Miss May I w/Diesect, Crystal Lake, Great American Ghost @ The Globe, Cardiff 17.03.26
- Deepak Ramadasan
- Mar 16
- 6 min read
Tonight, we are at The Globe, in Cardiff. Formerly a cinema in the Roath area of Cardiff, it is now a highly regarded intimate live music venue. Ohio-based metalcore veterans Miss May I are co-headlining a European and UK tour with Japanese metalcore veterans Crystal Lake with special guests Great American Ghost and Diesect.
First up are Diesect, a Brisbane based metalcore outfit signed to Greyscale Records, who are known for their heavy, punishing sound and dark thematic narrative. From the outset, the band waste no time in setting a punishing tone. Their sound leans heavily into down-tuned riffs and glitchy, electronic textures, creating a dense wall of noise that feels both mechanical and visceral. The guitars oscillate between jagged, syncopated chugs and eerie, atmospheric layers, giving their songs a sense of unpredictability that translate powerfully in a live setting.
Diesect deliver a set that feels like a surge of modern metalcore at its most volatile – sharp, aggressive and charged with an almost industrial intensity. Vocally, the performance is relentless. The harsh delivery cuts cleanly through the mix, balancing raw aggression with rhythmic precision. There is a calculated edge to it – every scream and cadence locks tightly into the instrumentation, reinforcing the band’s tightly wound sound. Diesect prove that they are part of a new wave pushing metalcore into darker, more experimental territory, blurring the line between chaos and control while keeping the energy brutally immediate. April 2026 sees them supporting Spite and Varials in an Australia tour.
Great American Ghost are up next and they take to the stage with a sense of urgency that never lets up. Vocalist Ethan Harrison, donning a bomber jacket that reads “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS” on the back, is not on stage to begin with but instead is amongst the crowd, right at the front of the stage, full of energy, charged up, fists raised in the air and beckoning the crowd to quit being shy and get up close to the front of the stage – Nice!
From the first note, their sound hits like a blunt force – dense, chaotic and razor-tight. The guitar churns with a gritty, almost suffocating heaviness, blending metallic hardcore aggression with sharp, modern metalcore precision. Each breakdown lands with punishing weight but it is the pacing that stands out: relentless without becoming repetitive, constantly shifting just enough to keep the crowd on edge. Ethan is without doubt the focal point of the storm, commanding attention with a performance that feels as emotionally raw as it is physically intense. Their delivery carries a palpable sense of conviction, turning every lyric into something that feels lived-in rather than performed. Between songs, brief moments of interaction with the audience come across as genuine and grounded, reinforcing the band’s connection to the themes they explore.
The last song sees Ethan pop back down into the crowd and commanding a circle pit, soon after which he heads upstairs and climbs onto the ledge of the balcony – mobile phones at the ready – is he going to jump down? Luckily, he does not albeit security being a tad bit annoyed with his final antics. By the end of their set, there is no doubt: Great American Ghost do not aim to simply entertain – they aim to provoke and connect. Their live show is intense, unfiltered and deeply affecting, leaving the audience both drained and energized in equal measure.
Time now for one of the two most anticipated bands on this tour – Crystal Lake. The band underwent a major transition in 2023 following the departure of longtime vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, with John Robert Centorrino taking on lead vocal duties.
From the opening moments, the band launches into their set with blistering intensity. The twin guitars cut through the room with a mix of metallic crunch and atmospheric layering, shifting effortlessly between punishing breakdowns and expansive, almost cinematic passages. The rhythm section is airtight, bass and drums locked in with a groove that give even the heaviest moments a sense of movement rather than just brute force. Mr. Centorrino’s performance is nothing short of ferocious. Switching between guttural lows, piercing highs and unexpected melodic lines, he delivers a dynamic range that elevates every track. The band’s stage presence is magnetic and mesmerising, constantly in motion, feeding off the crowd and giving that energy right back.
The audience responds in kind with the pit constantly delivering, with waves of movement rolling from front to back as each breakdown lands. Yet there are also moments where the band leans into atmosphere, letting tension build before detonating into another crushing section. That balance between heaviness and space is where Crystal Lake truly stand out.
What makes the night especially memorable is the band’s tightness. Every shift, tempo changes, sudden stops, layered effects is executed with precision. Despite the apparent chaos, nothing feels loose or accidental. Crystal Lake deliver a set that feels equal parts chaos and control, the kind of performance that hits with overwhelming force but never loses its precision. They prove that they are not just heavy for the sake of it – they are deliberate, evolving and deeply engaging live. It is a performance that leaves a lasting impression long after the noise fades, a signature statement from true veterans of the genre.
And now it is time for what a good majority of the crowd have been waiting for Miss May I are up next. Drummer Jerod Boyd, guitarist Elisha Mullins who has joined the band since 2024 and bassist Ryan Neff walk on stage to a sea of red courtesy of the house lights. Vocalist Levi Benton appears on stage, literally out of the shadows and the band tear right into their set with ‘Shadows Inside’ – the crowd collectively takes a huge step forward, as if someone deployed berserker mode and they all go nuts. It is quite an insane sight and this is just the opening salvo!
Loading up with another fan favourite, ‘Masses of a Dying Breed’, they waste no time setting the tone for the night. The guitar is razor-sharp, cutting through the venue with tight riffs and soaring leads, while the bass provides a thunderous backbone that you can feel as much as hear. The drums, in particular, are punishingly consistent, driving each breakdown with mechanical intensity. The entire room now, fists raised up in the air, chanting along to “This is where I want to be / Where there’s comfort in everything!” Vocally, Levi and Ryan flawlessly execute the contrast between harsh screams and melodic choruses. Levi commands the stage with confidence, constantly interacting with the audience and encouraging movement – circle pits erupting on cue. There is great synergy within the band – every transition, every pause, every explosive drop feels purposeful and perfectly timed. Even between songs, their connection with fans feels genuine rather than rehearsed, adding a layer of authenticity to the performance. The setlist leans heavily into older material but still contains 2 new singles. ‘Architect’ followed by ‘Relentless Chaos’ gives longtime fans moments of nostalgia while new track ‘Die On The Vine’ showcases how the band has evolved. The newer songs hit just as hard live, proving that their sound continues to mature without losing its edge.
Miss May I are set to release their 8th studio album in 2026 after having signed with Solid State Records in 2024. Two singles from the new album make an appearance on the setlist tonight – ‘Pray for Silence’ and ‘Die On The Vine’ – the new tracks are quite promising, featuring galloping guitars and intense breakdowns. We hark back to the past as we are treated to the relentless aural assault of ‘Forgive and Forget’ followed soon after by the aggressive riffs of ‘Under Fire’ – the crowd at max volume, screaming the anthemic line of “I will carry on!” Miss May I end the show with none other than “Hey Mister” – one final push from the band, one finall pull from the crowd. Pure magic.
By the end of the night, the venue is exhausted but exhilarated. Miss May I have not just played a show – they have delivered a high-impact experience that reaffirms why they remain a staple in the metalcore scene. From the moment they stepped on stage, the band locked into a relentless pace, blending precision with raw aggression in a way that kept the entire crowd engaged.
DO NOT miss this band if you get the opportunity – they are amazing live and they will be back in the UK on the back of the new album this year – cue every metalcore fan grinning like a Cheshire cat!
