A tide of rain-soaked goths streaming back and forth every half hour would be a noticeable sight in a place with less character – in Maryhill, it’s just a Sunday.  As the final day of core. fest rears its head, the windows of its two venues brace themselves for a final day of holding their own against a stream of unabated noise. By day’s end the festival proves an undeniable success for both music and double glazing. 

Returning for its second year, core. fest – Glasgow’s biggest celebration of shouting that doesn’t involve football – upped its ante by a significant margin, securing two stages at the spacious Woodside Halls Community Centre, as well as a third stage at the atmospheric Hug and Pint, graciously equipped with enough pizza to feed Glasgow’s most dedicated metalheads. As with the previous two nights, Sunday’s line-up boasts an array of musical talent ranging from experimental DJs to doom metal. To top it all off, the evening is brought to a close with an impressive headliner in the form of Empire State Bastard, fronted by none other than Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil albeit in a slightly more frenzied state than usual. 

The festival is best summed up by its own description as a ‘celebration of noise’. With its two venues a convenient few minutes walk apart, it would not be completely impossible to hear two concerts at once, simply by standing perfectly in the middle of the two. In fact, it would be safe to assume not a single person in Maryhill made it through the day without experiencing at least a fraction of the festival.

With no shortage of impressive acts, it’s impossible to experience everything the festival has to offer. However, every act I managed to see more than lived up to the festival’s hype. Notable mentions include The Rhubarb, who delivered a powerful performance even while struggling against a broken bass string; Gout whose debut performance brilliantly depicted the rage you’d expect from those suffering from the condition; the Underdark, whose lead vocalist Abi Vasquez conveyed the kind of stage presence that elevates a metal performance from loud to ineffable, and the inescapable Hexis, who dare to ask the question: what if a migraine was enjoyable?

Unfortunately, the festival did at times fall victim to its own success, as the limited spacing for the smaller stage left many fans unable to attend multiple gigs. The lack of accessibility created understandable irritation, particularly for those who had shelled out for the more expensive tickets. Nonetheless, the excitable atmosphere in each venue combined with the multitude of stellar acts on show, ensured each minute of the festival brought something worth paying for, and not a single person left without a slightly ringing head.

As a celebration of noise, core. fest more than manages to achieve what it set out to do – as evidenced by the debris of battered earplugs left in its wake. Although the limited spacing is something of a sore spot, its continued growth in popularity highlights the potential for expansion in the years to come. With next year’s event already being advertised, it can only be hoped that the festival amplifies its venues to better fit its sound.