GRIDIRON

BAND DISCOVERED
Gridiron had crossed my radar a few times before – mostly through social media and occasional festival lineups. But I never really took the time to check them out. That changed almost by accident at Outbreak Festival in Manchester. During a break between other bands, we wandered over to catch Gridiron. Boom! The Pennsylvania outfit’s rap-infused hardcore hit like a freight train. The grooves were crushing, the rhythms pounded straight to the core, and it was an absolute blast from start to finish. The same goes for their latest full-length album, Poetry From Pain, released in 2025. It’s groovy from start to finish, packed with crushing riffs and infectious rhythms. Their most recent release, the single/EP Lights Out, is just as impressive – if anything, it’s even a touch more accessible without sacrificing any of the band’s trademark heaviness.

BESIDES THAT
Now I just need to track down their 2022 debut, No Good at Goodbyes. Right now, though, it looks like I’ll have to hope for a repress.