Canadian Hardcore up and comers Counterparts played Montreal’s Underworld venue Saturday may 5^th, supported by Hundredth & Your Demise. Underworld’s typical front-heavy crowd members sang along despite the venue’s often unsatisfying sound mixing.

Openers Hundredth played an aggressive, yet melodic style of Hardcore, quickly engaging the fervent crowd. Featuring a notably eccentric performance from vocalist Chadwick Johnson, the South Carolina natives powered through songs from their most recent record, Let Go. Regrettably, guitarist and clean vocalist Alex Blackwell was missing from the stage. Legs & arms flailing, Johnson screamed, spat, and eventually disassembled the group’s drum set during the group’s last song in a visceral fit of energy, screaming “Fuck America!”. The group tore the walls down early into the show, and set expectations high for the remaining acts.

UK outfit Your Demise kept the energy high, pummelling out songs from their 2012 release, The Golden Age. Having received mixed reviews from critics, the pop-infused clean vocals featured on the record visibly polarized the audience. Older songs were undoubtedly solid crowd pleasers. The group’s last song was met with deafening cheers for an encore, which went unanswered.

Quickly thereafter, headlining act Counterparts took the stage. The Hamilton, Ont. natives opened up with album single Jumping Ship. Playing a technical and impressively tight style of melodic Hardcore, the group next transitioned straight into Isolation, followed in turn by (You Think You’re) John Fucking Locke. The night’s highlight took place with The Current Will Carry Us’ closer Reflection. Vocalist Brendan Murphy’s confessional lyrics were echoed from the entire room. Perplexed at being demanded for an encore, the boys adopted the crowd’s boisterous demand for Sturdy Wings. The song’s ending saw crowdmembers violently rushing the stage, into a hurtled mass, singing, “This is where I belong”. We await your return, Counterparts.