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THE FIVE HUNDRED, DRACONIAN REIGN, VEILED AND RECKONER LIVE AT THE RESCUE ROOMS, NOTTINGHAM.
- Scott O'Shea
- Mar 5
- 5 min read
On Saturday 28th February 2025 we attended The Five Hundred's album "Ghostwriter" launch show at The Rescue Rooms in Nottingham. Supported by insanely talented artists, Reckoner, VEILED and Draconian Reign, putting on a performance that I'll never forget.
Please note; No performance videos were shot during this show to allow us to be fully immersed ahead of this years event in October.
Kicking off the night was Reckoner, a British post-hardcore band hailing from The Midlands. Comprised of Phil Sparks (vocals), Ed Bramford (guitar), Dave Tidmarsh (drums), Spencer Dixon (guitar), and Joey Strange (bass), they wasted no time in making their presence felt. From the moment they hit the stage, their hard-hitting sound electrified the venue, proving that being the opening act didn’t mean taking a backseat. With relentless energy and a commanding stage presence, Reckoner had the crowd moving from the get-go, delivering a performance that set the bar high for the rest of the night.
Reckoner is a band I'll be keeping a close eye on. In their five years together, they've truly honed their sound, crafting a distinct and powerful presence that demands attention. It's clear they’re setting their sights high, and with performances like this, they’re well on their way to making a serious impact. It's safe to say, The Five Hundred had the perfect high-energy opener for the night.
Photo Credit: Mason D Jones Photography
VEILED, a Leeds-based Deathcore powerhouse hailed as "The UK's Most Electrifying Rising Deathcore Band," delivered a performance that left an indelible mark on my memory. Though I’ve never considered myself a die-hard Deathcore fan, these guys shattered my expectations and pulled me headfirst into their world. Their sheer intensity and stage presence were nothing short of devastating—they didn’t just perform; they annihilated the stage.
Just like The Five Hundred in 2019, VEILED previously made their mark at Download Festival in 2024, becoming the first band to open the Doghouse stage. And judging by their electrifying performance on Friday, they brought that same festival-worthy energy to The Rescue Rooms, treating it as if they were commanding the stage at Download itself.
Once again, this is a band to watch, and just like Reckoner, they are aiming their sights for success.
Image Notes: Due to the balcony angle and lighting conditions, many VEILED photos turned out blurred. Thankfully, Mason captured some incredible shots of their vocalist, Kyle on Friday—just look at how epic they are!
Photo Credit: Mason D Jones Photography
Next up was Draconian Reign, a Dark Symphonic Deathcore act from Nottingham. Their lineup features members of The Five Hundred—Andy Crawford (bass) and Kelsey James (drums)—alongside James Mackellar-Still (A Hundred Crowns) on guitar and Cal Cruse-Morell (ex-Frozen Affliction) also on guitar.
Unfortunately, our camera batteries died shortly after VEILED, so we couldn’t capture any photos of their performance. However, we did manage to catch part of their set before heading out to recharge—lesson learned for next time!
From what we did see, they put on an absolutely blistering show, as if channeling the devil himself. Once again, they commanded the crowd’s full attention, completely owning the stage. We only caught half of their set before stepping out, but their sheer talent was undeniable. And the fact that some of these guys then went on to perform a full headline set with The Five Hundred? My arms ache just thinking about it!
Photo Credit: Mason D Jones Photography
Now, for the headline act—the band we came to see, The Five Hundred.
From the very first note to the final encore, The Five Hundred delivered an absolutely mind-blowing performance, leaving no doubt about their sheer talent and commanding stage presence. They didn’t just play—they dominated, unleashing a set that was as crushing as it was dynamic, cementing their status as a force to be reckoned with.
Friday, 28th February 2025 marked the official launch show for their highly anticipated new album, Ghostwriter, and witnessing it live was nothing short of breathtaking. Hearing the songs I’ve had on repeat since their first single, "Dragged Out," dropped in July 2024 was a surreal experience. If Ghostwriter is an emotional journey in the studio, their live performance takes it to a whole new level—fully captivating, immersive, and electrifying.
Their crowd interaction was flawless, drawing every person into the moment. The one video I managed to capture? Their wall-of-death, which saw zero hesitation from the crowd—every single person dove right in without a second thought.
So, overall? Ghostwriter is a f*cking incredible album—no question. The Nottingham launch show was a total banger, an all-round f*cking amazing night. And honestly, the people at this show? Some of the loveliest folks I've ever met. It was the kind of night that reminds you why live music is so special—great music, great people, and an energy that you just can’t replicate anywhere else.
Photo Credit: Mason D Jones Photography
A special thank you to everyone who came and chatted with us that night—it was a pleasure meeting you all. A huge shout out to wecandividebyzero for coming outside to say hi and talk about the future, and to Chayce Swain from Mosaic Music—it was awesome to finally meet you in person! We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next. And of course, a big thanks to John Eley of The Five Hundred for taking the time to stop on his way to the merch table to chat about the show and Novacaine Fest this October. You all made the night even more memorable!
If you ever get the chance to see any of the bands mentioned in this article live—Reckoner, VEILED, Draconian Reign, and The Five Hundred—I highly suggest you do so. These bands are on the verge of something huge, and you do not want to miss out on what’s going to be an incredible journey for each of them. Get in while you can, because this is just the beginning.
The Five Hundred’s next stop is in Ipswich at The Music Room on March 6th, 2025.
Meanwhile, Draconian Reign will be hitting the stage at Dark Reign Festival 2025 on May 3rd in Birkenhead. VEILED will perform on April 17th in support of Rituals at Billy Bootleggers, and Reckoners’ next show is at Fat Lils in Witney on March 15th, 2025.
---- Shameless plug alert
Now of course, we have to do a bit of shameless promotion. The Five Hundred will be headlining Novacaine Festival 2025 on Saturday 4th October 2025 at Corporation, Sheffield. This years event is sub headlined by the almighty Bleed Again and featuring incredible rising artists from across the UK; Night Thieves, Fates Hollow, Broken Empire, Dead Demons, Saints Among Us, Ocean Thieves, Our City Fires and Reanimate.
Tickets are only £15, so why not come and join us?
In Partnership with: Pins and Knuckles, SanPR, BSB TV, The Moshville Times and Start The Penguin Photography.
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