We’re back at Satan’s Hollow this time on the last Wednesday before December, and we’re going heavy and hard tonight! Before we have the gig, Johann and I dash to the venue to grab an interview with Cage Fight. And what an interview it is! Seriously, it’s one of the most chaotic, unhinged and fun interviews we’ve done yet, so definitely check it out HERE. But you’re here to read about the gig - so let’s get to it!

First up are ROCKFLESH favourites, the mighty Deified. Decked out head-to-toe in black, and ready to unleash their groove metal, they set about their work. There’s that Lamb of God and Parkway Drive feel to the St. Helens crew and tonight they perform exceptionally tightly and professionally. Their sound is still evolving though, with them hinting at something in new material that fuses even more subgenres. But there’s no mistaking their brutal metalcore basis with anthemic groove metal layered over the top. Jamie Hughes prowls the stage, conducting proceedings and delivering his evil, guttural harsh vocals to the growing crowd. As ever the guitar work is precise and the bass dynamic. It’s great to see these guys again and here’s to what they have to bring to us in 2023.

Deified at Satan's Hollow in Manchester on November 30th 2022 ©

Manchester’s Only The Righteous are next up and it’s my first chance to catch these guys live. Their start is delayed due to some technical difficulties, but that doesn’t seem to throw them off their game at all as they deliver a superb set. Very much for fans of Blood Youth, InVisions and Architects, there is plenty of modern nu-metal swagger and chugging groove to their sound. The atmosphere is cranked up a gear with loads of dry ice filling the stage and surrounding area, and green lighting gives the whole thing a both spooky and futuristic feel. Harnessing the ethos of nu-metal guitars but with a much heavier more metalcore tone and EQ is a great move. The higher range harsh vocals of frontman James Barnes are distinctive and align perfectly with his confident stage presence. The whole band are energetic and assured, but never in an overly brash or off-putting way. The crowd are noticeably engaging fully with the band and, despite Satan’s ‘no moshing’ rule, there is a great energy about the room. OTR really do have a great package of sound and performance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see big things from them soon.

Only The Righteous at Satan's Hollow in Manchester on November 3

Grief Ritual take to the stage as main tour support, and these guys are just a bit special. There’s black metal, hardcore, post-metal, sludge, grind and even delicate post-rock elements on offer here. At a time when lots of bands sound futuristic in their guitar tones and general spirit, there is something delightfully brilliant about a band that is captivating with a more organic and pure feel to their sound. I’m reminded of that vintage sound to Pallbearer’s guitar tone, but used as a layering in something more akin to other exciting bands like Ithaca and Mastiff, but also legends like Will Haven. The churning riffs and rhythms of one moment give way to deliciously discordant guitars, and then to a sparse haunting clean vocal driven segment. This is fresh, brutal, modern blackened hardcore at its best. The band clearly believe strongly in their material and art, which in turn makes the crowd buy into their performance, and I think the band almost shock the crowd with their softly spoken interaction between songs. But don’t be fooled, these lovely guys deliver a slab of metal that needs to be experienced.

Grief Ritual at Satan's Hollow in Manchester on November 30th 20

Finally, we have our headliners Cage Fight. At their core they’re a vibrant crossover of hardcore and thrash, but it only tells half the story. Coming from a wide range of backgrounds and influences you immediately see influences like Madball, Hatebreed, Terror and Biohazard, but thanks to the diversity of experiences and passions of the various members you also see punk, hip-hop extreme metal and tech-metal elements throughout their catalogue. It makes for a non-stop, up tempo, brutal yet rhythmic and catchy metal extravaganza. From the moment they step foot on stage, with intro music accompanying their entrance it feels like they’re a hardcore thrash A-Team, with each band member visually striking, unique and characterful. It matches their diverse sound, performance and whole sense of purpose. That’s not to say they are disjointed though, quite the opposite as the songs are expertly written with cohesion and purposeful structure. The riffs from James Monteith, are vicious and catchy, but also have his trademark technicality too. A great example being ‘Killer’, which still has just the right amount of techy experimental and syncopated elements, but is as brutal and groovy as you could ever want. Nick Plews provides a constant barrage of high-octane powerful drumming, and Jon Reid complements it all with precise punchy swaggering basslines. At the front of it all there is blue haired Rachel Aspe, striking poses and providing an unrelentingly captivating guttural onslaught of a vocal. Her vocals are pure and distinctive, with genuine vocal androgyny to them, in the best way possible – they aren’t bellowing or shrill, but rather cutting, visceral and at a perfect mid-range. Tonight is like the best parts of Despised Icon, Madball, Meshuggah and Jinjer all mashed together and offered up in one complete package. It’s also awesome seeing a band really enjoying their music and being on stage together. James and Jon in particular are grinning and striking poses with obvious glee. As they draw the gig to a close with the awesome ‘Hope Castrated’ the crowd immediately flood on mass to the merch stand, eager to show their support. Cage Fight have very quickly made their mark in the scene, but I’ll wager there’s even bigger and better to come from them.