BarricadeUK

Three songs in to their headline set, frontman Adam Rigozzi declares: “Now, we normally finish our sets with this song. But tonight, we’re playing Exist in full baby…” 

Breath Me In is one of the signature tracks from their most recent album, released across two EPs in 2024 and 2025. It’s a powerful expression of loss and longing which mixes soaring melodies and layered guitars with screaming frustration and it’s a perfect example of Lastelle’s vivid, emotional messaging which hits so hard with their followers.

Post-hardcore is often an inward, self-reflective experience, but this album is delivered live as a joyous group hug between the band and their fans. The five-piece from Oxfordshire are buzzing at the end of a short co-headline tour of Germany, France and the UK with emerging Berlin metalcore/alternative rockers Seven Blood.

Playing an album live in full can feel like a bit of an indulgence for a band – rewarding themselves for a piece of art that takes them to a new level or has particular emotional resonance for them. But it’s a beautifully put together track list and exactly how their people want to hear the band’s set tonight.

“We know all the words!” comes a shout from the crowd. “Of course you fucking do!” grins Adam.  

Seven Blood themselves, and before them High Regard, kick the evening off with their high energy metalcore and alt-rock. A tight and expressive four-piece, Seven Blood are part of a thriving German metalcore scene which includes bands like Future Palace (who they supported in 2024), Our Promise, Venues and others.

It’s a melodic and accessible mix of riff-heavy tunes, filled with strongly personal lyrics and it works both as a compliment to, and counter for, Lastelle’s post-hardcore layering. Playing a mix of tracks from their recently released album, Life is Just a Phase, and earlier releases, they surprise mid-way through their set with a guitar-heavy, pumped up version of Lady Gaga’s Let’s Dance. 

But it’s Lastelle that the majority of this crowd have come to see tonight. This is a tiny and intimate venue and the kind of place where technical, and especially vocal, shortcomings in a band can be ruthlessly exposed. Dummer/vocalist Mike Hayden never puts a foot wrong in providing the clean counterpoint to Adam’s weighty scream. It’s clear the band love these songs and they have them down perfectly. 

By the end of their second track, Life in Silhouettes, the pit has claimed a sizeable percentage of the floor. And the energy just keeps rising as their ringleader makes frequent forays into the crowd; Tired Eyes leaving no doubt that Rigozzi is one of them.  

They finish with another fan favourite, Coping Without a Cure, but it’s an unnecessary tag onto what this evening was all about. This album may prove to be their breakout moment and on the evidence of this performance, they may not be playing stages this small for much longer. Lastelle now go on to support Casey on tour in the UK and Europe in March and April.

Setlist for this one was easy: Exist vol I and II in full.

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Words by James Mitchell

Photos by Gabby Adler