Live Review : Fleshgod Apocalypse + Bloodshot Dawn + Frozen In Shadows + BruteAllies @ Rebellion, Manchester on February 16th 2020

There is a carnival atmosphere in Rebellion tonight. In fact, there is an actual birthday party going on complete with paper hats and badges. The Birthday boy with intent is celebrating the anniversary of his arrival on this planet in style and spends more time on stage than most of the bands. The upbeat playful atmosphere is also because the first half of the undercard is a distinctly Manc affair. BruteAllies and Frozen in Shadows have brought all their friends and families along to join in the fun. It may be 7pm on a Sunday but the place is packed from the off and pits start from the moment that the first note is blasted out. 

BruteAllies seem to be a greatest hits of extreme Metal. There is a snatch of thrash, a dollop of Death and big chunk of Black and all of them seem to be played at exactly the same time. They are fierce and brutal and seem intent on whipping up the malleable hometown crowd. This is music to make circle pits to and the aforementioned birthday deputation waste no time in chasing each other around the dance floor.

Footprints in the Custard are a veritable Mancunian institution, so it is no wonder that Russ’s other band (the frankly more serious and distinctly more clothed Frozen in Shadows) are treated like home coming heroes. This is big anthemic melodic death with a big fan-boy hard-on for late At the Gates and early Arch Enemy. They may have hangovers from the previous evenings show at HRH Metal in Birmingham but they still manage to make one hell of noise. This is the type of Metal that soars into the sky with massive riffs and then crashes down to the ground powered by pounding drums. They manage to balance frantic playing with a polished sheen populated by big sing-able choruses. They are gloriously good fun and the smiles stretch all the way back to the bar.

Bloodshot Dawn are veterans of the support slot position. Always the bridesmaid never the bride, I think I have seen them dozens of times warming up an appreciative crowd, but never as the headline act. There is a school of thought that their ship has sailed, but obviously nobody has told the band as they come out swinging. Whereas BruteAllies and Frozen In Shadows had rough edges that added to their charms on matter how much wellie that they put into it, Bloodshot Dawn come across as slick, professional and (whisper it) just a little dull. The songs are well structured and the crowd (well the birthday posse at least) are well up for it, it is just felt a teeny weeny bit formulaic. From where I stand, as good as they are, this could be any identikit technically proficient death metal act going through the motions. For me, it just lacked that spark to make it stand out from the crowd.

An upright piano and a soprano are not the usual Death Metal fare but Fleshgod Apocalypse are no ordinary band. This is not Metal with a sprinkle of pre-recorded orchestration, this is a full mash up classical and Death. The sound is murky as hell at first and all we can hear is piano and furious blast-beats, but slowly its settles and we can fully immerse ourselves in the utter majesty of this individualistic and totally unique act. Rather than be an afterthought, the operatic elements are as in important as the guttural riffs. The Metal and the classical entwines and builds together, creating great cathedrals of dense bombastic sound. The crowd go nuts and our friendly neighbourhood birthday bash take turns in instigating solo stage invasions.

Their last two records have both been excellent, further pushing the boundaries and ambition of this distinct symphonic/death collusion. And we dutifully get four songs apiece from “King” and “Veleno”. Stand out is 'The Day We’ll Be Gone’ from the latter. Veronica Bordacchini takes centre stage, her voluptuous and ethereal voice pairing exquisitely with the dark dense brooding guitars behind her. It is mystical and magical, though poor Veronica does have to stifle giggles halfway through over the moshpit waltzing that our Birthday buddies are partaking in. They sort of leave the stage and sort of don’t, but the audience still take the opportunity to bay for more. Francesco Paoli promises us not one, not two but three additional tracks. By now the sound is crystal clear. Francesco’s guitar duelling heroically with Francesco Ferrini’s piano. 'The Forsaking' ends the set and they exit one by one as the track grinds to a halt. But then they are back again for a curtain call and customary group photo and lots and lots of heartfelt handshakes. Tonight was one of those night where the furious passion of the audience matches the energy exuding on stage. This was in no way a passive crowd, this is one that was out to have fun and boy was fun had.