Cold / (hed) p.e. – doubleheader live gallery and review from Opium, Dublin 29.09.2026

The double-bill of Cold and (hed) p.e. at Opium Live in Dublin on September 29, 2026, delivered a potent hit of late-90s and early-2000s alternative rock, giving the crowd a powerful one two punch of having Cold set the emotional floor before (hed) p.e. tore the place down.

Opening the night, Cold brought a dark, cinematic energy to the early Dublin crowd. Lead singer Scooter Ward took the stage with his signature introspective presence, steering the band through a heavy, atmospheric set dominated by material from 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage and Year of the Spider.

Opium’s punchy sound system highlighted Ward’s distinctive, emotionally charged vocals over crushing rhythm sections. 

Cold’s performance was focused and immersive, building a thick layer of mood and nostalgia that primed the room for what was to be a night of intense singing from both Ward and the crowd of loyal fans. It was their first Irish gig in over 24 years, but Ward assured that it wouldn’t be that long before their return.

If Cold built up the tension, (hed) p.e. came out to shatter it completely as headliners. Jared Gomes and his crew immediately shifted the atmosphere from brooding intensity to pure kinetic chaos, launching into their explosive mix of punk, metal, reggae, and hip-hop.

I first discovered them on a free CD I got with Kerrang many years ago, and their distinct style and mix of aggressive punk/metal countered with hip hop and reggae immediately got my attention and inspired me to seek out their album Broke.

Gomes commanded the room with relentless stamina, switching seamlessly between sharp rap flows, ragga styles, and throat-shredding screams. The floor erupted early and stayed moving throughout their set.

The band leaned heavily into their classic Broke and SNOOZEBUTTON material, delivering rapid-fire riffs and heavy bass grooves that kept the energy at a peak until the final note.

Opium Live’s intimate layout worked brilliantly for this lineup swap. Cold’s atmospheric sound benefited from the concentrated acoustics, while (hed) p.e.’s rowdy headline set felt like a classic, sweaty underground club show.

Having Cold open built a deep, nostalgic momentum that allowed (hed) p.e. to completely explode as headliners. The contrast between Cold’s anthemic gloom and (hed) p.e.’s chaotic bounce made for an exceptionally well-balanced night of heavy music.

(hed) p.e. photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Jesus (of Nazareth)
Killing Time
Waiting to Die
Crazy Legs
Swan Dive
Feel Good
Pac Bell
I Got You
Boom (How You Like That)
The Meadow
Bartender

Cold photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Goodbye Cruel World
Systems Fail
Happens All the Time
Back Home
No One
Remedy
It’s All Good
Feel It in Your Heart
Suffocate
A Different Kind of Pain
Just Got Wicked
Another Pill
Better Human
Confession

Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero