I first saw Abrasive Trees perform in 2021, and now, in 2025, we find ourselves at Things Happen Here in Dartington—witnessing what feels like Mk II of the band.
Opening the evening were Gravity Machine, though I must confess I didn’t catch all of their set. Partly because I’m not the tallest person, and the stage stood barely eight inches high.
Their songs leaned heavily into the shamanic rock territory of Heilung and Wardruna, complete with face paint and ritualistic atmosphere. Tracks such as ‘Standing Stones’, ‘Dreamtime’, and the epic set-closer ‘Nine’ were groove-laden and atmospheric, enhanced by violin and bodhrán. The female vocalist delivered a commanding performance, her voice strong and clear, with the presence of a pagan priestess.
They clearly have a devoted following, as evidenced by the group at the front—barefoot, arms flailing, lost in their own ecstatic ritual.
When Abrasive Trees took the stage, their arrival was understated, their look far more muted and less theatrical.
The opening two tracks, ‘Tao To Earth’ and ‘Star Sapphire’—previously available only via the YouTube Mill Sessions—immediately revealed a heavier, more confident incarnation of the band. On the instrumental ‘Star Sapphire’, in particular, the rhythm section locked into a head-nodding groove while Matthew and Jay built shimmering layers of guitar over the top.
With Ben Roberts (Silver Moth/Prosthetic Head) having moved on to other projects, the absence of cello—once a defining, eerie texture in earlier shows—now allows greater contrast and momentum within the set.
Another new track follows, ‘No Solace’, which ends in a melee of crashing cymbals and feedback before giving way to the first older piece, ‘Without Light’. This version is markedly heavier than its studio recording, giving Matthew the space to unleash a soaring guitar solo. ‘Megadrone’ slows the pace, featuring a spoken-word passage and the trademark drone, while the plaintive ‘Kali’ Sends Sunflowers builds to another powerful burst of collective noise.
My only real disappointment of the night came from the venue itself—due to the low stage, Jess’s stunning backdrop visuals were largely hidden by the band.
A spoken introduction heralds ‘Moulding Heaven With Earth’, which settles into a dense, bass-heavy groove. The guitar work here feels more deliberate and spacious, each note carefully articulated rather than driven by the heavier riffing of earlier songs.
From this point, it’s all new material. The mid-tempo ‘Flickering Flame’ is a reflective piece about mortality, followed by ‘Carved Skull’, which channels the sound and spirit of early ’80s goth before it went mainstream. “Are we divided?” the band asks as the song fades, but the audience’s reaction makes the answer clear.
The set concludes with ‘I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You’—perhaps the standout track of the night and of their upcoming debut album. It’s an immense post-rock maelstrom, sweeping the audience up in a crashing crescendo, driven by thunderous drums and interwoven guitars.
Label Abrasive Trees however you like—alternative, post-punk, goth, post-rock—but a performance like this proves they hardly need the comparisons. They stand entirely on their own merits.
Words - Steve Hawkins
Pictures - Steve Muscutt
