The Garage plays host to deathcore royalty as Chelsea Grin and Signs of the Swarm prove why they remain at the top of their game…

Words & photos by David Prentice (davidprentice_media) | Dec 09, 2025

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The Garage has witnessed countless nights of chaos over its storied existence, but Tuesday evening saw four deathcore titans kick off the festive season as they converged on Glasgow with one singular mission: total annihilation.

Glasgow’s most notorious venue, with its low-slung ceiling and well-worn character, created an atmosphere of barely contained aggression even before the first note rang out. This was my inaugural visit to witness extreme metal within these walls, and the space proved perfectly suited to the evening’s brutal agenda.

Crown Magnetar launched proceedings with “Barbed Wire Noose,” an opening salvo that established the night’s uncompromising trajectory. Vocalist Dan Tucker prowled the stage like something predatory, his guttural delivery cutting through the wall of down-tuned guitars and thunderous percussion. Diving into old bangers like “The Level Beneath” before newer material “Desecrate Infinite” it’s clear they’re not resting on established laurels. “Black Lotus” concluded their assault, and the immediate rush toward their merchandise table confirmed they’d made converts.

Mugshot brought a different flavour of chaos, their metallic hardcore roots evident in every bounce and two-step. Frontman Ringo Waterman possesses the kind of relentless energy that’s genuinely exhausting to witness. “Die In Fear” set the template: groove-laden aggression that straddled death metal and hardcore with equal commitment. By the time “Next to Your Idols” wrapped their set, the floor was a writhing mass of bodies, everyone sporting fresh bruises.

Signs of the Swarm arrived to what felt like a homecoming, their shirts dominating the crowd’s wardrobe choices. What followed was a room filled with devastation (in the best way possible). “To Rid Myself of Truth” opened the assault, vocalist David Simonich’s inhuman roars anchoring a sound that felt genuinely oppressive in the best possible way. The Pittsburgh outfit moved through their catalog with the confidence of a band operating at peak performance. “Sarkazein” hit particularly hard alongside “Amongst the Low & Empty”. Watch this space, these legends are rising the ranks and are ready to kick down the barrier!

Following that performance would break most bands, but Chelsea Grin are veterans of this game. “Recreant” and “Cheyne Stokes” announced their presence with authority, Tom Barber’s seemingly effortless delivery of devastating vocals a reminder of why they’ve remained relevant for nearly two decades. The band moved through their extensive back catalog with ease – “Suffer” and “Bleeding Sun” particular standouts – while maintaining an easygoing rapport with the crowd. “Hostage” closed proceedings with appropriate enormity, sending everyone back into Glasgow’s December night satisfied they’d witnessed something special.