As a summary of one band’s career, this CD/DVD combo does the job quite nicely. Champion are one of those hardcore bands revered as being one of the best within the scene and this two-disc set, released on bridge 9, acts as a nice snapshot if you’re not already familiar with the band. The DVD itself is excellent – six camera angles may take away the DIY feel and add a glossy sheen – but to encapsulate the mood of the crowd and the overall excitement the band manage to whip up is definitely a good thing. So much so, the crowd often outsing the vocalist, who seems to suffer from a few issues during the set. It doesn’t detract from what is a decent watch though, even if you’re not a fan of the band.
Jim Hesketh ends up bloodied by the end of the set, such is the energy he and his band manage to convey, making closer ‘116’ and ‘PK’ in particular, excellent. The lack of extras is perhaps the only downside to an excellent release and even if you’re not a Champion fan, or even a fan of hardcore music, it’s still a very enjoyable watch.