Moldova's Infected Rain blew us away with their set at Bloodstock Festival a few weeks ago, and we couldn't pass up the chance to see them play a more intimate venue in Manchester. Their take on modern metal is unique and dynamic, and in Lena Scissorhands they have a charismatic and engaging focal point. We managed to catch up with Lena for a chat prior to the gig (Interview HERE) and then were treated to a superb headline set.
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Body Count are a legendary force in the rap-metal scene, and their live shows are a testament to their enduring influence. In an era where genres constantly evolve and blend, they stick to their roots, delivering raw, unfiltered rap-thrash-punk rock that calls back to the origins of the genre while resonating powerfully with modern audiences.
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New Jersey’s GEL are a modern take on classic Hardcore. Let me explain. In a Hardcore scene that is currently built around dynamic evolution of the traditional sound and direction - different genres and sub-genres being poured into the mix - GEL return to the raw aspects and punk elements of classic Hardcore. Their delivery of an authentic representation of what started it all off to a new generation has generated a massive buzz around them.
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We’re seeing ever increasing crowds at prog- and tech-metal gigs these days. It’s not even just the sheer numbers, but the diversity in the crowds that is both exciting and encouraging. Tonight is another example of the clear growth of these sub-genres with Australian maestros Caligula’s Horse bringing along the phenomenal The Hirsch Effekt and the fascinating Four Stroke Baron.
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LANDMVRKS blew us away when we saw them live for the first time headlining Rebellion in 2022. Tonight, they step-up to the O2 Ritz and bring with them a stellar undercard as well. The night is a wonderful example of the best melodic metal-hardcore from across the world, with heavy riffs, classic hardcore vocals and anthemic melodies a plenty.
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French act Resolve have quickly become favourites at Rockflesh towers, with their blend of melodic metalcore. But they’re more than that. They break that pigeonhole with vibrant melodies and energetic groove. We did interview them in early 2023 (video interview) but this time they are back headlining Rebellion in support of their latest rather brilliant release “Human”.
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Transatlantic metal supergroup Kill The Lights are currently touring on the back of their new album “Death Melodies” and it’s a real treat to catch them in such an intimate venue such as The Star & Garter in Manchester. We manage to get an interview with vocalist James and drummer Moose before the gig (you can watch that here), and we’re promised songs both new and old from the now established and polished metal titans.
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Pupil Slicer have long been championed by Rockflesh, from the very seeds of their chaotic genius to the full bloom of their current status as underground darlings of every hardcore and alternative genre going. It’s fitting then that for their first headline UK tour they’re playing second album ‘Blossom’ in full. They’ve picked some unusual venues for this tour, and Manchester’s date sees us making our first ever trip to Salford’s art organisation The White Hotel. It’s neither a hotel, nor that white, and is in fact a repurposed industrial warehouse housing bohemian acts and events.
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Tonight’s headliners Filter have very rarely made it across to these shores, but have a loyal and passionate fanbase. Led by one-time Nine Inch Nails guitarist Richard Patrick, Filter mix elements of many different genres, but if you like early noughties industrial rock, with both light and dark aspects, then you’ll find something to enjoy in their vast collection I promise.
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Tonight’s headliners, Novelists, have undergone a recent changeup with Camille Contreras replacing Tobias Rische as vocalist. The four tracks recently released with Camille as singer have been impressive, and match the excitement the band have portrayed through social media. This European and UK tour is where many of us long-term fans can get a true feel for the songs, new and old, with this fresh line-up.
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All the bands tonight share something in common – they are very difficult to pigeonhole. No doubt it is that eclectic nature that has led to them being found on the same bill. Headliners Don Broco have embraced that sometimes poisoned chalice of being unashamedly unique and genre non-specific, in turn they’ve risen to heights that we could only dream of when first seeing them debut their video for ‘Hold On’ on ScuzzTV over ten years ago.
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Manchester Club Academy is already pretty damn busy as we enter the venue soon after doors for the excitingly packed bill of tonight’s Fit for a King headliner. It’s clear to see that there’s a mix of fans for all the bands tonight, even if their takes on the sub-genres target slightly different markers, and the anticipation builds and builds as we wait near the barrier for our opening act of the night.
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Distant start the show and immediately slam the early eager punters with their relentless Dutch deathcore sound. Their approach is delightfully brutal, seamlessly blending the most savage elements of tonight’s headliners with others such as Whitechapel and Thy Art is Murder, with the added gritty hardcore undertones reminiscent of Malevolence.
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Main support on this tour are Zetra, and to be honest they have a tough slot to go on before such a dynamic and unique headliner…but they themselves are no ordinary band. The London two-piece are nominally Adam (guitar and vocals) and Jordan (synths and vocals) and they’ve been knocking about since 2018. In that time they’ve gathered a collection of supporters from successful bands across the scene, including Sammy from Employed to Serve.
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German hardcore-beatdown masters Reduction take to the stage as opening act for this year’s edition of the annual Impericon Never Say Die tour. Despite the early doors, a rapidly growing crowd is immediately engaged by Reduction's relentless sonic assault, with a late afternoon circle pit even managing to erupt mid-set (featuring the first glimpse of an eccentric banana-clad participant).
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The singular support band tonight are ALLT, a hard hitting futuristic progressive metalcore band from Sweden. They take to the stage with backlit blue and white lights, and that backlit approach means for most of the set we’re simply left with silhouettes prowling the stage. ALLT are slick, professional and produce some impressive heavy modern metal. They soon get into their groove and take their set by the scruff of the neck, blending technical heaviness with anthemic yet gritty choruses.
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Spite kick-off the evening and immediately set the scene for the heavy deathcore night ahead. Despite it being an early doors there’s a more than decent sized crowd here for the openers. We’re also not waiting long for a double-kick drum onslaught. They’re a heady mix of brutal hardcore and nu-metal melodies mixed with vicious tech-metal. The guitar tones are meaty, djenty and have that deliciously techy sound.
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It’s an early start and we’re treated to Liverpool's Cut Short. The first thing that strikes you is the satisfyingly angular, stabby, quality of the guitars. They play with melodies that are layered over a backdrop of excellent almost scattery jazz-infused drums. It makes me think they’re trying to strike a delicate balance between the prog and tech-metal, but still need to hit on the perfect mix. The intricate guitar work fully supports this ambitious attempt, and their musicianship is solid and individual performances truly engaging.
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Brudenell Social Club is an institution, known across the nation as one of the remaining best independent venues for alternative music in the country. I've not been to a gig here for a few years now, but that feeling of familiar comfort mixed with excitement immediately hits as I walk through the door. It's been a crazy hot and sunny day, which made the matinee performance sweaty enough but, if anything, this evening it's a more intense heady mixture of humidity and anticipation.
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We make our way into the bar and down the stairs into the basement, a fairly tiny room by all accounts where we are greeted by Divided by Design noodling through their impressively technical instrumental proggy-tech-metal (despite some early technical issues). There’s an array of impressive guitar-work on display here, with fretboard skimming and blisteringly fast tapping, but it never seems to become overindulgent and the whole demonstrate an energetic stage presence.
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