Sometimes the bit before Christmas is actually better than Christmas itself, and when a gig showcasing three of the UK’s best genre-blending metal bands is offered up the weekend before the big day you can’t help but think you’ve been given your presents early. Rapidly rising nu-metal modern metal deathcore champions Graphic Nature have brought to Manchester the superb crossover melodic thrash of Grove Street and the triumphant return of the angular hardcore rock metal giants Feed The Rhino.

Grove Street (check our Bloodstock 2024 interview here) take the stage first tonight on this Christmas treat of a gig. They have a distinct crossover sound which is accessible and dynamic. It’s a classic melodic thrash sound that clearly blends the influences of Suicidal Tendencies and Biohazard but shaken-up with a British take on that hardcore vibe. As always, their set tonight is energetic and engaging, with both the on-stage passion and musical vibrancy plain to see.

They manage to strike a perfect balance between that nostalgic thrash element and a crossover freshness that keeps everyone invested throughout. The overdriven phased tone of the guitars is delicious, and Ben ‘Sully’ Sullivan’s presence and delivery has that confidence and swagger you see with bands like Kublai Khan and even the mighty Anthrax. There’s more to come from these guys and it’ll be a pleasure to see their hopeful rise.

For a long time, it seemed that we’d lost the mighty Feed The Rhino to the annals of fond memories. It’s no surprise then that with their comeback confirmed for these two support slots with friends Graphic Nature the fans were in raptures. There was never another band like Feed The Rhino, and there still isn’t to this day – which is why I was so excited for their return. They mix hardcore, anthemic rock and groove metal like no one else, and it doesn’t take long for the grin to spread across my face as the band, triumphantly led by frontman Lee Tobin, charge onto the stage to show us all what we’ve all been missing.

Brutally smashing their way back into our faces with classics like ‘Behind the Pride’ and ‘The Burning Sons’ they’re as fantastic as I remember them. The aggressively emotive vocal delivery bordering on unhinged one minute and beautiful clarity of the choruses the next is unmatched. Their songs have endured so well with the fans that we’re singing along to the same catchy anthemic choruses at the tops of our voices as we ever did. The jagged, angular and uncompromisingly crisp guitars help drive the songs along with the churning bass and drums unleashing every chance they get. Tobin is like an uncaged animal with lengthy beard jutting out into the crowd as he controls and commands the joyous chaos in front of him. Thank goodness Feed The Rhino are back, and I can’t wait for more from the lads in 2025.

Kent heavyweights Graphic Nature step onto the stage with an unassuming air (check our RADAR 2024 Festival interview here). In dim lights the band take up their positions, as ever clad in windbreakers with hoods drawn up, while frontman Harvey Freeman prowls across the front of the stage, complete with shorn locks, setting the tone as they launch into their set. That reserved entrance quickly transforms into a relentless, menacing, and electrifying performance. These guys are the real deal, delivering a sound that channels the energy of Alpha Wolf, Pitchshifter, and Vacant Stare. Fans of those bands are in for a treat when they catch these guys live.

The sound is spot on from the start and gives us the opportunity to really savour an intense showcase of their repertoire. The guitars, especially during the gritty, up-tempo sections, exude a distinctly Emmure-like vibe, sat with a level of technical skill that's possibly easily missed to the untrained eye. Both the bass and guitars are in fact intricately crafted but made to feel like a consistent wall of vicious metal, while the drumming is simply hit perfect. Meanwhile Freeman’s raw and aggressive vocals serve as the focal point of their songs, maintaining the visceral energy that fuels their entire set.

Tracks like the early release ‘Chokehold’ highlight the band’s dynamic range, seamlessly shifting from sinister, growling riffs to high-speed chaos, culminating in crushing breakdowns, all underpinned by relentless drum and bass rhythms. Yet Graphic Nature aren’t just about their crushing sound, as the band is deeply committed to raising awareness about mental health, particularly among men. Between songs, Freeman once again uses their position to explain to the crowd about the importance of talking and mental health, met with enthusiastic cheers and applause from the whole venue. Graphic Nature’s unique blend of styles and sound sets them up as an important act in the UK metal scene, and if you haven’t seen them live yet, make it a New Year’s resolution to get along to one of their gigs in 2025.