Live Review : Vended + Lake Malice + Graphic Nature @ Rebellion, Manchester on June 21st 2023

Whilst Vended, Graphic Nature and Lake Malice all sound very different, they share two very important pieces of DNA. Firstly, they are building their fanbases online utilising direct social media interaction as opposed to stagnant record label endorsed marketing technics. That true kinship and ownership comes across loud and clear tonight and the power dynamic between artist and fan seems to exist on a much more unified plane. The other unifying factor is the diversity and variance of their musical reference points. 

Metal is at an incredibly interesting point in its ongoing linear progression. Nu-metal, the upstart nineties movement that in retrospect saved metal from its own excesses, has been resurrected by a fresh generation searching for Metal’s next evolutionary leap. There is a distinct difference between Generation Z and those that were custodians of our beloved metal before them. They don’t exclusively listen to metal in the way that we did. Spotify has changed everything and those cost driven division walls (you listened to what you could afford to purchase) have been torn down.

Openers Graphic Nature are fresh from a blisteringly well received download appearance in a heaving dogtooth stage. This evening it’s the same story as the venue is already packed out as they take to the stage. They emerge dressed in hooded windbreakers, all except the Harvey Freeman who is immediately prowling back and forth across the stage like a predator hunting for its prey. It is immediately clear that they are as big a draw as the headliners and a frantic mosh emerges early doors.

The connection between band and audience I mentioned above is highly evident and halfway through the set something quite incredible happens. Harvey gets the lighting tech to turn on the house lights so he can see the crowd. Yes, we have witnessed this sort of mass ego stroking before, but what Harvey does with it next is distinctly different. He asks everyone to raise their hands and then keep the hands raised if you’ve ever had mental health problems and then to keep it raised if you are male. The air crackles with honesty and compatriotism as Harvey testifies that when he was growing up, he wasn’t allowed to have “issues” and was told to man up. He expresses that he wants Graphic Nature gigs to be a safe space for anyone and it is evident that this isn’t just a gimmick. The set concludes with the heavy hitter ‘Killing Floor’ and as the final drop slams down, Harvey leaps into the pit to join the gesculating bodies. They maybe the opener but boy do they make an impact.

Lake Malice are also riding out on the back of a highly successful appearance at Download. In fact their went viral because of them giving a guitar to a punter on the barrier.  Live the duo of Alice Guala and Blake Cromwell are expanded to a three-piece, vocalist, guitar and drums, and from the get-go the crowd are besotted with them. In terms of sound their genre is undefinable. Its heavy (in places) but also melodic and intricate. Alice goes from amazing clean vocals into harsh screams and back again within the scope of a single song. 

‘Stop the Party’ has feelings of Nova Twins and Cassyette while ‘Bloodbath’ and ‘Blossom’ could very easily pass as Spiritbox numbers. However, they are firmly their own thing, mining hard on emotion, passion and authenticity. By wearing their vulnerability on their sleeves, they are speaking to the insecurities and loneliness that is at the heart of all of us. There is a conviction and self-awareness here that is frankly infectious.  

Ever since Vended came into the music scene with their debut album in 2021 they have been compared to Slipknot, which is inevitable given they are fronted by respectively the offspring of Clown and Corey.  The big question though is are they are more than a rich kids plaything? Can they shake this off the spectre of nepotism and live up to the hype?  Even before they hit the stage the answer is a firm yes.  You can taste the anticipation in the air and the expected tsunami of Slipknot merch is impressively matched by shirts and hoodies bearing their own moniker, which have sold out even at £35 a pop. .

They take to the stage to ‘Tainted Love’ with breaks in the track as each member emerges. The comparisons with Slipknot are unavoidable but there are other influences at play such as Soulfly and early Papa Roach. To be honest the most Slipknot sounding thing about them is Griffin’s vocals, which sounds identical to his old man. As expected he displays great stage presence and even though Rebellion is a small platform he’s utterly owns it, lording it over the sold out crowd. 

The biggest surprise is how much they seem their own band. It becomes abundantly clear the crowd are not here because it’s the sons of Slipknot, they are here for Vended and already know the words to every track. Their modernisation of the nu-metal sound has evidently hit a cord and whilst the shared genes haven’t done them any harm, you get the distinct impression they would be being fawned over even if they didn’t have notable papas.

For someone obviously brought up in enviable circumstances, Griffen comes across as incredibly grounded. He continually thanks Lake Malice and Graphic Nature and seems rather enamoured that bands of their pedigree are supporting his outfit. He also makes a point of thanking all of us for the experience. For someone who will not have had to want for anything he seems to take nothing for granted. The set is short because frankly they have nothing left to play but the crows still want more. The crowd chant and crow-call for at least five minutes and even the intervention of the house lights does not put off the die-hards up front, but we are done. 

In the same way that the thrash resurrection was fuelled by youngsters who weren’t there first time around putting a fresh spin on the genre, Nu-metal is not just being dug up and dusted off, it is being renovated and re-invented. The macho bullshit has been removed and instead we get a remarkably egalitarian and emotionally literate style, that readily embraces its weaknesses and failings. Vended are quite simply vanguards as opposed to opportunists milking their family connection. Pretty soon we will referring Slipknot as the band that Vended’s dads are in….

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Vended, Lake Malice, Graphic Nature