Gig Review: Ba'al, Cairns, Acceptance & Pluto - Firebug Leicester - Friday 29th August 2025

 Gig Review: Ba'al, Cairns, Acceptance & Pluto - Firebug Leicester

Hosted By RoadtoMasochist & Chiroptera Promotions 

Words: Rick Eaglestone 

Photos: bashxphotography

Leicester's Firebug transformed into a cauldron of sonic brutality last night as Road to Masochist delivered an evening that left the intimate venue's walls practically vibrating into the early hours with a line-up spanning multiple shades of heavy music, this was a showcase of the underground's finest, headlined by Ba'al.

Pluto opened proceedings with a set that immediately established the night's unforgiving tone. The quintet's sludge-laden approach created a dense wall of sound that seemed to physically push against the crowd. Their slower, more methodical compositions allowed space for each crushing riff to breathe before the next assault began. while the rhythm section maintained an almost hypnotic groove that drew the steadily growing crowd deeper into their murky sonic world. By the time they ended their set the room was already thick with anticipation and sweat.

Acceptance shifted gears dramatically, Their blistering blend of black metal kept the audience on their toes and heads banging. Their 4 track set was incredibly intense but well balanced even delving into earlier material with particular highlight 'Glow' This was the first time I had seen them live and is an experience I am looking forward to revisiting as soon as I possibly can.

    

Cairns brought perhaps the most visceral and emotional performance of the evening, Their atmospherics created moments of genuine catharsis, with the crowd responding to every note. The band's tight, economical song writing meant every moment carried weight –  lean, aggressive compositions with wave and wave of combined fragility and fury - opening with my favourite track "Reflections" and even treating the audience in attendance to a brand new unheard offering "Absence of Light" really leaned into them being my personal highlight of the night  

By the time Ba'al took the stage, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The headliners didn't disappoint, delivering a masterclass in extreme metal that justified their position atop this formidable bill effortlessly between death growls and black metal shrieks while maintaining complete command of the  crowd. Their stage presence was magnetic, drawing every eye in the room during his more theatrical moments.

Baal's setlist was expertly crafted with tracks from their latest release "The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here sounding rather poignant in a live setting rather than my home stereo speakers 

This was underground metal at its finest – four bands at different stages of their development, all delivering passionate, uncompromising performances in front of an audience that clearly lived and breathed this music. The Firebug once again proved why it remains one of the Midlands' most important venues for extreme music, providing the perfect intimate setting for this level of intensity.

Road to Masochist  demonstrated their commitment to bringing quality underground metal to Leicester, and based on last night's evidence, the scene remains in exceptionally healthy hands.

Final Verdict: An evening that showcased the depth and quality of the UK underground metal scene, with Ba'al delivering a headlining performance that won't soon be forgotten.