PRESIDENT / Project House / Leeds

PRESIDENT have been making quite a name for themselves, and tonight we got to see their debut Leeds performance at the Project House. A sharp rise to prominence has been built around a mysterious masked persona and strong online content, backed of course by some pretty nifty music too. The Project House is packed for this one, the Yorkshire crowd eager to get a first glimpse !

Opening up in support tonight is TheBoyShadow, a project from former Loathe guitarist Connor Sweeney. Having left the Liverpool band back in 2021, Connor has spent the last four years building and perfecting his TheBoyShadow project. His debut single

Give Me A Seam & I’ll Show You The Meaning is simply brutal and packed with dark metalcore energy.

Leeds is one of their first live appearances and the quartet delivered a blistering set. The drums were frantic and heavy alongside some raw riffs. The Leeds crowd seemed to really enjoy it (as did I) and there were soon mosh pits flaring up in the crowd.

The set was short, but brutal and packed with intensity, and I have no doubt that TheBoyShadow will make a substantial impact on the wider UK heavy scene in no time at all.

Setlist (Unavailable)

And then it was time for tonight’s main act – PRESIDENT. Only formed in 2025 their sound is predominantly metalcore in nature, but with electronic elements thrown in to give it a different edge and feel to much of the genre on the scene right now.

Fronted by the mask wearing President dressed in black suit black bow tie and white gloves, the mask has a resemblance to Ronald Reagan and although somewhat ‘life-like’ it has an eerie ‘House of Wax’ look to it – Quite dark, and menacing….. PRESIDENT released their debut EP “King of Terrors” in 2025 which has already racked up over 50 million Spotify streams, and have recently been announced as part of the Download line up for 2026.

PRESIDENT are The President (vocals), Heist (guitar), Protest (bass) and Vice (drums). Retaining their anonymity is a key part to their image rumours persist and speculation mounts as to their members. One prominent rumour suggests the masked vocalist is none other than Charlie Simpson, of Busted and Fightstar fame….. Personally I like the mystery of it. It adds to the drama and live experience !

The Project House is packed to the rafters and is so hot as the room darkens. The masked performers make their way out onto the stage to huge cheers from the crowd, the President himself entering last to the loudest cheers. The stage design is simple, a couple of riser platforms either side at the front and in the middle a lectern from those Presidential addresses. They kick off the set with Fearless with it’s more mellow sections, giving way to soaring vocals ripe for singing along to, which the crowd get right into. I love this track with its almost pop like vocal sections and a fantastic guitar riff in the breakdowns that sounds like it detunes through the hold. Next up is Dionysus (son of Zeus, the god of fertility and madness) followed by Rage both from the debut EP. Rage brings in more of the electronic element and a pop sensibility.

Next up is Angel Wings a song that reflects a search for spiritual redemption and the resolve to begin again. It marks the opening of a new chapter. At its core, the song speaks to holding close those who matter most, while remaining unmoved by detractors. Towards the end the track the lyric line “Is it safe to say? / That you never fucking loved me anyway” marks an explosion of sound, and the track ends in a frenzied wall of guitars.

The mood shifts once again as we get a cover of the Deftone’s classic Change (In the House of Flies), delivered with PRESIDENTS unique style, and its absolutely spot on and shows just how tight this group of musicians is. That Chino Moreno tone may be missing, but the adaptation is simply gorgeous, and has the crowd moshing along at the barrier.

Following Conclave the band head off the stage, leaving the crowd chanting for more. The cheers and shouts seemed to last for ages, but finally the band returned to the stage for a three song encore. Kicking off with their most recent single Mercy with its arpeggiated synth tones leading us into the track. It’s another trat seems to drift with ease from softer pop sentimentality to harsh metalcore with ease and back again. It’s followed by Destroy Me and they end of their debut single In the Name of the Father. With the President standing at the lectern a single guitar introduces us to the track, before the track explodes. A hugely popular track with the fans, it gets the biggest reception of the night as the crowd sing along and dance. The switch in styles throughout the track, pulled off with aplomb, and probably my highlight of the night.

And it feels like as soon as it started, it’s over again. As we streamed out in to the cool Yorkshire air, you could feel the intensity in the air. PRESIDENT are a live force to be reasoned with. If you’re heading to Slam Dunk Festival this year….. you’re in for a treat !

Setlist

Fearless

Dionysus

RAGE

Angel Wings

Change (In the House of Flies) (Deftones cover)

Conclave

Encore:

Mercy

Destroy Me

In the Name of the Father