A Halloween weekend in Camden always promises a great night for gig goers. There’s extra excitement and festive feeling among the crowd alongside amazing costumes. Beetlejuice cosplayers, a giant bumblebee, Medusa, and a skateboard winning Seagull courtesy of the headliners, they’re all crammed into Dingwalls for one thing, Cancer Bats. Marshall Records created this ‘Made Of Loud’ tour as part of an initiative to support grassroots venues across the UK and celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary, and it came to a close in the heart of Camden Town at Dingwalls.
Knives
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Starting the night early was the fast-rising noise rock post-punk outfit Knives. If you weren’t sure that it was Halloween, a 6 foot plus Red Poweranger, Jedi and shirtless goat guitarist duo, plus one saxophonist minion should at least be a clue. Opening with their latest release ‘Vermillion’, the group began aggressively which drew in those who arrived early enough to catch them. The five-piece were crammed onto the tiny Dingwalls stage, but that didn’t stop bassist Ben Marshall’s high kicks nor saxophonist/vocalist Izzi Allard flying around the stage. Jay Schottlander’s harsh vocals and the heavy basslines underlined Knives’ hardcore edge while Allard’s saxophone provided contrast to the fast and heavy breakdowns whilst emphasising the harmonies. Closing with the raucous ‘Eat Thy Neighbour’, Knives presented themselves as a young band taking the bull by the horns and holding their own in a tour that has them opening for two esteemed and experienced bands. They have been a livewire on the touring and festival circuit of 2026, and with their sophomore album due for March 2027, it feels like Knives are warming up for bigger and better things.
Ignite
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Next up comes Orange County hardcore heroes, Ignite. Their famed fast-paced hardcore punk sound has the crowd moving within an instant, opening with ‘Poverty For All’. The veteran Californians commanded the stage, bringing an immediate and positive energy following the chaotic and heavy Knives set. Ignite’s anthemic sing-a-long choruses warm up the crowd as the room’s familiarity with their catalogue became clear. This combined with an extra drink allowed the crowd to loosen up and adjust to the earlier set times. A frenetic opening is then followed by immense gratitude from the band and the crowd responded with mosh pits and crowd surfing. They also take the opportunity to show off their new single ‘Guilty Wounds’, holding a thrash punk rhythm and got the blood pumping. Closing the set is their own version of U2’s historic ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, warming up the voices of the entire room before the headliners took over the night. The crowd eats up the 40 minute set mixed with nineties and naughties hardcore and Californian pop-punk, taking some spectators down memory lane and everyone was left truly warm and ready for Cancer Bats.
Cancer Bats
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Before too long, the beloved headliners took to the stage. Donning a mixture of outfits, none more iconic than guitarist Jackson Landry’s homemade Angine de Poitrine costume. It’s another example why Cancer Bats and Halloween fit so well together, and how their Halloween live show is a special treat. Flying out of the races as expected, the Canadian hardcore legends rip into new and old songs. Kicking off with ‘Stay Stuck’ and tearing into an old favourite ‘Snake Mountain’, the whole room is bouncing with glee. After four tracks of pure intensity, frontman Liam Cormier somewhat apologises for his lack of a pumpkin big enough to go around his whole head, blaming the British harvest weather, it instead forms more a child’s cap barely held on by some string. Somehow making it through the crushing disappointment of Cormier’s pumpkin cap, the group tore into ‘Bricks and Mortar’ and sent the entire venue into an absolute frenzy, during which one crowd-surfer almost flew into the band.
It would be easy to look past how much of a positive atmosphere is created during this set, but doing so would be to overlook what Cancer Bats have been building during their entire career. A place for hardcore kids, now adults, to let loose, party and revel in the night together with their shared love and passion, forming bonds to last just a moment or a lifetime, but each just as meaningful. Tearing into tunes and dancing together is what a Cancer Bats show is all about.
Despite the floods of nostalgia, it’s not lost that this tour is in support of the new album Give Me Dirt, which the title track proceeded to blow the roof off. In addition, collaborator and touring vocalist Brooklyn Doran joins the group on stage and Cormier and Doran duet ‘Hammering On’ and new album track ‘Long Tooth’, and not a second passes without a smile on the pair’s faces. The night is rounded off by crowd favourites ‘Sabotage’ (Beastie Boys) and ‘Hail Destroyer’.
Cancer Bats hold an abundance of confidence and the set is played by a band completely in their pomp. Newer recruits in the band, including touring drummer Ian Romano, give a sense of renewal among the group, striving to move forwards, evolve and draw upon everything they can from themselves musically and physically. The night isn’t the celebration of an end but feels like a new beginning, and everyone’s in for the ride.
All images by William Mawdsley | Instagram