Chelsea Grin, Signs Of The Swarm, Mugshot, Crown Magnetar  – Project House, Leeds – Wednesday 3rd December 2025.

PROJECT HOUSE

There was enough testosterone in Project House tonight to keep a back street gym going for a year, as four of deathcore’s leading lights rolled into town with the sole intent of flattening the  venue to the ground. This was my first time at Project House, and I was impressed, so hopefully it will become a regular on the touring ‘metal’ circuit. The crowd was unfortunately a little sparse, perhaps due to the line up playing in nearby Manchester the night before and perhaps also affected by Leeds United playing at home just down the road. Nonetheless, those that had chosen to visit Armley for a dose of pre-Christmas brutality were not disappointed.

CROWN MAGNETAR

Getting things going, and opening with a barbaric Barbed Wire Noose, were Crown Magnetar. They wasted no time, going for the jugular from the outset as they unleashed their muscular, unforgiving deathcore on the modest but enthusiastic crowd who were soon opening up the circle pit and wall of death. The Level Beneath’led into new song Desecrate Infinite with the band looking to be enjoying themselves as blast beats level the crowd, before things were brought to a close with a crushing rendition of Black Lotus. Large chunks of the crowd made their way to the merch as the final chords were fading out and I think it’s fair to say this had been a successful jaunt to Leeds for the US crew. 

MUGSHOT

After a short turn around, Mugshot took to the stage with infectious energy, jumping and bouncing around from the outset, to the dulcet tomes of Die In Fear. The band straddled the line between death metal and hardcore, resulting in an aggressive, confrontational sound which bounced around Project House. The band demanded ever increasing movement from the pit and crowd surfers, with the crowd happily obliging by the time the set came to a close with Next To Your Idols, leaving the combatants bruised and ready for what was to follow. 

SIGNS OF THE SWARM

While waiting for Signs Of The Swarm, it occurred to me that there were far more of their shirts being worn in the crowd than those of the headliners, and the band did not let down the faithful, delivering a performance worthy of a headliner stature. Opening track To Rid Myself Of Truth was a statement of intent as the claustrophobic, aggressive maelstrom swirled around the venue providing the soundtrack for those in the pit to incite chaos around them. Their relentless, glorious barrage was irresistible as guttural roars, blast beats and bitumen heavy riffs pummelled the crowd to Sarkazein, culminating in David Simonich leaving the stage to join the front row (Who he had thrown chips out to before the band took to the stage!) during the closing track Amongst The Low And Empty. 

CHELSEA GRIN

Many bands would have struggled to follow that, but deathcore royalty Chelsea Grin took it comfortably in their stride, opening with Recreant and Cheyne Stokes, looking relaxed and in a good mood as they banter with the crowd at the same time as delivering a masterclass in punishing deathcore.

Suffer and Bleeding Sun came mid-set as the band proceeded to visit most of their discography (only missing ‘Self Inflicted’ if I recall correctly). The crowd lapped it up as one battering track merged into another, culminating in the absolutely massive Hostage, leaving the crowd to wonder out into the chilly Yorkshire night content that that had been witness to a package of some of the best that deathcore has to offer at this point in time. 

All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.

Chelsea Grin online: Facebook / Website / Instagram / Youtube

Signs Of The Swarm online: Facebook / Website / Instagram / Bandcamp

Mugshot online: Facebook / Website / Instagram / Bandcamp

Crown Magnetar online: Facebook / Bandcamp

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