This must rate as the most criminally under-advertised gig in the world, and I would have missed it had Pig (legendary frontman with seminal Welsh punks This System Kills) not mentioned it in passing the week before, and what a shame that would have been because this was easily one of the gigs of the year. Fortunately, sufficient word did get around and a packed house made sure there was also a cracking atmosphere to boot.

Paint It Black have always been top of my must see list having missed them on the few previous visits they have made to the UK. As it turns out this gig is their last for.......well who knows? Family and other commitments mean the band will now go on an indefinite hiatus, leaving in their wake an absolutely incendiary performance which insures all present will certainly mourn their (hopefully not permanent) passing. 

There was also a cracking supporting line-up. Unfortunately being permanently late, the Pigmeister and myself arrived just as Solutions from Cardiff had just finished their set. We were reliably informed that they were well worth seeing, so hopefully next time boys. Next up were Harbour, again from Cardiff and really pretty damn good. Drawing influence from all the best bits of 80's US Hardcore, they produced a high energy performance bristling with melody, razor sharp guitars and a frontman with enough attitude and energy to power the whole of Newport, let alone Le Pub.

Ceremony were next up and........FUCKING HELL!!!!!!! This lot are seriously off the fucking rails.  Ambling on stage, the guitarist unsuccessfully invites the crowd a few steps forward, utters "Well Fuck You Then" and blasts into the first of a serious of flat out grind/noise monsters. The vocalist flys around the rapidly vacated pit clearing a space to perform his "art" and coming across like the bastard son of Devon Morf/GG Allin fronting a Siege/early Napalm Death/A.C. tribute band. Absolutely fucking intense. The drummer is nothing short of fucking amazing. Considering he had the barest of kits, I have never heard such sustained power and speed; fucking incredible. They certainly threw down the gauntlet to Paint It Black but, being their last show and all that, they really did step it up to Champions League standard.

Culling tracks from all of their back catalogue they were greeted by a, by now, ravenous crowd who proceeded to slam, sing-along, stage-dive, cheer and bollock kick (ooof, singer Dan nearly losing his crown jewels). Some barbed between-song rants towards the Christian Far Right, The US Military and People Who Don't Give A Fuck About People show the band haven't mellowed in their beliefs or feelings and give just the right amount of added spice to the truly glorious set they blast out. They cram more quality in 45 minutes than some bands could come up with in a lifetime.

Having nearly missed them and hence been in a position whereby I might never have seen them live, Paint It Black leave me hoping that hiatus isn't permanent. Hats off also to Ceremony and Harbour for making it a top night all round.