American heavy sludge metal rockers from Oklahoma Chat Pile were clearly in the mood for a damn good time, having performed a small amount of shows in Europe and also heading to Arctangent festival in Bristol and the Button Factory in Dublin imminently.
The confident yet considerate no fucks giveth unapollogetically bold-as-brass quartet didn’t want to make the trip go the UK go fully unloved seemingly only here for the ArcTanGent festival as the heavy grunge metal face melting inspired noise makers squeezed in an intimate club show at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush on their travels, with fellow “The Flenser” label-mates Ragana a two-piece metal duo in tow supporting Chat Pile for several shows in the UK and Europe. Formed in 2019 the band were in high spirits, welcoming the fans coming in and chatting to fans selling and signing merch before and after the show.
With tickets for the sold out show shifting within hours on announcement its clear to see that there is a lot of interest and love for this band by UK music fans, a band whom while growing up were inspired by bands such as Nirvana, Godflesh, Sepultura (their first release was a cover of Roots Bloody Roots) they had also dreamt of releasing music via the Sub Pop label, they achieved this feat with some spectacular style their as their debut Sub Pop single Masks features their cover song Sifting on side B written by the infamous Kurt Cobain and released by Nirvana.
Ragana took to the stage at approx 8:15pm and after some technical issues with a faulting power pack or a pedal the duo proceeded to launch in to their set, alternating turns as to who was on guitar and drums the female metal duo switched between songs with ease, performing songs with intensity, serenity and ferocity they had whipped the crowd up nicely.
Then after the stage switch over Chat Pile come on for 9:15pm and fiercely launch in to their much anticipated set-list of joy and tirades spanning humanistic apocalyptic angst laden themes, covering topics such as homelessness with the fan favourite song “Why”, songs such as Grimace had not played for some time it was clear this was going to be a great night and the band will give the crowd as good as they get themselves in return with reciprocal energy and humility.
Some fans were hoping for a Nirvana cover song, sadly not to be for this show, but “Scentless Apprentice” was performed at one of the subsequent Dublin shows.
Raygun on vocals and spoken word provided earth shattering vocals intertwined with interpretive sweaty body movements summoning the vast repertoire of lyrics with his husky voice he could probably be a successful telesales marketer but instead delivers bone crushing blows channelling his lyrics and energies projecting his voice to the nether regions of the crowd, the searing sweat and energy in the room was pulsating and immense and throughout the show it was as if London didn’t exist but only this room, time and place and its people within it.
With the majority of the crowd surging forward time and time again wheelpits were breaking out multiple times and the new songs went down a storm along with their mainstay setlist songs, the room was packed with people moshing and smiles.
In between songs Ray provided anecdotes, spoke of favourite books and the things that any inquisitive people and musicians search for and reflect upon, within the moments of calm in between songs L. Manhole re-tunes his guitars with precision and Stin on bass does the same along with Ron on drums checking drums and cymbals and all the band regaining composure before the next onslaught of their unique sludge metal grunge inspired noise.
With an encore of 2 additional songs the band finished off with some hardened classics, this was one of the best rock metal shows i’ve seen in some time and with a crowd so eagerly up for a good time this was a show was clearly not to have been missed, with the band wrapping up at about 10:30pm to a rapturous applause.
Be on the look out for more shows and perhaps another visit to the UK sometime from Chat Pile what with their new album “Who Loves the Sun” which is being released on 4th September
You can find out more from their web site here
Setlist
- Slaughterhouse
- grimace_smoking_weed.jpeg
- Face
- Brutal Truth
- Masc
- Shame
- Frownland
- Deep Blue
- PEN I S MALL
- Family Funeral
- Why
- Tropical Beaches, Inc.
- I Am Dog Now
- Dallas Beltway
Encore
- Rainbow Meat
- Funny Man
