“The Broken Remains vision is to have shows not reliant on drinks, especially in the venue room. We want lights-on hardcore in halls—we don’t need pubs. Punk and hardcore culture don’t need to be centered around pubs, and hopefully, we can do something to combat that. I guess you could call it the American model of hardcore—more non-traditional venues.”
That’s my friend Jacques explaining the ethos behind Broken Remains, the London collective that’s quickly become one of the most exciting forces in the city’s DIY scene. What started as a one-man operation about a year ago—probably around the same time he realized I’d run out of riffs for the short-lived band we did together—has grown into something much bigger.
In that short time, Broken Remains has already put on a string of standout shows, including a fundraiser for Medical Aid Palestine headlined by Raiden, and a sold-out London comeback for Rucktion legends Kartel.
Now operating more as a collective, all hands were on deck last Saturday for their biggest show to date. Hardcore in the Palace #1 brought five bands from across the UK to Chats Palace in East London, with all proceeds going to Hackney Night Shelter, a non-profit that provides shelter and support for people experiencing homelessness.
I was there—and it ruled. But before getting into the sets, I asked Jacques how it felt from his side.
“All the sets were mega,” he tells No Echo. “Highlights of the day obviously have to be seeing all the donations for Hackney Night Shelter. We got loads of different things donated—from food to flip-flops to shower gel—as well as money, and the shelter really appreciated it. But seeing all the bands play in a venue that’s new to a lot of us was incredible. The sound was amazing, and the room was rocking.
“Vibes were great the whole day. With no drinks in the hall, there were no spillages, and everyone got involved in the pit. Lights-on hardcore in a hall is the way to go, and I hope we can keep doing this.”
You can check out full sets on the Broken Remains YouTube channel, but here’s how the night unfolded. Oh, thanks to Joe Steven Hart for allowing us to use his killer photos. Give the man a follow on Instagram for more.
Impermanent opened the show, stepping in last-minute for Agency, who had to drop due to a mosh-related injury earlier in the week. The London brutal death metal outfit wasted no time setting the tone, ripping through material from their February EP, Forging Eternity. Packed with Suffocation-style slam riffs, their set immediately turned the floor into chaos.
Alex from Agency jumped in for a guest spot on “Defilement of Self,” while Bodybag’s Choopsie joined for “Corporal Immortality”—the one with the ripping guitar solo. A strong, violent start.
Manchester’s Telltale followed, kicking off their London debut with a cover of Special Move’s “Battle of the Planets”—a bold way to signal what was coming next. Their set leaned heavily into beatdown territory, though they mixed in enough two-step-friendly moments to keep things dynamic.
Tracks from their NYHC-flavored demo, along with a new song, kept the pit moving, and they closed things out with the intro to All Out War’s “Resist”—“for the lols,” as their guitarist later put it.
Next up, Brighton’s Infinite Wisdom shifted the energy with a tight, swagger-heavy crossover thrash set. It was the perfect pivot point in the night—more side-to-sides, more groove, but no drop in intensity.
They pulled from both of their EPs—2024’s The Steel and last year’s Eternal—with “Always to Suffer” sparking a big singalong. “Vexation” kept the moshers busy, and a guest appearance from Alfie of Wears Me Out on the closer “Left to Lie” sealed it. Easily one of the tightest sets of the night.
Glasgow’s Bathed In Sin made the longest trek and delivered one of the most punishing sets. It was their first time in London, and the response matched the brutality of their sound.
They tore through cuts like the title track from 2024’s Whispers of the Blade, the blackened “Ecce Homo,” and a crushing cover of Prayer for Cleansing’s “Feinbhas a Ghabhail.” Closing with “C.L.Y (Cunts Like You)” from their 2025 Northern Unfest promo, vocalist Adam warned the crowd: “If you think this is about you, it probably is.”
Headliners Bodybag took the stage, a guitarist down—reportedly due to another mosh-related injury at that same Brighton show—but still delivered a devastating set.
With their debut LP As It Ferments… in heavy rotation since December, it was great to hear a solid chunk of it live, including “Cryptid Scrolls,” the bouncy “Life Wasn’t Meant to Be,” and the title track to close.
As it had been all night, the floor was a blur of flying fists and flailing feet. Choopsie kept the energy high between—and often during—songs with a booming “yeayeahhh” that cut through the chaos.
The whole thing wrapped up around 9:25 p.m., which, as a father of an 18-month-old, I can confirm is absolutely perfect timing.
Shoutout bedtime.
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Tagged: bathed in sin, bodybag, impermanent, infinite wisdom, telltale
