On paper the billing for this evening’s show feels distinctly skew-whiff. Fit For An Autopsy are on a quite impressive upward trajectory. They have broken free from the confines and the preconceptions of Deathcore and have cemented themselves a berth in the one-to-watch category. Pairing them as a co-headliner with Sylosis on the face of it feels mismatched because, well Sylosis have been around forever without ever really making their mark. It's hard to imagine a British metal scene without Sylosis plugging away in its lower echelons trying to make a name for themselves. Don't get us wrong, we at ROCKFLESH Towers love Sylosis, it's just that we've never ever envisaged them as being of a Ritz headliner status. Add to all that the fact that the much-fancied media darlings Heriot are sat slap bang at the bottom of the bill and the whole structure feels a little, odd.
Read MoreSleep Token have continued to rocket higher and higher since that very first time I saw them as a secret act at Tech Fest 2018. Back then it was only their eighth live performance and I still didn't quite know what to make of them. Fast forward past plenty of support slots, headlines and festival appearances and we have them headlining an arena and poised to headline Download Festival in 2025. They have also now become one of my favorite bands, with a stunning live act and a collection of three albums that fully showcase their diversity.
Read More“I think my eyeliner’s running…”
There are not many bands that can reduce a hardened rocker to tears.
But when The Damn Truth last played the Waterloo, twelve months ago, that’s precisely what happened. Stood in the crowd with tears in his eyes, he wasn’t the only one to be caught up in the emotion of this incendiary, emotionally charged and supremely talented band. For many, that night was their first time seeing the band, although everyone left a convert, utterly blown away by what they’d witnessed. This time around, the crowd is bigger, no doubt driven by the evangelical fervour that The Damn Truth foster in their fans, a fervour that means you’re going to tell absolutely anyone who’ll listen about just how utterly wonderful they truly are. That so many are gathered in the intimate surroundings of the Waterloo’s Backstage Bar, over ninety minutes before the doors even open is proof of that, if indeed any proof was needed.
Read MoreIf this tour was to be given a subtitle it would be ‘The Ascendancy of Metalcore’. You see it is not just sold out; spare tickets are changing hands for silly money and the Academy is heaving from the get go. Whilst many of us feel inclined to sneer at it and give it a verbal kicking where possible, metalcore is not just alive and well, it is slowly but surely becoming the dominant force in our world. Every band on this ticket are treated like royalty by an up-for-it and positively youthful crowd. Very much feels like both ascendancy and ascension, the moment the next generation take full charge.
Read MoreThe Great trilogies. Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games books, Toy Story, the original Star Wars saga (yes we know, Ewoks, but Return of the Jedi is infinitely better than anything that came after). To that impressive lexicon, you can now add this tour of a holy Trinity of modern metal masters.
Pallbearer, Graveyard and Baroness are all doing something distinctly different in their individual musicality. They all reside in diverse corners of metal's grand and fertile landscape. What they do share and what makes this tour so appealing and also so cohesive, is a deep-seated seam of emotional intelligence. None of them trade in knuckle-dragging “beers and tits” brainless bravado. Instead, whilst the styles are varied and differential, they all sculpt music to make you think and in many cases music to make you cry. Put simply this is the wearing your heart on your sleeve tour.
Read MoreAnthrax. Kreator. Testament. Whilst these three massive names in thrash might be lumped together by the uninitiated, they are in fact dramatically different takes on a genre that has always been a prime example of metal's ability to evolve. The question is though - is it a bit silly having three headliners starting from 6:30, or is it just damn good value for money?
Read MoreWhilst we in this country might have invented heavy metal, its stewardship has long since drifted north to the frozen plains of Scandinavia. Our Nordic cousins are now the dominant force in moving our beloved genre forward. The Nordic descent tour provides a perfect snapshot of the distinctly interesting and intriguing things our Scandinavian counterparts are doing with metal. Its very much a case of the anthemic (Hamerfo), the insular (Solstafir) and the downright outrageous (Oranssi Panzuzu).
Read MoreOn a freezing Tuesday night, fans of Wheel are treated to an extensive, value-packed set, rewarding those who braved the cold for the Finnish-based prog-metal band. For some, the dedication runs even deeper - like our Scottish mate, who made a 7-hour round trip from Scotland just to catch their performance!
Read MoreWithin Temptation are now an arena band. Quite an impressive step up in just two years time from supporting Evanescence’s arena tour in 2022 to holding the headliner slot all their own. This Dutch symphonic metal band are known for delivering a concert that feels like an immersive, theatrical journey through mythological realms and the universe itself, blending heart-pounding metal with sweeping orchestral arrangements, and stunning visuals to enthral audiences.
Read MoreHailing from the heavy heartland of Northern England, Xentrix stands as a testament to the raw, relentless energy of thrash metal. Forged in the 80’s, this iconic band has terrorised the scene over many years, more than earning their place in the thrash metal pantheon, leaving an indelible mark with their distinctive sound, blistering riffs, provoking lyrics, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre.
Tonight in Manchester, Xentrix are set to perform their seminal album, “Shattered Existence”, in its entirety, for the final time, as the tour ends here.
Read MoreOver the years Therapy? have managed to be everything to everybody whilst also simultaneously staying true to themselves. They are the only band to grace the stages at both this country’s premier extreme metal and classic rock festivals (Damnation and Stonedead). By being happy to prostitute themselves wherever anybody would listen they have managed to confound the gatekeepers and cultivate a career that transcends any notion of genre. They are conclusive proof that good songs and a positive attitude trump everything.
Read MoreThe early Noughties gave us nu-metal and alternative metal in the bucketload, and tonight we travel back to that era with four big hitters of that time taking to the stage in Manchester. SOiL were one of the names you’d see on all the tours, festivals and magazines, and they’ve endured long enough that they headline this collection of riffing and metalling from back when.
Read MoreYou would have thought that after Slayer and Mötley Crüe both returned to the fray after having retorted that they were going for good, that we would have got wise to the wheeze of the farewell tour. Evidently not, as Sepultura’s final circumnavigation of the world sees them return as headliner to venues they last bothered nearly thirty ago, when it looked like “Roots” was about to catapult them to the higher plains of the metallic pecking order. It is a little uncertain though whether the sold-out signs are in situ because this is a last chance to see situation, or in direct reaction to their undercard. By dragging along the much-fancied Jesus Piece, the perpetually awesome Obituary and the in vogue and in demand Jinjer they have turned this into a super charged package tour that it is very hard to turn down.
Read MoreAre Royal Republic a rock band? They say not, but a capacity crowd at Bloodstock 2023 begged to differ and let’s face it you’re not going to argue with 20000 rabid metalheads, are you? They have been blowing audiences away with their brand of humorous pop-rock patter for a good few years now and here we have a full UK tour in support of their most recent album “LoveCop”. Tonight the Royal Republic train is hitting the buffers in Manchester to show us what they’ve got.
Read MoreThe Ritz is hosting progressive symphonic titans Kamelot tonight, alongside a host of bands promising to deliver an evening of mystic allure. It’s a hefty four band bill, and Frozen Crown took the stage first, and with a formidable presence. Unleashing a torrent of epic soundscapes that seamlessly blended heavy metal with soaring melodies. This Italian power metal band is helmed by lead vocalist, Giada ‘Jade’ Etro, showcasing her range and charisma, effortlessly belting out powerful ethereal high notes, accompanied by virtuoso guitarist turned vocalist Federico Mondelli.
Read MoreIt’s a cold damp evening in between Halloween and Bonfire night. the generals are gathering in their masses at the Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool. This unlikely foothold in an otherwise sequined obsessed town has quite rightly become a real stronghold on the north-west gig scene. We are here to bear witness to an evening of no frills, uncompromising filthy rock n roll courtesy of the Black Spiders.
Read MoreTonight we are not in a cellar, which is good. Zanzibar is a decent venue with plenty of space and a good screen so that’s a good start.
Local band Seas Of Neptune kick things off. They play cheerful slightly indie-tinged rock interspersed with a bit of typical dry scouse wit. It’s not outright metal, leaning more towards maybe The Killers or even Arctic Monkeys for inspiration, but it’s hummable and well-performed. At the moment the band are a little raw and unpolished, but with a bit of elbow grease they might turn out to be a gem.
Read MoreThe spooky season is here in full effect in this old Mancunian town. For those who are up for a night of haunting melodies there is plenty on offer. Horror metal aficionados Wednesday 13 are plying their wares with a Murderdolls heavy set over in the academy (see review from Chester here). Modern day vampires Creeper are providing the scare jumps at the Ritz and electro pop troubadour John Grant is having a whale of a time with fake blood at new century hall. But we at ROCKFLESH towers have plumped for a ghoultastic evening of thoroughly modern metal here in rebellion with Defects touring their recent album “Modern Error” with the Bloodlines tour and they’ve brought along Knife Bride and Profiler to join in the fun.
Read MoreTonight Chester is getting its goth on. It’s only two days to Halloween so it’s quite fitting that the self-described mad Frankenstein drag queens that make up Wednesday 13’s entourage are here. It’s equally fitting that England’s favourite glam-goth wannabees South Of Salem are snapping at their heels.
Read MoreIt's fascinating how the entire inference of a tour can be altered by the simple switching of billing. The Pins and Knuckles’ sponsored Faces of Death tour was originally conceived as a co-headlining affair between Progressive metal core legends Veil of Maya and hotly tipped deathcore mainstays Signs of the Swarm. It was a nicely balanced mixture of genres that appeal to those who like to a bit core in their life. But then sadly Veil of Maya inconveniently went on immediate hiatus, Signs of the Swarm were promoted to singular headlining status, much fancied Danish deathcore proponents Cabal were given a berth and suddenly, Bob's your uncle, this tour leans much more towards a deathcore fan base.
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