·        With London basking under glorious sunshine that should of really been with us for the whole of the festival season rather than the arse end of September, the scene is set for a night of sweaty metallic action beneath the Worlds End Pub in Camden. Despite the healthy crowd the Underworld is no sweat box but the temperature rises as soon as the kick off time approaches.

Due to the usual weekend clubbing times tonight's gig begins at the unusually early time of 6.15pm. There are times at the Underworld when the first band can play to the preverbal 1 man and his dog but GRAVIL (8/10) have no such problems. In fact the cheer from the expectant crowd as they make their way on stage is one of true excitement, possibly because of the well received set they delivered at the Terrorizer Grindhouse night, only a week before and barely a minutes’ walk from this very venue.

Tonight they do more than just continue they good work and literally rip the Underworld a new one when in theory they have no right to do at such an early time. Within seconds of the set opener you are caught up in the sheer intensity of the pounding rhythm section which refuses to step down from its attack on the senses until the last note is played. The dual guitars hover above everything, their Chimera-esque precision adding an almost industrial dynamic to the evening, enhanced by some well placed and masterful solos from Irene Ketikidi, who somehow manages to raise her sound in a sea of relentless clatter. The orchestral backing beefs up the sound, so much so that the Underworld stage seems far too small for the blackened barrage of extremities on show.

Next up are South East London thrashers BLOODSHED (7) who have gradually been building a reputation for themselves with high profile support slots with the likes of Blaze Bayley, London hardcore mob Karybdis, Kent Metal 2 The Masses winners Training Icarus and Beholder. Their old school thrash approach, which bellows early Metallica and Exodus to the rafters, is certainly nothing new but it is thrown at the audience with such an incurable enthusiasm it's impossible not to let every riff, drum beat and vocal line affect you in some way. The songs themselves show a quality which will inevitably help the band to the next level. It's been a fine year for the Bloodshed so far and 2012 looks set to be even better.

INNER FIRE (7.5), also from South East London, are a few more years down their musical path than Bloodshed and at times it shows. Their stage presence is such it provides them with a huge wall of sound which doesn't crash down but carefully selects its target and strikes it with an accuracy of a band who recently laid waste to the New Blood stage at Bloodstock. The guitar partnership of Nik Sampson and Alex Lewis is once again one of the highlights of their set, one which ends with most of the members in the crowd.

Midlands metallers BEHOLDER (8) have been making this visiting London lark a bit of a habit in 2011. Only 6 days previously they were headlining the Dean Guitar party in Walthamstow, making a bunch of six string enthusiasts stand up and take notice in the process. Their big, rugged riffs, the larger than life vocal display of front man Simon Hall, who decides to go for a walk off stage during the set, and a clutch of fine songs from their ‘The Awakening' album gives this performance an old school metal feel that has already given Bloodstock a fine opening day punch this year. 'Razorline' and 'Snake eyes' leave the crowd in safe hands while new track 'Liar' is slammed down with all the usual venom reserved for certain types of people who deserve no less. Beholder like to throw a cover to the lions and tonight it is Lamb Of God's 'Redneck' which goes down a treat. One journalist described Beholder's music as "meat a potatoes metal". If this is the case then tonight's crowd look like they want to stuff themselves.

Headliners MAN OF KIN (8) bring a very different, but no less ear shattering blend of metallic might to the table. Front man Jaz Oberoi is the most active soul in the venue, an almost nervous energy spurring him and the band into a set of songs which sound like they have benefited from plenty of road miles. Like when they headlined Sound in Leicester Square earlier in the year they play with smiles on their faces, the site of the crowd getting off on their tightly performed mesh of metal outages seemingly giving Man Of Kin as much pleasure as they give to those before them during this fine headlining spot.