were enough to keep the crowd’s energy elevated. I’m afraid I missed Daybreaker having nipped out to find some food, but I was pleased to get back for Scots Dog Tired who provided the set of the day with a vicious, groove-laden 30-minutes. Their recent album The Red Verse is a killer release and the tracks they threw out were well-received. It was the first time I’d seen the band and their punchy set ensured it won’t be the last.  

With my day catching up with me, I popped my head in to see the visceral intensity of To Obey a Tyrant. Their sound is certainly abrasive and brutal, dominated by thick breakdowns, blast beats and inhuman screaming vocals. Those gathered in front of the stage appeared to enjoy themselves and that’s all that matters.  

Check out the Day 1 Photos on MMH HERE and check out the Saturday review HERE