Higher Power – The Grove 20/10/25
Invited| Review by Michael Dunwell
There’s something special about seeing a great band in a smaller venue. You get that raw energy, the intimacy, the sound bouncing off the walls, it feels alive in a way that bigger shows rarely do. The last time I saw Higher Power was when they supported Neck Deep at Newcastle’s City Hall, but this time, in the close quarters of The Grove, their hardcore sound felt sharper, more personal, and totally in its element.
The show kicked off with Dissent, a hardcore band from the North East who instantly set the pace for the night. Their set was short but ferocious, full of punchy breakdowns and plenty of side to side moshing that had the early crowd moving. I couldn’t find much about them online afterwards, but they’ve got an EP out called Carved From Deceit that’s absolutely worth checking out on Spotify. It’s heavy, I can’t wait to see more of them in the future.
Next up were Eclipse, who had travelled all the way from Sweden. From the moment their singer stepped up to the mic, the entire room was hooked. His shouting vocals had that perfect mix of grit and power, commanding, coupling that with his stage presence, looking cool as hell walking backwards and forwards on stage with a swagger which just worked for the bands overall style and sound. It was sad to see the end of their set, I wanted to hear more! But they did their job, the crowd was properly warmed up and ready for the main event.
The main event being Higher Power, the reason most of us were there. Hailing from Leeds, they’ve been carving out their place in the modern hardcore scene for a while now, and their latest album There’s Love In This World If You Want It is a real step forward in their sound. Seeing those songs live at The Grove was just magic to watch, watching a band play songs they are genuinely proud of.
They opened with a burst of energy and never once let up. The set pulled heavily from the new record, and it translated brilliantly to the live space. One of the highlights for me was Better, which had this dark, moody atmosphere that completely filled the room. The lyrics were deeply personal and introspective, while the instrumentals give it an incredible weight that you can feel right through your chest. It’s one of those songs that just hits differently live. It’s quickly become my favourite song on the album
But the moment I was really there for came when they launched into Low Season from their 2020 album 27 Miles Underwater. That chorus is absolutely anthemic, and special mention has to go to bassist Ethan Wilkinson, whose bass line completely makes this song. The verse groove has such a beefy tone while still sounding sharp and brutal, I love it, and I love playing this track on my own bass guitar. It’s easily one of their best songs, and hearing it live again was incredible.
A close second for me was Shedding Skin, which featured another killer riff and those striking harmonic guitar plucks that sound so sharp in person, in the best way of course. What I love about Higher Power is how they manage to blend aggression with melody. Their songs are undeniably heavy, but vocalist Jimmy Wizard brings a softer edge to his singing at just the right moments, adding a unique dynamic to their hardcore sound. It’s something you rarely hear outside of bands like Turnstile, and it’s exactly what made me a fan in the first place. If you haven’t heard of them yet, I can’t recommend them enough.
Ultimately, Higher Power absolutely delivered. Great venue as always, great energy, great crowd. If they’re playing near you soon, grab a ticket. And if you’re heading to The Grove, grab a slice at Byker Slice beforehand, get right up close to the stage, and lose yourself for a couple of hours in some seriously great music. You won’t regret it.
Song Recommendations: Better, Shedding Skin, Low Season