LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: COILGUNS AT NEW CROSS INN, LONDON 27/10/25 (+ MOUNTAIN PEAKS, CHAOS REIGNS, DEAD HARTS)
This past Monday, the independent heavy scene witnessed a rare but deliberate merger between two tours. Coilguns brought their Odd Love Tour to London straight into the raw genre-blending path of the Chaos Reigns and Dead Harts Co-Headliner. This powerful collision of three major forces – plus opener Mountain Peaks – delivered a fun and oddly charming evening at New Cross Inn.
Kicking off the evening, the Norwich-based trio Mountain Peaks set an instantly warm and dynamic tone. Although a relatively new presence on the UK circuit, having formed in 2022, they are quickly building a reputation for an expressive, dual-vocal style rooted in the emo and post-hardcore traditions, drawing comparisons to acts like Touché Amoré and La Dispute.
Their sound finds its essential tension in contrast: a deeply emotional screaming vocal from bassist Luke Wojciechowski layered against clean singing from lead guitarist Tim Burden and backing vocals from drummer Emma Thomas. Their most recent work, such as the EP WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN (I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE), showcases their dedication to more than just energy; they expertly craft soundscapes designed to represent feelings, integrating everything from twinkly Midwest emo guitars to melancholic riffs. Their EP centres on the idea of envy, exploring how other people’s goals can affect your own life and the toll it takes on your mental state. We later found out that this record was written whilst they were playing shows across the country, so the themes and ideas were inspired by collaboration and community within the emo scene.
Their set was a short, sharp set that primed the crowd with honesty and humour.
The energy was immediately cranked to eleven by Chaos Reigns, an up-and-coming five-piece armed not just with their recent EP, SWEET VIOLENCE, but with a name steeped in primal dread. As confirmed by the vocalist Jason Heightman, the phrase "Chaos Reigns" is a direct, chilling reference to Lars von Trier's infamous 2009 psychological horror film, Antichrist. In the film, the words are uttered by a decomposing, self-mutilating fox - one of "The Three Beggars" - that the protagonist discovers in the isolated forest named "Eden." The fox's proclamation, "Chaos reigns" marks a key, horrifying turning point. It signifies the complete collapse of order and reason, confirming the wife's despairing belief that nature itself is inherently evil, or, as she calls it, "Satan's church". For the band to adopt this name is a deliberate statement, rejecting the control of "rational, therapeutic" worlds in favour of visceral, elemental intensity.
True to their namesake, the band brought an infectious, explosive madness to the stage, validating their self-description as a band “pushing hardcore as far as possible”. The vocalist immediately dove into the crowd, appearing in front of the audience by the second song, setting a pace that never relented. Dedications were as varied as they were intense - from an ode "for the punks" to a poignant track for those "who struggle with mental health", the latter of which was performed on top of a table in the venue, showcasing a truly crazy, defiant energy that got the crowd engaged. Capping their chaotic frenzy with the final track 'Graveyard Shift', Chaos Reigns demonstrated they have the chops and the sheer stage presence to stand out in the UK hardcore scene.
Hailing from Sheffield - the UK’s famed "Steel City" - Dead Harts is a band known for blending metallic hardcore, punk, and metal with experimental overtones, drawing influence from heavyweights like Norma Jean and The Chariot. Active since late 2009, this five-piece has forged a reputation for relentless energy, honed over years of performing at festivals like Download and Slam Dunk, and releasing albums like BORN INTO RAGS to DIE NO RICHER.
On this night, their set was a masterclass in tight, crushing aggression, demanding the audience's attention. The energy of the band's signature style - jerking between thrashing punk and metal, and two-step-inducing hardcore - was driven, most emphatically, by the drummer. His performance was an absolute spectacle, delivering intricate double-kick patterns and relentless power - a performance that truly resembled an exhaustive leg day. Their immediate request for a mosh during their latest track 'Human Rust' was met with enthusiasm, underscoring their ability to deliver pure, unadulterated mosh fodder with technicality.
Headlining the merger, Switzerland's Coilguns delivered a show that cemented their reputation as masters of hardcore-inflected noise-rock and true pioneers of the ODD LOVE. Born from members of the German progressive rock collective The Ocean, Coilguns quickly became known for their theatrical spectacle, prioritising authenticity and unpredictability, producing oddly charming performances. Before even plugging in, the vocalist Louis Jucker circled the room, genuinely hand-shaking everyone, bridging the gap between performer and audience before a single note was played.
Their stage presence was immediately engaging. The vocalist took a fan's phone, using it to record the set from his perspective and stared into the cameras of every fan and photographer in attendance, giving them a performance to remember. The band embraced their "privilege to be able to speak their mind on stage" passing the mic to the crowd to do the same, which followed spontaneous chants of "Free Palestine" and "Fuck Trump."
The band thanked every member of the audience and said they love being on tour; however, they also admitted that there is a darker side to touring, such as “not knowing what to do with your life after tour is over,” which was expressed through the song ‘Nightshifter.’ Another highlight was ‘Generic Skincare’, which was preceded by a powerful soundscape calling out Swiss pharmaceutical practices for profit, aligning their quirky performance with genuine and serious social commentary.
Speaking of highlights, at one point during their set, the drummer, Luc Hess, attached a tambourine to the hi-hat, which added a brilliant, unique percussive layer during the song ‘The Wind to Wash the Pain,’ showcasing their commitment to an intricate live sound. This song was accompanied by a powerful message delivered during an almost acoustic number: "It's hard to find meaning... particularly when it feels like we live in a black hole, only getting bigger…We found meaning by gathering people we love and doing something fun. We hope you enjoy tonight and manage to find meaning through the dark clouds", says the band.
The finale cemented the set as one of the most unpredictable performances in recent memory when Jucker went outside with a wired microphone, located a bin, brought it inside the venue, jumped inside it, and screamed. During another song, he even received a triumphant piggyback ride from a fan after performing on top of a table.
Coilguns showed us how odd yet charming love can be through a very creative performance, bringing the night to a close where every act left a profound and unique impression.
Words by Vlad-Paul Ghilaș (Platform ‘96)
Photos by Julia Jevzikova