"I Want To See The Whites Of Eyes": BREAK THEM Fly The Flag For Peterborough's Hardcore Scene

Peterborough's Break Them [photo: Break Them]

I can always appreciate a scene that bleeds genres, where people will come out and show support regardless of how heavy or brutal your music might be. Tonight, my love for the scene brings me to the excellent Mama Liz's Voodoo Lounge in Stamford, to catch Peterborough locals BREAK THEM play alongside a wealth of upcoming bands.

Break Them were formed in 2022 after jokes were made between members about starting a band. The hardcore band have gone on to release two EPs, a few singles, and a suitably stank-face inducing cover of Machine Head's 'Davidium', making a name for themselves as being intense, heavy, and the epitome of 'in your face'.

"We'll smile after and maybe buy [you] a drink"

Vocalist Tom sees the fun side of it all.

"[It's just] really dumb, easy riffs, and just music you can sort of be an idiot to," Tom describes, "The gigs are chaotic which I really like."

There's a poetic irony behind Tom being rather soft spoken throughout this interview, a contrast to the energy exuded on stage.

Behind the chaos is an incredibly supportive scene, and the band themselves make it clear that the aggression rarely extends beyond the stage: "We'll smile after," Tom laughs, "And maybe buy [you] a drink."

One of the big appeals to Tom, and the rest of the band, is the smaller venues. No stage? Even better.

"It's a lot more intimate," Tom explains, "And it's just, you're there. It's as close as you can get. I want to see whites of eyes". He notes that the atmosphere is almost unique to the genre, and that "there's nothing like a hardcore gig".

"Someone somersaulted into my kit literally five seconds into the first song!"

Having attended some of Break Them's shows in small, fifty cap venues, I can confirm this. The band deliver chaos and fun in equal measure, ticking the hardcore box wonderfully.

"There's nothing like a hardcore gig" [photo: Break Them]

Of course, there is the chance that the fun might get a little out of hand - drummer Jasper recounts: "Someone somersaulted into my kit literally five seconds into the first song! Started the set off, and before I knew it, straight into the kit." The band laugh, saying that in those instances "you've just got to carry on."

The interview ends with Tom teasing the band's plans for the year - a third EP is seemingly in the works ("We've demoed ... three tracks?"), and with potential guest spots being hinted at, all signs are pointing to it being another fruitful year for the Break Them guys.

Stream Break Them's cover of 'Davidian' NOW