The 80s are calling, and the Rebellion has answered. A night of heavy metal is in store, pious and pure, with studded leather, red bandanas and leopard print leggings the uniform tonight. This is one of the most glittering crowds to date at this Manchester main-stay venue, you could pluck any punter at random, throw them on stage with a microphone or guitar, and they’d look the part at least.  

The Rattlebacks are tasked with warming up this good-looking crowd, and they really turn up the heat fast. Clearly inspired by 80s era hard rock stadium bands, The Rattlebacks deliver a performance worthy of an arena stage, an impressive feat considering the band only formed in 2021.

Artists in every sense of the word, the sound, aesthetics and atmosphere crafted by this British five piece are nothing short of stellar, a professionalism so deeply rooted it begins to read as venerable. So many influences colour both the music and frontman Josh Clarke’s strapping vocals; powerful and resonant, it’s almost as if Eddie Vedder and Axl Rose are doing a duet, showcasing how dynamic this band really is, a genre-blending, distinctive, decade-defining collision that both pays homage to its inspirations and creates something refreshing and authentic, revitalising the hard rock genre. While the genre has evolved since its inception, its core ethos remains unchanged and prevalent in the performance: raw, energetic and unrelenting, especially when Tailgunner’s bassist Tom joined the band for their last song, Judas Priest’s ‘Breaking The Law’.

Founding members and godbrothers Max Horn and Coxy trade solos, their soaring guitars cutting through the bolstering rhythmic barrage from aptly named bass player Jack ‘The Hell’ Hollamby and Seth Markes beating on the drums. The band conjures a wall of sound that is both nostalgic and invigorating.

The Rattlebacks are the torchbearers of a genre that inspired generations, but that is also forgotten in modern music, brought back from the brink of death many times, both 80s glam hard rock and 90s grunge are lovingly coaxed into flourishment by this band.

Next up, party powerhouse Battle Born, hailing from Southampton originally but Skyrim spiritually, they rush the stage like an invasion of Norse Warriors swarming the British Isles some thousand years ago. Jack Reynolds, our viking vocalist, steps forward, brandishing a microphone. “Are you ready Manchester?” he calls, eliciting a wave of enthusiastic roars.

The opening notes of their namesake song ‘Battle Born’, is grandiose and whimsical, transporting us to worlds of myths and legends in just the first few clear tones of the dual guitars. The crowd are adrift in a sea of sound, reminiscent of Blind Guardian and Judas Priest (1988’s “Ram It Down” album in particular) thanks to Jack’s falsetto screams.

The band are very uniform with their leather vest ensemble, but, as expected of a quirky keyboardist, Will Kerr looks most prepared to slay a dragon. His vest is adorned with resplendent pauldrons resembling dragon scales that glint under the stage lights as he flits between providing leading guitars and melodic piano pieces, stood by his keyboard with his guitar still draped over his shoulders, he throws his mane of hair back to better concentrate on providing a hefty portion of the band’s overall sound.

Joining Will on guitar is stoic Tom O’Dell, having been involved in multiple bands and solo projects, his past efforts are seeped in dark fantasy and riddled with references to Tolkien’s epic The Lord of the Rings. Tom seems to be vital to the composition of Battle Born, as their music unfurls like a tapestry woven with threads of Norse mythology, Arthurian legends, and fantasy literature, ambitious yet masterful with rousing choruses, stirring power anthems and crowd-participation parts that make for such an entertaining set. Battle Born are polished, but know how to have fun, though make no mistake, this isn’t pop-tinged, synth-saturated generic power metal. This is passionate and primal, a lineup of individuals so committed and competent.

As the night deepens and the Rebellion grows hotter, the atmosphere thickens with the intoxicating release of energy extracted by Battle Born, but the crowd wants more. Forged in underground metal bars and guitar shops adorned with posters of influences such as Iron Maiden and Helloween, Tom Hewson formed Tailgunner from the embers of his own adoration for the NWOBHM genre, desperate in his quest to find bandmates, determined to join the ranks of his heroes and take to the stage to play metal.

Tom’s stage presence is frenzied, he is electrified by the stage and the crowd, throwing the stock of his bass into the front row before leaping from the stage himself, riding the punters in the pit as he chugs through the set.

The band are running through their “Guns for Hire” album tonight, a fast-paced album that melds the frenetic aggression of heavy metal with the soaring melodies of power metal, unleashing an unrelenting gallop of anthem after anthem. Fronted by the charismatic vocalist Craig Cairns, the band has an energy that is simply unmatched and infectious.

There is no shortage of stage props and choreographed beats in this performance. Wielding a gun, holding up the Union flag, synchronised headbanging, Tailgunner know how to put on a show and the crowd are hungry for more of this dazzling band. The mosh pit erupts, a swirling vortex pulsating like a living entity; an organism of metal where individual identities dissolve into collective chaos, unified under a sign raised by Craig, reading ‘Welcome to the Revolution’, to go along with the track ‘Revolution Scream’.

Rhea and Zach manage the guitar parts with cascading solos, lightning-fast finger-tapping and the moves to match, often finding each other to stand beside and strum together. They keep the crowd busy, trading solos and licks, as drummer Jani takes a moment's rest from his furious drumming, and Craig has a quick costume change. 

Finishing with a thrilling tribute to Ronnie James Dio himself, Craig breaks into the gentle cooing beginning of ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, his voice soft and tender, as if he wasn’t screaming at us a moment before. It is an excellent choice for a closing song, the venue swells with the collective karaoke performance of the crowd, as per Craig’s instructions to help him out on this one.  

Tailgunner not only honoured their heavy metal roots but also demonstrated why they remain one to watch within their genre, they have crafted a unique identity that invoked the nostalgia of their influences while showcasing their original sound; a blend of soaring anthems and rich harmonies, laced with ferocious, spirit-stirring solos.

Outside, the gritty streets of Manchester await, teeming with shadows on this quiet Thursday night. But inside the Rebellion, time stands still. Here, amidst the chaos and noise, metal reigns supreme—a celebration of the music carved from the echoes of a bygone decade, and the unyielding passion of those who create, and those who love to listen.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Tailgunner + Battle Born + The Rattlebacks