There’s a massive mix of rock, metal and punk punters in the Manchester Uni bar tonight, as we see a band from each genre filling Academies 2, 3 and Club. It actually makes for a vibrant and exciting energy in the building and a chance to catch-up with other Rockflesh staff for a pre-gig pint. It’s soon time for Ryan and I to make our way up to Academy 3 though, and despite having a photo-pass tonight I take up position just to the side of what will become the moshpit.
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There’s a fair few gigs on in Manchester at the same time as this offering, so it’s great to see a decent crowd turning up early and eagerly for this varied bill. First up are local support Hunter & The Wolves who offer us their take on rocky alternative indie. They remind me very much of Hot Hot Heat, and quite clearly have plenty of influence from The Strokes. There’s definitely a heavy American alt-indie vibe to the songs, with the vocals in particular demonstrating that trademark swagger and drawl.
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I’ve not reviewed a gig at the Liverpool O2 Academy before, even though I’ve been many a time as a punter, so as we climb the never-ending staircase I feel like I’m taking in everything new and afresh. In fact that’s an experience we’re all still coming across as we venture to more and more gigs following the return to live music with the reduction in restrictions from the pandemic. I honestly didn’t know if I’d get to see Killing Joke live every again in all honesty, so I’m eager and excited to be at a gig for one of my favourite bands ever.
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During the pandemic While She Sleeps launched a members subscription service called Sleeps Society via the Patreon platform. The intention was to further the band’s intention to take back the music industry for the bands and fans, and as such the service affords the bands the ability to connect directly with their fans and in turn the fans can contribute, have access to exclusive content, merchandise and in this case the first ever members only gig. Later in the night While She Sleeps frontman Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor will proclaim the importance of being part of a metal and punk community, and that WSS was always meant to represent more than a band, it was meant to be a community, and tonight it feels like the culmination of those intentions.
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First up are Heriot who take to the stage with a backing track of digital hardcore style bass and crashing noise. The lights go red and they’re ready to go. A moment’s silence and then their vocalist screams “Manchester take a step forward!”. Blimey that woke me up. We soon learn that her piercing scream is actually also her singing voice, and is layered over violent blast-beats and a churning barrage of noise.
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Let it be known that the warriors of Rockflesh Towers will not be put off by a bit of wind! I am of course referring to the storms battering the nation at time of writing rather than anything more constitutional. Fortunately, the bands and a hardy few punters are also willing to brave the stormy weather for a bit of Sunday night experimental metal. I say experimental because much of what is on display tonight may be called challenging by some…and joyously unique by others. And, yep you guessed it, I’m in the latter camp.
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Clashmute are a last-minute addition to the bill following Ghost Iris having to pull out of the remaining dates of the tour due to a positive COVID-19 test (gutting as I was very much looking forward to seeing those guys perform their new album). They kick off proceedings with their aggressive hardcore-tinged brand of Killswitch Engage style Metal.
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This is the second time I’ve been along to Jimmy’s in Liverpool for a gig, and I’ve got to say I’m fond of this place already. The Honeycomb Pale Ale alone is worth a visit! First up are Liverpool’s very own Atanamir. There’s a heavy doom, stoner, sludge vibe with these guys but mixed with enough groove and thrash Metal to keep it fresh and intriguing. In fact, they sound very reminiscent of Crowbar.
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The Saddle Inn in Chester has reinvented itself as The Saddle Rock Bar, and is trying its hand at a few ways to generate the appropriate vibe (including band themed bedrooms in the hotel section!). One of these ventures is to use the renovated outhouse as a tiny gig venue called G21. It probably only holds 35ish people but is free to hire and is perfect for young aspiring bands putting on intimate gigs. Ryan and I make our way through the already busy pub (there’s a Foo Fighters tribute band on in the main pub later that night) and across the beer garden. Having had a chat with some of headliners Aleya (awesome chats I should add) we make our way into G21.
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I’m dashing to get to the venue for the earlier start time, only to read online that Kill The Lights have pulled out of tonight’s show due to illness. As it turns out, they’re fine to play the next night, so who knows what the illness was. Anyway, I cross my fingers that it means longer sets from the remaining two excellent bands, and as it turns out we get good lengthy sets from them both.
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It is weird being seated in a Philharmonic auditorium for a prog-rock gig, with hardly a head bobbing along to each song, let alone any other action. No circle pits or walls of death tonight my friend! Antimatter are the only (non-advertised) support on this tour, and they’re fundamentally now Mick Moss’ solo project. Tonight, they perform as an acoustic guitar/electric guitar dark/prog-rock duo, and as the crowd make their way in and to their seats there is a gentle murmur of appreciation.
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First on are hardcore thrash merchants Last Wishes. We’re only about five bars into the first song and the roundhouse-kick-brigade are in full force. This guys sound a lot like Madball or Terror, and when they hit their stride remind me of very early Stick To Your Guns. They’re intensity and passion is contagious and the energy in the room remains high throughout their set. They do lose my attention at points with repetition within songs, and the guitar tone is a tad tiring with the nu-metal mid scoop.
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It’s my first time reviewing at Victoria Warehouse, although I’ve seen plenty of stuff here as a punter, and as I join the long queue there’s plenty of anticipation for the great night of varied metal ahead. I catch our photographer Ryan before he’s able to use his photo pass to duck the queue (damn him!), but actually everyone is chatty and in high spirits for the night ahead despite having to stand around in the cold with COVID passports at the ready.
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It’s been a while since I’ve been along to The Live Rooms in Chester. Yes, yes I know there’s been a pandemic or something going on, but even factoring that into the equation the churn of heavy or alternative metal bands going through Chester remains limited. The schedule leading up to the turn of the year seems to be putting a change to that. This is a Sunday night gig though, and it’s been moved to the front bar rather than the main room. A small stage houses the bands to an attentive and decently sized crowd and atmosphere.
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First up are Aleya who impress with their varied take on tech-metalcore. They’re straight into it, with no introduction to the crowd, delivering their brand of Bury Tomorrow style song-process, through Blood Youth new nu-metal heaviness, out to Northlane or Erra influenced tech-metal. In fact, Erra are the closest match to this young band of any potential ‘for fans of’ suggestions. This is a young band finding their feet, but there is definitely something here with these guys.
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It's my first time in Jimmy’s, and my first metal gig back following the lockdowns of the pandemic. I like the vibe in the venue – the staff are welcoming, offering me their own Jimmy’s brews, all served beneath the neon signs and lava lamps flooding the walls. It has the feel of a rock bar, and that’s something you don’t actually see that often these days. Meeting up with Rockflesh overlord Johann, we move downstairs into the gig venue. It's certainly intimate, and has an awesome DIY punk feel to the whole place. I leave Johann to dash down the front as I set-up shop at the back of the room…about five people from the front of the stage still!
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Beartooth’s Disease tour has finally landed in Manchester, and it’s an exciting prospect to see them on such a big stage for their own headline show. Add to that the chance to see The Amity Affliction, and the UK’s very own up-and-coming hot property Higher Power, and you’ve got a real treat for a cold and blustery Friday night in February. As I make my way to Academy for tonight’s gig I’m shocked at the length of the queue. I knew the gig was sold out weeks ago, but I’ve never seen such a massive queue for a gig at Academy before – for all those saying Metal and Rock is dead, then tell that to all the mainly young metallers stood freezing in the cold tonight!
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There’s something satisfying about a two bands bill, as long as both bands step-up to the task. If you only take one thing from this review, then it’s that both these bands are a fantastic treat live and you’d be a fool not to catch them next chance you get. Got that? Still here though? Then let me continue…
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Gigs at Club Academy are always interesting, as the venue itself is pretty unusual. It’s the shape of the venue – it’s a club. Sounds obvious, but it does sometimes pose a conundrum to bands who don’t know how to bring the crowd together from various perching points on the stairs/ramps all the way down to the moshpit. No such problems for opening act Maid of Ace who are four sisters from Hastings that make full-on punk-rock. And they’re damn good at it.
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The Arts Club in Liverpool often feels like a miniature amphitheater, what with its steeply stepped forum and decorated auditorium, so it seems a fitting venue for such a theatrical band as Sleep Token to bring their mysterious act to bear.
Local act Exploring Birdsong are an intriguing addition to the prog scene. The late 2019 release of their EP “The Thing With Feathers” has pushed them more explicitly into the limelight, and support slots of this stature will only serve them well.
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