Things got a little drunk out and a lot loud at Inferno, May 29 as several high energy punk bands came to town to play for approximately 50 people.

While I just missed the set of local metal band Penitentz, I was just in time for an intense set of punk/ thrash/ screamo music from Calgary’s Reckless Heroes.

Frontman Kevin Towill broke a guitar string  midway through the first song. Bassist Danny Daigle cracked jokes as Towill switched guitars.

 The thrash came courtesy of quick riffs from Chris Saunders as  drummer Nolan Semenoff  held it all together on drums.
Calgary hardcore punk band Citizen Rage was up next with their usual rock solid, ear splittingly loud set full of energy, throat shredding vocals, detuned madness and lots of Rage, but still with good humour.

Since the last time they played here, Froid has moved to bass. They sounded like the result of a car crash between Black Flag and Rage Against the Machine. They enjoyed the show so much they booked one for the next day as well at Inferno, though I couldn’t make it to that show.

 Donovan Howell from  the Space Wolves leaped up on stage to shout along for a couple of the songs.
 They ended with a couple  serious tracks “Die” and “Fuck Your Face” which they had the audience should along with the chorus.

Regina street punk band Bats Out closed off the night with a high energy, intense and melodic set full of jagged rhythms  a lot of rock and roll and pre punk influences. They reminded me of classic acts like SNFU and the Dayglo Abortions a touch of Husker Dü with a nod to vintage British punk bands.
 They set the tone for their set with “Plastic Life” and carried on from there as frontman Scott Free leaped into the audience and what looked like tackled one of them.

 Bassist Brian Templeton shouted out background vocals and added the classic rockabilly influence to the rhythm.
 “Flying Blind” was one of the catchier highlights as was “Faster than Time.”

The audience shouted “oi, oi,oi” along with the band’s gang vocals.
 I enjoyed the more straight ahead rock stylings of a song called “Hooligan Saturday Night” which sounded like a mix of the Who and the New York Dolls.
“ Don’t Do That” was another highlight.