Scowl

The Underground 10/30

There’s a certain rush that hits when you walk into a hardcore show knowing the lineup’s about to flatten the room. That was the energy inside The Underground in Charlotte on Thursday, October 30, 2025, when five bands packed the stage for a night of chaos and sweat.

Opening the night was Divine Right, a local straight edge band Charlotte’s hardcore scene. Their set came out swinging, sharp and unapologetic, and the crowd picked up the energy immediately. There’s something special about seeing a local band light the fuse before a stacked touring lineup, and Divine Right did exactly that.

Whispers, all the way from Bangkok, Thailand, followed with an intensity that could be felt in your chest. Their riffs hit hard with a modern metallic hardcore sound. It was heavy and unrelenting but still full of emotion. When they broke into “Retribution,” the classic headbanging riff hit instantly, fast-paced and commanding, pulling the crowd into motion. Even if you didn’t know their songs, you felt every hit and punch that came from the stage. Following them came Nuovo Testamento, changing the mood, almost like a palate cleanser, in between bands. Their sound drenched the space with a dark, synth-driven, and hypnotic aura. When they played “Soldier of Love,” you could hear them play with pop music themes while still infusing it with a Euro dance and house energy. They describe themselves as “dark, mysterious disco synth-drenched pop,” and it fits perfectly.

Scowl took the stage next, and the room erupted. From the second Kat Moss bounded into the lights, it felt like something was on the verge of exploding. The band launched into “B.A.B.E.” and the crowd became untamed. Moss never stopped moving, two-stepping, jumping, and reaching out into the pit to scream into faces pressed against the barricade. They closed the set with “Opening Night,” a song that felt reminiscent of an early 2000s indie rock movie, shifting into a skate punk energy that still packed a punch and left the room buzzing for more. The pulse of the pit never stopped, it wasn’t just a performance; it was a connection between the band and everyone in the room.

By the time Sunami hit the stage, space had completely disappeared. You could feel the bass before the first song even started. The moment they began, the pit exploded into pure mayhem. Someone near me joked that you’d “get obliterated” if you stood too close, and honestly, they weren’t wrong. This was Sunami’s first Charlotte show, and the anticipation had been building all night. When they finally started, it felt like a release. Every hit, every riff, and every yell carried that raw mix of aggression and excitement that brings hardcore music to life.

By the end of the night everyone was soaked in sweat, but no one wanted to leave. People lingered, talking, laughing, and catching their breath. It wasn’t just about the music. It was about community, connection, and that unspoken thing that happens when a room full of people move together to the same sound.