Shetland's skull crushers lay waste to The Source

While most people would be outside enjoying this pleasantly warm and sunny April evening, there are a handful of us who couldn't be happier having our eardrums shattered in the dimly lit back room of the Source in Carlisle.

Metal nights in Carlisle on weekends don't always pull a large crowd, so this gig happening on a Thursday night is already facing an uphill before the night even started, but non the less the show still hammers on.

Opening the night, Gansher make the short hop over the border from Dumfries, bring their unique style with them. Blending punk undertones and thick riffs alongside emotive vocals bring a differing take to their style of alternative music. The vocals slide effortlessly between pained clean singing to frenzied screams which gives different levels to the lyrical complexities. Combining this with a energetic and chaotic performance it all blends into a fantastic and memorable performance

Kraken Waker, straight out of the swamps of.....Newcastle?. You would be forgiven to think that these lads were from the bayou's of Louisiana with their southern sludgy heaviness. Riding high from their set at Bloodstock's new blood stage in 2024 it is clear that they draw their inspiration from stoner and sludge bands such as Clutch, Down and Crowbar. This trio has excellent chemistry on stage thoroughly enjoying their craft. Kraken Waker rip through their set with heavy rumbling riffs that could do as their name suggests, raise the mythical sea creature from the depths, but if that fails at least we have Ollie the octopus to to keep us entertained.

Headlining the night are rugged Shetland outfit Ten Tonne Dozer 'gutsy groove metal full of blood sweat broken strings, & smashed sheep skulls'. Blazing off with more of a hard rock approach I wasn't sure what the set had in store for us but with each passing song Ten Ton Dozer progressively got heavier and louder with chugging riffs and a no nonsense attitude. Closing in on nearly 20 years, this band has used all of their experience to perfect their sound bringing the bleakness of the Shetlands down to the mainland folk in the form of bone crushing, no holds barred metal with a 'you will like it or else' attitude. These Northern bruisers mean business and if you are in their sonic path, either bang your head or get out of the goddam way!