From spilling the beans to setting off the smoke alarms, YCG sent Ebony Kelly and Imogen Hall along to find out what went on at the first Heavy Night of 2025 at the Bull and Sun, Bridlington, presented by Metalines Studios – featuring May Moon, with support acts Ian Hayward and Tempersflare.
A night for the alternative crowd – the Bull and Sun offered a variety of alternative acts starting off with Ian Hayward, who opened the show with gritting covers of Slipknot favourites: Before I Forget and Snuff; a personal favourite. A cover of Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode was where Ian’s vocals shone the brightest, having some back up from a full band. An excellent way to set the tone for the night to come.
Moving onto Tempersflare, who can only be described by a piece of text on their merch – “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare”. The trio lived up to this statement: rocking a baby pink guitar and bass combo, they hit the crowd with hard-rock, garage punk originals very reminiscent of the Misfits or the Offspring, but with that cheeky Yorkshire charm.
Their opening song, Seminar, took me back to that early 90s English punk era, Mark hitting us with the funky bass licks, Dean on heavily distorted guitar and Mel with energetic drums that you could completely let loose to and was a perfect introduction to their old-school punk.
Shelf Life made full extensive use of the guitar’s Wah pedal, with a solo that was a soul-igniting burst of creativity, blending technical skill with raw, unfiltered energy. Shredding with attitude, it was able to capture the effortless cool of a lead guitarist in command. Along with the vibrant drums and a bass line that carried the song through – it was an unforgettable ride of chaos.
The next track – and my favourite song of their set – Spill the Beans, had people getting up out of their chairs and jamming along. It was an explosive burst of raw punk and unfiltered intensity. A defiant track that edged on sarcasm; there was something very freeing about screaming SPILL THE BEEEEAANNS! “An ode to Nirvana was that” – Dean said once the track was done. I couldn’t help but think this was referring to Kurt Cobain’s Beans, where Cobain sang, with a highly squeaky voice, lyrics based around Jack Kerouac’s book, The Dharma Bums.
I was immediately drawn to Casualities/2steps, as a fellow bassist – I can appreciate a fun bassline when I hear one. More driving drums, which displayed the galloping-like rhythm that is a staple hardcore punk technique, were very well received on this track. It was a song I most certainly imagined being featured in alternative video games, with Skate being the most prominent example that came to mind – having that aggressive attitude that was very popular with the skateboarding crowd.
Almost into the same veil of emotion as the last, Why Not? comes crashing in with an explosive scream of “1,2,3,4”, instantly igniting a frenzy of sound. The count-off felt like they wanted to start a rally cry, signalling the distorted guitar and pounding drums to begin. With infectious force, Tempersflare were able to capture the very rebellious spirit of punk to its core.
The main and final act, May Moon – a band which I had the pleasure of seeing before back in 2024 – came out with a bang (and a smoke machine, which did set off the fire alarm in great fashion) with their song Elementalist – that delivered the atmospheric, djent metal they are known for. Michal, who is on vocals and lead guitar, displayed his excellent ability of performing gripping screams, adding to the relentless punchiness of the song. The solo guitar comes from Chris, a true wizard of his guitar, instructing his guitar to please the crowd’s ears. Simon, on the drums, bumped some great double-pedal kicks and crashing cymbals.
Cyber Dream showcased an impressive use of synths, crafting an almost orchestral-like introduction that set a cinematic, otherworldly tone before the heavy metalcore guitars and thunderous drums kicked in. The contrast between the atmospheric opening and the crushing instrumental assault made for a striking impact, drawing the listener in before launching into another fast-paced, raw, and relentless tune.
Imperishable was as heavy as the song title suggests. A song with themes around darkness, and from my interpretation, about losing your way but being shown how to forgive yourself and move forward. The lyricism from Michal in this track in particular was extremely well presented live, having listened to the song on Spotify beforehand. Lines like “We will take this blindfold from your eyes, we’ll show you a sacred place where you will rise” and “Dismiss the lies, dismiss demise”, gave that extra emotional punch when performed live.
My favorite song of their set was Metztli – a track name inspired after the Aztec goddess of the night, who sacrificed herself and became the moon. The song carries a deeply mythological essence, almost serving as an ode to her existence, with lyrics like “Night ascends with her, the scent of the moon and stars.” The storytelling gave the performance an almost ritualistic energy, drawing the audience in. A clear standout of the night, Metztli had the crowd fully engaged, and when the crushing breakdown hit, heads were banging in unison, following into an ice cold solo from Chris. An electrifying display that cemented Metztli as an unforgettable highlight of the night.
Along with their own hard-hitting originals, the band delivered two standout covers—The Prodigy’s Omen and Can You Feel My Heart by fellow Yorkshire giants, Bring Me the Horizon. Both songs, already being anthems in their own right, were given a fresh twist that blended seamlessly with the band’s own sound – definite crowd-pleasers, both tracks brought an infectious energy that made it impossible to stay still. (I myself had to persevere for the sake of the review, so stuck with singing along). From the moment the first notes of Omen hit, the crowd erupted with the ‘oh my gosh I love this song’ love. May Moon were able to show a rendition that retained the original song’s intensity while injecting a new, heavier edge. Can You Feel My Heart followed suit, striking the perfect balance between melody and aggression; Michal encouraged the crowd to sing along with the bridge of the song.
Links
May Moon have released their singles and an EP on Spotify, along with their music video to Metztli being on Youtube.
May Moon – Metztli : Spotify : Bandcamp : Facebook
Tempersflare – YouTube : Bandcamp: Facebook
