The sun is shining, the Jericho is buzzing, and it’s the day that we have all been waiting for since the competition kicked off back in February: the M2TM Grand Final. We have been well and truly spoiled this year with the team pulling another stellar line up across an all day event out of the bag for us all. Drinks are flowing and the air is thick with anticipation as Oxford gears up to send their latest champions off to (the now rapidly approaching) Bloodstock Festival.
Kicking off proceedings are our favourite Banbury based cartoon punk crew Mortifi’d who impressed early on in the competition with their creative flair and showmanship. Having bowed out in the Quarter Finals, it was great to see them back at the Jericho where they did an excellent job of opening the event and warming up the crowd.
Despite being on so early in the day they still draw a decent crowd and their eccentric approach and catchy songs bring people on board immediately: there are soon bobbing heads and smiling faces all round, not least from the band who are clearly delighted to have been invited back and are loving every second.
After a short break it is time for the competing bands to begin and Declaration of Rebellion have the blessing/curse of going first. Going first in a competition like this is not easy, you have a real double edged sword of knowing you can relax afterwards and enjoy the rest of the day, but knowing you have to really make an impression and keep the set memorable despite the early hour.
They needn’t have worried. Declaration of Rebellion put on an absolutely blistering set that was synergistic, memorable and enjoyable and more than once I have to remind myself to take photos and stop watching. It is punishing, rhythmic, tight and just all round absolutely brutal in the best way possible and is absolutely a tough act to follow. What a way to kick off the competition.
The Blade Itself tear onto the stage, unfazed by the exceedingly high bar that has already been set, and with good reason. This is the tightest set I have seen them play to date and you can tell every single person is giving this their all. The pit is carnage as usual, a sea of inflatable swords held aloft as the circle pit erupts.
This is another band that are just a joy to be in the crowd for. It’s beautiful chaos infused with a groovy brutality that the crowd are always just absolutely here for. Only two bands in and this is already too close to call. I do not envy the judges tonight.
Skacore stalwarts Redeemon are next to take to the stage and it is immediately easy to see that they are deserving of their slot in this year’s final. The musicianship and stage presence they have continued to craft over the last couple of years truly showcases how much they have developed as a band. You can see they are having an absolute ball up there and this is reflected in the crowd.
We have several circle pits erupting throughout the duration of their set, and who knew so many metalheads were such skilled skankers? Reedmon’s set is fervent, fast-paced, and FUN; flawlessly executed yet still maintaining that raw edge that keeps it from feeling overly polished. Redeemon really and truly offer something a bit different and it is impossible to watch them and not have a good time. This decision is going to be so tough.
The variety of genres you get to see and experience is one of the many brilliant parts of coming to M2TM, and BlackMarket are another band that deliver the unexpected. Their set for the final is no exception and they deliver a truly excellent performance that is punchy, frantic and unbelievably high energy, particularly given how hot it is inside the Jericho today. This is nu metal from a new angle, masterfully executed with a beautiful blend of electronic elements that is guaranteed to get a crowd moving. The standard of the bands playing today has been astonishing and this is yet another band I am having to actively remind myself I need to photograph.
Away With The Seas are our final competing band of the night and bow us out in a blaze of scorching metalcore, despite having a stand in vocalist. This was another super high energy set despite the heat, with the pit opening almost immediately. I’m doing my best to avoid being spin kicked whilst taking my shots and I notice the plethora of appreciatively screwed up faces amongst the rhythmically banging heads. The ambient elements intersperse beautifully with riffs upon riffs upon riffs. The songs are performed with vigour, precision and passion from all members and you would never guess that this is a stand in vocalist – a brave move for the final of a competition yet one that hasn’t let them down at all in terms of the quality of their performance.
Up next is the first of our guest headliners and last year’s winners, Ocean Planet, who promptly provide a masterclass in what it takes to be M2TM winners. It’s great to see them perform at the Jericho again after getting to catch their set at Bloodstock last year and it’s amazing the difference a year makes.
They have been through several line up changes, but this clearly hasn’t hindered them or held them back. They really have this nailed now; their progressive sound is polished and distinctive; their signature blue light and short necked guitars, their stage presence and performance are all honed, crafted, a level above: professionals at work.
Its headliner time and Seething Akira waste no time in bringing the house down with a locked and loaded LOUD, LOUD performance with absolutely absurd levels of energy. These guys are on the bill for this year’s Bloodstock, and the Sophie stage is not going to know what has hit it. Despite being weak and weary from a hard day’s metalling, the crowd are duly absolutely packed into the venue, where they have every last drop of remaining energy pulled forcibly from them throughout the duration of this set. The two frontmen quite literally bounce off of each other continually; this set is utterly relentless movement, dancing and stamping from start to finish.
Seething Akira are masters at bringing the nu core party, and when they drop a metal cover of Insomnia, there isn’t a still being in the venue. I can imagine the people in the pub downstairs nervously glancing at the ceiling as the whole floor up here is moving ominously underfoot. This is definitely not a gig anyone is going to forget in a hurry and is one that I’m sure has earned Seething Akira a legion of new fans. What an excellent way to close out a phenomenal day of metal and another phenomenal competition.
It is hard to believe that we are at the end now and the last five months has all come down to this. The judges have a next to impossible task on their hands this evening and I’ve never known it to be such a close call. As an avid attender of Bloodstock for the last 9 years, I can hand on heart say that I could genuinely see every single band that played tonight going down a storm on the New Blood stage and making a huge success of it. But there can only be one. Some tense deliberation ensues and suddenly it’s announcement time.
It’s…. REDEEMON!
Our happy skacore crew take the win and are this year’s M2TM Oxford Champions! They will play the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Festival on Friday 7th August.
Words & images: Kate Elfström
