Hailing all the way from Germany, thrash outfit Thrashing Pumpguns graced the stage of Spoilers this past Friday. One of the coolest-looking venues in Birmingham, Spoilers, thanks to Tom, continues to treat us to some of the most exciting line-ups in the city. Friday gave us Leader, In Absentia, Chewed Out and, of course, Thrashing Pumpguns.

Manchester-based thrash metal legends Leader took to that iconic stage first. From the first second, it was evident exactly what this set was going to be: relentless. The riffs immediately caught my attention, elevated by the drums and a level of creativity that was beautiful to hear. Joey’s (vocals) tone carries such a nostalgic quality, with harsh vocals that slot perfectly into the band’s sound.

Leader take some of the best elements of the genre and, just when you think things might become overplayed or too generic, bam, they switch it up.

Having a song “about getting your balls stuck in a food processor” really sealed the deal for me. It flowed surprisingly well within the setlist and highlighted Joey and Ted’s (bass) ability, with their fingers moving so fast I actually felt dizzy. I particularly appreciated the length of this number, giving the instrumentation enough room to breathe rather than rushing towards the next track.

As a drummer myself, I was genuinely in awe of the sheer capability on display. What I witnessed behind that kit was a gift. Yet, despite the musicianship, these guys also knew exactly how to make us all chuckle, and that’s something that should be appreciated.

Next came a number about having “a panic attack whilst listening to jazz in a jazz bar”. Some very original sentences were said during this set. I didn’t know I needed this, but clearly I did. This track is what I would call a stank-face anthem. The sheer force packed into it was ridiculous, while the vocals were honestly such a delight. Bonus points must also be awarded for including a token southerner in the band.

I sincerely hope to catch Leader again, and I am equally sincere in my gratitude for my T-shirt.

In Absentia, oh how I have missed seeing these guys live. Adam, how’s your eyesight up there?

They kicked off with one of my favourite numbers, a track that has seen many a leg day of mine, malice. You could instantly see how much everyone was enjoying being on that stage. Harvi (drums) was absolutely killing it from the back, while Adam’s vocals were on top form.

These guys have been around for roughly a year and apparently “are still shit”, which I can neither confirm nor deny. (I deny).

In Absentia create exactly the kind of music I genuinely have playing on repeat, so I’m always happy to hear them live. Kieran’s presence is something I particularly admire. The movement he brings to the stage adds another dimension to the band’s overall showmanship, alongside his backing vocals. Ollie’s guitar ability brings an additional layer of creativity to their sound, and they’re lucky to be blessed with it.

Now, I need to take a moment to mention JP. This individual not only stopped the show, but proceeded to take Adam’s mic and serenade us with pure noise pollution. We were all howling.

Until he just didn’t stop. Truly something to remember.

We were also treated to an unnamed number that had everyone two-stepping and moving around the room. Standing on the benches and looking down at the crowd, it got me thinking about how amazing it is that music can bring a community together like this. The pure joy emanating from everyone below was incredibly wholesome.

In Absentia put on such an interactive performance, with their call-and-response making the audience feel like part of it rather than simply spectators. They even brought Tommy from Denied Legacy up to perform Hollow, which genuinely is a sight to behold. I cannot express this adequately in words. You need to see it for yourself.

Thankfully, I’m sure there will be ample opportunity to do exactly that, alongside some new music, with an album soon to come.

Taking it back to Manchester, Chewed Out took the stage, spewing thrashy hardcore bangers accompanied by a tiny little MJ on Joey’s guitar.

Both guitar and drums were stand-ins and, considering this, you genuinely couldn’t tell. They played exceptionally well. From the beginning, I’d describe them as cohesively aggressive. There was force behind the performance without any member sounding disconnected from the rest.

Joey’s guitar tone was perfectly suited to the genre, and I’m genuinely in awe of anyone who can play drums to that level while simultaneously being so aggressive vocally. The bass carried an aura that came through both musically and visually, while changes in pace throughout the set prevented the sound from ever becoming stagnant.

Chewed Out understand this genre and deliver exactly what you’d want from it. The nonchalance only adds to their charm, with “thank you very much, cheers” being pretty much the only thing actually said throughout the set. There’s something quite comical about creating that much chaos and then being so remarkably casual about it.

People are grooving, people are drinking, the band are enjoying themselves. What more could you ask for?

Citing Spoilers as the best venue in Birmingham, I’m beginning to notice a pattern of bands falling in love with playing this place.

The set reached its strongest point during the final two songs. After such a slog at work, there was something strangely cathartic about standing there and letting this music completely take over. When living gets too much, this is exactly what you need.

Fucked Up People was a particular standout from a bass perspective. I could physically feel it. This entire set felt somewhat cathartic after a long day at work.

Headlining the night were Thrashing Pumpguns, hailing all the way from Hamburg, Germany.

Now, this set started while I was in the bathroom. I must say, however, that the force I could feel from the bathroom was insane. I rushed out because the sound resonating through the venue was immense. From the moment the vocalist pinched his nose to make himself sound extra nasally, I knew this was going to be great.

That feeling was only heightened by the fact that they had a stand-in drummer due to their usual drummer suffering a concussion, and he’d learnt the entire set in three days.

These are some cool-looking guys. The absolute rage and power they displayed was immense, with the bass pulsing through my entire nervous system. Thrashing they are indeed.

The guitars pierced through the room in a way that served the genre perfectly. The mid-set burps only added to the experience, alongside the vocalist casually wandering into the middle of the crowd and standing completely stationary amongst the chaos.

This is pure rage-room music, the soundtrack to an angry crashout.

By the fifth song, I gave up on taking notes and surrendered to my innate urge to two-step and essentially crash out in front of the stage. Yet, despite how hardcore the music was, there was something incredibly wholesome about hearing, “Thank you for hanging out with us.” It was an absolute pleasure.

They also demonstrated that aggression isn’t the only thing in their arsenal, incorporating groovier and more melodic passages before transitioning straight back into the meat of the thrashy stuff. The guitar tones complemented each other brilliantly, while the vocals carried a dynamic quality that allowed these changes to work without compromising their identity.

The drumming was heavily thrash-oriented and provided a strong foundation for everything happening around it. They made excellent use of the kit throughout, particularly in the intros and build-ups to several tracks, allowing the drums to take centre stage rather than simply sitting beneath the guitars. As a drummer, this is something I particularly enjoy hearing.

Considering their stand-in drummer had three days to learn all of this, that becomes even more impressive.

Travelling all the way from Germany comes at quite the expense, and I’m genuinely grateful they made the journey because sharing such enjoyable thrash is a blessing for us all. I hope to see these guys continue to grow over the coming years, and I’ll absolutely be there if they decide to make their way back to the UK.