What a perfect spot to experience the wacky, fun, and outstanding artists that graced Southampton on a warm September evening. Nekrogoblikon, Allegaeon, Party Cannon, and Grief Ritual gave us an unforgettable and extraordinary night.
Words by by Jaimie, photos by Day Rutherford (@dayshootsphotos) | Sep 25, 2025
Tucked away down a side street in the heart of Southampton lies The 1865. A 700 capacity no frills venue that focuses on doing the important things to a point of brilliance. Friendly staff, well-priced bar, clean facilities, and a sound system that fills the building with clear definition and tonality that you can enjoy from any point of the room.
What a perfect spot to experience the wacky, fun, and outstanding artists that graced Southampton on a warm September evening. Nekrogoblikon, Allegaeon, Party Cannon, and Grief Ritual gave us an unforgettable and extraordinary night.
A vibrant crowd swiftly populated the floor while creating a merchandise queue that would rival a 5 am Next sale. The wares on offer from each band had some great designs (I scored a Pyramid Head Party Cannon shirt, so I was happy). The price of a green beanie with goblin ears raised a few eyebrows, with the current economic climate leaving many unable to afford to attend events and support grassroots venues, but it is also up to the consumer to purchase if they wish.
Opening the night were South Western UK weavers of metal genres, Grief Ritual. If the state of the world is a hard pill for some to swallow, Grief Ritual will shove it into you as if you were a cat and they were a skilled veterinarian. There are still too many people out there with their fingers in their ears, oblivious to the world around them, and we need more bands like this to encourage them to step over to the right side of history. Speaking up on the inequality and injustice of the world through meticulously considered lyrics expressed over a mix of black and death metal, they commanded the assembly to listen. A crushing portrayal of passionate vocals and conscious stirring metal, it wasn’t long before the crowd were passionate alongside them and bouncing their energy back to the stage, giving us the first mosh pits of the event. Their performance was an almost cathartic experience, a palate cleanser for the rest of the night ahead. Work has started on the follow-up to their debut album, Collapse, something to be very excited for.
Now for some ‘IQ-lowering party slam’ in the form of Scottish metallers Party Cannon. Recently announced for the Bloodstock ‘26 main stage, the troupe has been spreading laughter and insanity worldwide since 2010, bringing impressive shows, humour, and a giant inflatable whale. Their energy is infectious, making the inevitable audience participation not only hilarious but impossible for many to say no to. Known for crowd antics such as the push-up pits, wall-to-wall circle pits, and riding the aforementioned giant inflatable whale across the crowd, if you’ve never attended a Party Cannon show, then I highly recommend you do so. As nonsensical as it may seem, that deranged and silly verses are united with heavy and punchy slam, it really does work. No time to figure out how, you’re too busy having a blast. It’s also abundantly obvious that everyone on stage is having a whale of a time (apologies). Highly experienced in orchestrating the masses into colourful hysteria, they wasted no time in getting the party started after a slight delay due to some technical difficulties, and it was well worth the short wait. Suddenly, you’re in your teenage years again, being as hyperactive and silly as your aging back will now allow you to be. These guys don’t take themselves too seriously, and neither should you. Yet, they still blessed us with a solid performance of music to be lobotomised to, and successfully lowered the collective IQ.
While many of us were still in the process of retrieving our brain cells from the floor, Allegaeon entered the playing field. Maybe the lack of thinking power was why a good third of folks struggled to pronounce ‘Allegeaon’? In any case, the time had come for a genre swerve to the melodic and techy. Formed in 2008 in Colorado, Allegaeon provided immersive melodies and captivating rhythms. The instrumental talent between them was insane, not to mention the diverse range of vocals that remained polished live, something that some bands can find difficulty in navigating. Fresh from the latest album release, ‘The Ossuary Lens’ with original vocalist Ezra Haynes, their set gave us the largest mosh pit I’ve seen pack out a medium indoor venue in many years. The collage of shredding riffs’ sound quality from the venue’s system was nothing short of sublime, with the bass guitar and drums pummeling into the gut of the crowd and keys sprinkled over it all like a delicious, calorie-filled cupcake. This set certainly did feel like a treat.
Catching our breath, we watched a giant goblin head inflate on stage, although there wasn’t a lot of breath caught amongst the floor due to the sudden sing-along to Nekrogoblikon’s pre-set track list. Duck Tales and the Pokémon theme song were notable moments. Stepping up onto the stage, the band immediately got the crowd pumped up, and an almost thunderous roar welcomed John Goblikon. It quickly became apparent how they had acquired such an ardent and dedicated following.
The audience interaction made their set feel more like a comedic musical than a metal show, combining dark humour, poking fun at local history, and films featuring a giant iceberg as the antagonist. There wasn’t a single person in the building without a smile on their face, and to be able to back up the stage presence with equally impressive musical talent is something pretty special to witness. The sea of spectators bounced, circled, laughed, and danced their way through an impeccable performance, not to mention the moves expertly shown by John Goblikon and other members. By the time they wrapped up with The Magic Spider, I realised that I had just experienced one of the best four-act shows I’ve ever been blessed to see, and I’m certain I wasn’t the only person who felt that way.
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