19-08-2023 Last Year’s Tragedy

Kenyan Metalcore Mayhem at the Undertow Festival
Location: Shelter (Nairobi, Kenya)

I continue my journey of exploring the East African metal scene. This time I had the chance to see one of the most anticipated metal bands in the region: Last Year’s Tragedy. I’m writing these words with a sweet pain in my neck, unforgettable memories on my mind from the show night.

On Saturday 19th August the Nairobi’s metal scene came alive at Shelter, the chosen ground for the electrifying Undertow Festival. The stage was set, the anticipation palpable, and the atmosphere electric for the headlining act – Last Year’s Tragedy. With renowned Swahili rock band Rash and grunge band Petrika also taking the stage earlier in the evening, the event promised an unforgettable night for the Kenyan metalheads who thronged the venue.

Last Year’s Tragedy is a metalcore band from Kenya, comprises a lineup that includes vocalists David ‘Chizi’ Mburu & Ted Ngure, guitarist Henry Bondi, keyboard Ruto Kipkulei, drums George Atsula, bass Mahia Mutua.

As the stage lights dimmed and the crowd’s roar reached a crescendo, Last Year’s Tragedy emerged onto the stage. They started the night with the legendary track Elephant. Their presence alone was enough to ignite the audience’s excitement. With the first chord struck, they unleashed a sonic onslaught that sent shockwaves through the packed venue. The playlist followed Bury, March, Intercressor, Perihelion, Red Dwarf, In Medias Res and finalised with Walking Trough Walls.

Throughout the night the moshpit was like a never-ending hurricane, swirling bodies. As the night drew to a close, Last Year’s Tragedy delivered an encore that left the audience yearning for more. The connection they established with their fans was undeniable, and it was clear that the night would be etched in the memories of all those present.

The Undetow Festival was not the band’s only conquest, as they had previously ventured to the international stage. Last Year’s Tragedy’s participation in the legendary Wacken Metal Battle in South Africa solidified their reputation as a force to be reckoned with, not just in Kenya but on a global scale. LYT also headlined in the infamous Nairobi Metal Festival in the past years.

Last Year’s Tragedy’s performance at the Undertow Festival served as evidence of how powerful music is in uniting people, igniting passion, and creating life-changing experiences. With Petrika and Rash setting the stage alight earlier in the evening, the event was a true celebration of Kenya’s diverse and thriving rock and metal scene. Shelter was transformed into a haven for metalheads, and Last Year’s Tragedy’s performance was the crescendo that marked a night of pure musical euphoria.

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