Leashed play raw punk rock which is decent when fast but a bit leaden when they slow it down. The singer has a pretty good voice although I'm less sure about the drummer.
Self Help seem to lack an identity as they're a real mix of styles, from mid paced 90s NYHC chug to oi to super fast, intense hardcore punk ala Drop Dead. The slower styles leave me a bit cold but when they're fast, they rip. There are some weird guitar effects in places which is interesting. They seem to get better as the set progresses with everything being played at an increasing intensity and with greater focus. The sludgy climax to the set is pretty cool too.
Eyeteeth frontman Nate says after the first couple of tracks, 'I hope you liked the first two, we've got twenty more more which sound the fucking same'. He's right, there isn't much variation in their short sharp bursts of blasting powerviolence with sludge touches, but it is still very good. Nate's vocals are savage, but that is to be expected if you've heard any of his other bands over the years (xCanannx, Rot In Hell, Age Of Kali and On Thin Ice as well as a number of others). 'Chain Whipped' even gets some of the crowd moving with its more crucial mosh parts.
FAxFO are another band which mixes fast and slow but they integrate the parts excellently. They sound like a mix of Siege, Drop Dead and Iron Monkey. There's even a nu-metal style intro and outro at one point but it is played with a punk intensity and is surprisingly really good.
When Fixer are on stage, there's a hell of a lot of unintentional feedback but when they actually play they are tight and powerful. They play a messy brand of crusty punk which sounds like Eyehategod's punkier moments or maybe Buzzov*en.
Fixer ****
FAxFO ****
Eyeteeth ****
Self Help ***
Leashed ***
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