Live Review : Deez Nuts + The Acacia Strain + Unity-TX + Brothers Till We Die @ Rebellion, Manchester on January 30th 2023
Brothers Till We Die from Madrid, Spain open proceedings with their passionate and organic take on deathcore. You can definitely hear both the death metal and hardcore influences, but it's not necessarily like they're trying to mix the two, instead styles constantly switch between them and on the whole it works well. The vocals are reminiscent of Rok Rupnik from Within Destruction and perfectly complement the intense songs, which are similar in style to Malevolence, but with a little less nuance. The guitar work might not be super intricate, but it packs a powerful punch. The songs are intense and reminiscent of Malevolence, but not as nuanced. And let's not forget the happy hardcore interlude/intro segments! All in all, this band is definitely worth checking out for fans of Cabal and Suicide Silence. For any fan of deathcore then these guys are certainly worth a listen.
Unity-TX have got a similar vibe to Biohazard and Cypress Hill with an added nu-metal guitar tone and early Korn feel to the instrumental aspect. If you're a fan of Blood Youth and Cane Hill, you'll definitely enjoy this band. The energy and aggression they bring to the stage is undeniable. Having said that, here's a fine line between getting the crowd going and straight-up insulting them. It’s the problem when you have hardcore-kid-roundhouse-kicking in the pit because at a variable genre gig like this it stops loads of people from getting involved. Not the band’s fault of course, and I get that they want the crowd to be excited and pumped up I just hope they realise that they were genuinely going down really well with the crowd even if there wasn’t an entire room flinging itself about. As a note, the frontman was super humble and personable off stage, and they definitely collected some new fans tonight. They've got the talent and the energy to make a massive impact If you're a fan of aggressive rap or hardcore metal you'll definitely enjoy this band, just be prepared to push your crowd interaction boundaries.
Main support are The Acacia Strain, a band that always brings genuine heaviness. That includes a mix of death metal, hardcore, and most other heavy metal-ness you can think of…but don’t call them deathcore, you’ve been warned! Think of a cross between Thy Art Is Murder and After The Burial, with plenty of techy and death-tech-metal vibes. They also bring the groove, with technicality, and that dirty snarling guitar tone that makes the crowd lap up every second. When that first chorus drops Vincent Bennett throws his mic right out into the crowd and lets the audience take over. The sing-a-long, engaging and collaborative feel of the performance continues all the way through. The energy and passion these guys bring to the stage is contagious and makes for one hell of a live performance. It’s worth noting that the song titles alone are a major standout - ‘Feed A Pigeon Breed A Rat’, anyone? I’d put these guys up there alongside Fit For An Autopsy for live experience and intensity. So definitely The Acacia Strain are a must-see for anyone who loves genuine heaviness, with a mix of death metal, hardcore, and everything else thrown in.
Headliners Deez Nuts are a favourite of mine, and they really are the real deal when it comes to live hardcore punk metal. JJ Peters is a true frontman, and his charismatic delivery and interaction with the crowd is infectious. his charisma and enthusiasm on stage is contagious and he certainly knows how to get the crowd going. He's got the stage presence and energy that just sucks you in. Their rap-tinged hardcore punk has all the elements you need complete with anthemic choruses we all sing along to. Yes, as you can guess I was right down front, banging my head to the filthy, driving guitar, rumbling bass and pounding drums. That infectiously cheeky and mischievous on-stage persona from JJ is only bettered when you notice him spending the rest of the night running the merch stand. There’s something charming, and genuinely punk, about watching such a down-to-earth guy connect with fans one-on-one. So, if you're a fan of genuine hardcore punk metal, Deez Nuts is the band for you. They're a force to be reckoned with and their live shows are not to be missed. So, grab your ticket, get down the front and get ready for one hell of a pit!
Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Providing insights into anything-core or tech-whatever (will review for craft beer).