The internet has been rocked by the ongoing war of words between And So I Watch You From Afar and Fighting With Wire, two of Northern Ireland's best-loved acronyms. Coinciding with the announcement of their head-to-head performance at Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, the two bands have been locked in a vicious game of cat and mouse with both posting videos denegrating their opponents with a spite not seen since the recent Duke Special vs Neil Hannon furore which ended in a very public spat on RTE television.

*** WARNING: The two links below take you to videos with plenty of swearing ***

The first salvo was fired last week when ASIWYFA posted a home-made smackdown on the web. Bass player Johnny was so emotional that he was physically unable to even face the camera.

Two days later, Fighting With Wire sent a broadside back across the Glenshane Pass that sent shockwaves through the beleagured musical community.

The tension escalated today when Andrew Ferris, label boss at Smalltown America exclusively told the ATL blog that "Tony Wright from ASIWYFA feels that this has become so personal that the only option available to him is now to 'end' FWW 'once and for all'."

According to a leaked memo, the ASIWYFA guitarist Rory Friers' experience as a cocktail waitress will allow him to "make a fritter from this supposed pineapple of truth", while Cahir from Fighting With Wire told ATL "I am going to take them down, but not County Down, we're from Derry, hi."

Smalltown America, the Derry-based imprint which handles both of these volatile bands, admitted that they are now also aware of two more incendiary videos which are due to surface on the net in a matter of days, prompting the NI Blood Transfusion Service to issue a plea for fresh donors in the Greater Belfast area. "It looks as if these young men will stop at nothing in their quest to become the 'big hard man' of the NI music scene, it's all in the hands of the gods now, I just pray that no more innocents get caught up in this savagery" said Ferris.

We will, of course, keep you updated on any developments. Keep safe.

Check out both bands in action for ATL on the And So I Watch You From Afar and Fighting With Wire artist pages.