I’m sitting here listening to Nine Inch Noize on the day it’s released, and I’ve been waiting for this moment…
By K Futur MUSICThe back room of The Victoria Inn has built a reputation as one of Derby’s most vital grassroots music spaces, and on Thursday 16th April 2026, Musik Box delivered another stacked bill that pushed that reputation even further. Musik Box Presents brought together a diverse lineup spanning ska punk, post-hardcore chaos, garage rock weight and emotionally charged emo, resulting in a night that felt as unpredictable as it was unforgettable.
Rhythm Eaters: Ska Punk Energy with Indie Edge
Rhythm Eaters opened the night with a sound that immediately set them apart. Rooted in ska punk but never confined by it, their set drifted between laid-back reggae grooves and sharper indie textures. At times, there were clear nods to The Specials, while flashes of Arctic Monkeys crept into the mix, giving their performance a surprisingly hybrid feel.
Their lyrics carried a soulful weight, elevated by strong backing vocals from the bassist, while musically they flirted with heavier punk, grunge and even metal tones without losing that core reggae bounce. Tracks like Hands and Knees, Scooby Snack and No Food showcased their range, while a playful cover of Slow Ride by Sublime confirmed their influences.
There was a looseness to their set too, leaning into humour and nostalgia with a left-field rendition of the Horrid Henry theme tune, and a recurring lyrical nod to their fondness for a spliff. It all added up to a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously musically, but absolutely delivers when it counts.
Luxury Nan Smell: Controlled Chaos and Technical Precision
If Rhythm Eaters eased the crowd in, Luxury Nan Smell tore the place apart. Opening with ferocity, their blend of post-hardcore, math rock and punk hit with immediate intensity.
The standout element was the drumming. Intricate, relentless and constantly shifting, it drove the band through sudden tempo changes and complex structures that never felt forced. Tracks like Bonfire Night 2 balanced aggression with technical guitar work, while Fucked Up Nasty Man leaned fully into chaos with screaming backing vocals from the bassist and a punishing, energetic delivery.
Visually, there was an unexpected contrast too. The bassist wielded a delicate-looking instrument shaped like a flower, complete with a leaf at the headstock, but the sound coming from it was anything but gentle. It was raw, aggressive and uncompromising.
Their closing track, I Cried to a Song Sung in Simlish, summed up everything they do well. Starting dense and chaotic, it broke down into a sparse bass-led section before exploding back into an even heavier finale. It was a clever, dynamic end to a set that demanded attention from start to finish.
Mantle: Garage Rock Weight with Emotional Depth
By the time Mantle took to the stage, the room was primed. A five-piece with a reputation for consistency, they delivered a set that blended heavy garage rock with grunge and post-punk influences, all tied together by unexpectedly delicate, soulful vocals.
There were echoes of Radiohead’s fragility, hints of The Smashing Pumpkins in the vocal tone, and moments that leaned into the desert rock swagger of Queens of the Stone Age. Their cover of Go With the Flow was a standout, staying faithful to the original while still feeling like a natural extension of their own sound.
Mantle thrive on contrast. One moment they’re building a dense wall of sound, the next they’re pulling things back into something more atmospheric and restrained. A later track, which slowly built from a stripped-back groove into something far bigger, carried shades of Kings of Leon, showing just how versatile they can be without losing identity.
Closing with The End, they leaned into melody, delivering a chorus that stuck, backed by grunge textures and emotionally driven vocals. It was a strong finish from a band that continues to grow with every performance.
Former Glory: Emotion, Aggression and Catharsis
Headliners Former Glory wasted no time. Launching straight into an explosive opener, they set the tone immediately before pausing to address the crowd with a mix of honesty and humour. Their songs, they explained, explore varying levels of anger, alongside more delicate moments and deeply personal themes around loss. It was heavy subject matter, but delivered with a self-awareness that made it feel human rather than overwhelming.
Tracks like Ignite and Keep Them Honest showcased their core sound: aggressive, loud and emotionally charged, blending screamed vocals with melodic passages and intricate guitar work. The band’s chemistry was undeniable, with pounding basslines and hard-hitting drums underpinning every track.
The standout moment of the night came with Seat at the Table. Beginning with a soft, twinkling guitar line, it created a sense of quiet sadness before the vocals cut through with raw intensity. Lyrically centred on loss and grief, the performance carried genuine weight. When the track eventually erupted into a full-band assault, it felt earned, culminating in a haunting ending where the final lines were screamed without instrumentation, echoing through the room.
They closed with Rise Crowned, a more melodic, slow-building track that began with keys and vocals before expanding into a full, emo-tinged finale. It was a fitting end to a set that balanced aggression with vulnerability.
A Night That Showcased Derby’s Grassroots Strength
Musik Box Presents at The Vic Inn Derby was more than just a gig; it was a snapshot of the diversity and strength within the local and touring underground scene. From ska-infused grooves to math rock chaos, from garage rock weight to emo catharsis, every band brought something distinct.
In a city where grassroots venues like The Victoria Inn continue to champion live music, nights like this prove exactly why they matter.
