The Last Train Home
PunkRetsu at Helgi's bar 7/11/26
It was a Saturday night and was feeling slightly sorry for myself after catching those lurgies the past week that's been going around. Was I to stay at home or go to a show guaranteed to see people that would lift my spirits and watch highly energetic bands that would make me feel more awake then any day I had the past week? I chose the latter.
I rock up to the metal bar that is Helgi's in Hackney, still decked with Halloween decor but it's aesthetic always looks spooky year round. As I expected I was greeted with friends who were already at the bar drinking before the show and as always there were the beautiful ladies who work there, ready to make you flamboyant cocktails and give you a slap around the face for a few quid extra. I treated myself to a shot of toffee whiskey which thus far is the only place in London I know I can get it and first discovered it.
Community atmosphere all around with Helgi's hosting regular dj's, bands and loyal punters I did the rounds saying hi to people in the bar before the bands began.
Never Arise opened with a captivating introduction. A crust punk band I have seen multiple times they amped up their sound and energy since the last time I watched them perform which took me by surprise and would say it definitely cured my cold and got me ready for the rest of the night. Next was Reptile Dysfunction with their catchy punk songs about sausages. They describe themselves as "hardcore punk noise from Camden...ready to piss on your town" which I feel is an accurate description, they know themselves well and they definitely all look like public pissers that DGAF. Then a quick run to the convenience shop next door So Local for a bag of crisps and some lockets. The shop has an endearing instagram page posting pictures of their clientele and groups of friends who enter their shop.
Hunger locked in I go back inside for the grand finale of the night which was the crust punk band Retsu and who I was most excited to see that evening. I have also watched them multiple times and have found them to be consistently great, fun and wild live every time. They're really interesting to watch with their commanding stares, militant punk style, high jumps and I really respect their stage showmanship. Vocalist Beatrice gives it her everything despite performing with a broken nose from their show on Halloween. Visibly accident prone I have also seen Retsu play at the Endeavour when Beatrice had a broken rib and was clearly in pain clutching her side whilst singing but her raspy, manic and unhinged vocals still sounded superb. She was knocked to the floor at the Birds Nest whilst performing this year and still continued to sing whilst laying on her back staring up at the audience before quickly getting up, unharmed and unfazed. Retsu are a hybrid of punk super bands with members from other projects current and previously such as The Masochists, TCCL, Mammoth Tank, Extinction Of Mankind, Doom, Hellkrusher and Alehammer. With that experience behind them it is no surprise why they are are so good on stage. I was standing at the front next to their guitarist Scoot most of the night who I enjoy watching as he rocks out on his guitar with his long hair violently swaying from side to side. They performed songs from their self titled EP with catchy titles such as This Island Brexit Prison and Lessons in Self Destruction that got the crowd amped up, dancing and moshpits galore! They ended the show with a personal favourite Wardance, their own take of the song by the band Killing Joke. It is in fact a great one to jig to and got me skanking on the dance floor before Helgi's switched on the lights to get the room ready for their DJ night, the party continues on until 3am.
If you've been to a metal bar before you know what to expect when you walk into Helgi's, if you haven't you should give this place a visit as you will be pleasantly surprised and intrigued by it's dark doom laidened metallic atmosphere. There is metal ephemeara on the walls, a Black Sabbath mural on the window and 'adult' collages on the bathroom walls. I always see something new when I go there with a few gargoyles kicking about. The band merch is on a coffin shaped table outside the venue area and the bar has a colourful cocktail menu with drinks served in comically large glasses (Bloody Mary) they also serve absinthe, beers and as one of the owners is Italian I have been told you can also get some favourites from Italy there too.