Move over, Jimmy Kimmel Livel—it’s our turn for a night with Knocked Loose as we head out to see what happens when you stuff one of the biggest hardcore bands in the world into a 500-capacity venue…

Photos and words by Felix Bartlett | March 15, 2025

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True to their word, this was a ‘special evening of violence,’ and one that will go down in history.

From the moment you stepped into the sweltering, sweat-drenched confines of Camden Underworld, it was clear: this wasn’t just a show—it was a baptism by fire. Knocked Loose, the Kentucky hardcore titans, returned to the intimate 500-capacity venue with a Grammy nomination and global dominance under their belts, but tonight, they were here to remind everyone of their roots. And what a reminder it was.

The room was a pressure cooker from the first note of ‘Deep In The Willow’ the floor erupted into a singular, swirling circle pit that inched closer to the stage with every passing second. Bryan Garris knew the score tonight as he swaggered onto the stage, confidence glinting in his eyes as he and the rest of the band gazed across a room fully in the control of the madness unfolding.

Last night, Knocked Loose had plenty of bangers to choose from, with the setlist proving to be a masterclass in controlled chaos, leaving no stone unturned. This was a night for the Kentucky crew to let loose! Naturally, tracks like ‘Deep in the Willow’ and ‘Deadringer’ still stand stronger than ever—like fine wine, they’ve only gotten better with age. But what stood out the most was hearing their latest album (a first on UK shores, I might add) make its grand debut in the holiest and most legendary of venues.

The ferocity of arugably their biggest single off the new record ‘Suffocate’ may sound spectacular when belted out on Jimmy Kimmel Live for American TV audiences, but within the confined, damp walls of Camden Underworld, the track revealed its true nature. A brutal, gut-wrenching anthem, it pulls you onto the stage only to throw you back into the sea of bodies, leaving you breathless and ready for more.

The final stretch of the set was a relentless onslaught. ‘Everything Is Quite’ drove us into the final quarter with monstrous ferocity while ‘Billy No Mates’ served as the perfect prelude to the crowd’s deafening roar of “Arf! Arf!” during ‘Counting Worms’ summoned the sea of stage divers. The night closed with ‘Sit & Mourn’, a track that was anything but. Garris’s declaration of “This is your last chance” unleashed a final wave of chaos—circle pits, windmills, and crowd-surfers cascading from every corner of the room.

Knocked Loose didn’t just come to play a show last night—they came to make history. The Kentucky crew felt right at home, belting out banger after banger in an all-gas, no-brakes setlist that will go down as arguably one of the best shows in the hardcore band’s career. By the end, drenched in sweat and grinning from ear to ear, it was evident that tonight was a testament to the power of hardcore, and Knocked Loose are its undisputed champions.