It was a night of pure hardcore in Montreal at Newspeak, as one of the most exciting new bands, No Cure, came through on tour for their first international headlining performance. No Cure has been making serious waves in the hardcore scene, and I was genuinely excited to finally see them live, along with the powerful supporting act Pure Bliss.
The evening began with local talent taking the stage, as Full Counter and Grave Within helped unleash the chaos. I was especially impressed by Full Counter, who brought a blend of modern hardcore enriched with melody, crushing breakdowns, and a commanding vocalist whose delivery got the crowd moving right away. This is clearly a band worth paying attention to if you are a fan of groups like Kublai Khan, or enjoy the more melodic side of the genre, such as Comeback Kid or the earlier work of The Ghost Inside. I am looking forward to hearing more from Full Counter in the future.
Pure Bliss, from Syracuse, was the first touring band of the night, and from the opening moments, the crowd exploded with energy in response to their metal-influenced hardcore sound. The venue quickly transformed into a war zone, with fists and kicks flying in every direction. Their set was fast, aggressive, and full of intensity. A standout moment came when the vocalist of local act Bruiserweight joined them on stage for a guest spot that elevated the already chaotic atmosphere. The band recently released their album Torture Realm, which is absolutely worth checking out if you enjoy the newer wave of metallic hardcore. Their live performance was outstanding, filled with powerful riffs and a contagious energy that stayed with the crowd throughout.
When No Cure finally took the stage, the excitement in the room reached a boiling point. The set opened with the intro from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,”—“All aboard!”—before the band immediately launched into “Hang Me from the Bible Belt,” my favourite track. The dance floor erupted into utter chaos, with the pit swallowing up nearly half the venue. Vocalist Blaythe took control of the room, wearing a thick winter coat and large sunglasses, and delivered a ferocious performance from start to finish. The band never let up, delivering a relentless assault that had the crowd locked in from the very first song.
The setlist included several cuts from their breakout record I Hope You Die Here, with “Kill a Frat Guy” standing out as one of the most intense moments. At one point, the band paused to thank the crowd, visibly moved by the energy in the room, thanking them for making their first international headlining show so memorable.
They closed the night with “No Cure Straight Edge Die Slow Fuck You” and “Don’t Need Your Help,” as the audience shouted along and kept the pit going strong until the last note.
No Cure delivered a brutal and uncompromising performance that blended hardcore and death metal into a devastating live experience. Montreal was left in awe by their presence, their aggression, and their overwhelming sound.
Many thanks to Extensive Enterprise for once again bringing such outstanding bands to our city.
Review – Jason Maher
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