Live Review : Geoff Tate + Kim Jennett @ Academy 3, Manchester on October 9th 2024

Nostalgia is a potent force. It’s your own personal Time Machine, allowing us to revisit the sounds and the essence of our past exploits. It also has highly redemptive and restorative powers. It allows the whitewashing of career indiscretions and focuses on the highs, while simultaneously burying the lows. Queensryche are case in point, as the 80’s morphed into the 90’s they seemed poised to join Maiden and Metallica in the really big league of metallic heavy weights. “Operation Mindcrime “had position them as the thinking person’s metal band and follow-up “Empire” increased tenfold their commercial clout, thrusting them into arena status. For a short smidgen of time they had the Midas touch and could do no wrong. Then grunge happened.

Live Review : The Acacia Strain + Fuming Mouth + Judiciary @ Academy 3, Manchester on July 3rd 2024

It would have been eminently straightforward to stick identikit deathcore acts bands on this bill and placate the two-stepping masses. However, taking the easy route through life has never been how The Acacia Strain have rolled. As Vincent Burnett, there are lusciously charismatic frontman, intones during their set, this is all about being surrounded by your friends and Judiciary and Fuming Mouth are very much part of their posse, even if they do play significantly different variants of extreme metal. In fact, tonight is a masterclass in how diverse American extreme metal has become and anybody who dares to proclaim that it all sounds the same is simply not listening hard enough.

Live Review : Rise Of The Northstar + Our Hollow, Our Home + Forager @ Academy 3, Manchester on May 15th 2024

When it comes to music, the French are having a pretty great time at the minute. They came 4th in the Eurovision Song Contest with an absolute stellar performance, Slift have released what many consider to be their album of year and Gojira are one of the biggest metal bands on the planet right now. Rise of the Northstar are the next band from our neighbours across the channel to represent their country when it comes to continuing this well received momentum. Donned in their trademark white Boiler Suits, the Hardcore/Nu Metal adjacent 5 piece have embarked on their Crank It Up Tour, making stops all across the UK and Europe.

Live Review : Tortured Demon + Red Method + Unburier @ Academy 3, Manchester on October 5th 2023

When I revealed to my kids that the band I was reviewing this evening was less than a handful of years older than they are, there were much cries of derision and solemn predictions that I would be the oldest person in the room by a good few decades. The actual truth is Metal's evolution is a funny old beast and alongside teens worshipping at the altar of artists old enough to be the Grandparents, it is also as usual to find a room full of seasoned metallers getting rather overexcited about a bunch of younglings chronologically able to be their grandchildren. Tortured Demon have both outgrown and discarded the novelty tag.

Live Review : As Everything Unfolds + Lake Malice @ Academy 3, Manchester on September 12th 2023

We manage to grab some quality interviewing time with As Everything Unfolds (here) and Lake Malice (here) before the show. Both interviews are both fantastically fun and interesting, but it does mean we end up missing tonight’s openers Tropic Gold. By all accounts their set went down great with the sold out crowd though, so we’ll be sure to catch them next time.

Live Review : Graveyard + Kadavar + Polymoon @ Academy 3, Manchester on May 4th 2023

The blues are the foundation on which all modern music is built. If you slice hard enough into any current genre, be it black metal or be it trap hop you will eventually find the blues. It is a quintessential cornerstone of everything we consider to be rock, pop, dance or metal. Sometimes it's a hidden, almost silent ingredient, but in others, it is worn very much on the sleeve. Tonight, is a case of the latter as this is a trilogy of young (-ish) bands delving into the past and creating authentic retro-blues rock that sounds like it has been plucked from an episode of old Grey Whistle test circa 1971.

Live Review : Finntroll + Skálmöld @ Academy 3, Manchester on April 6th 2023

Extreme metal is in the main viewed as being Poe-faced and guilty of taking itself far too seriously. However, this evening is very much the antidote for those assumptions. Skálmöld and Finntroll make perfect touring partners because they both lean into a sense of euphoric abandonment, a quintessential sense of fun and frivolity. They also share a deep connection with their respective countries’ musical heritage. Yes, this is metal but is metal honed by the indigenous music of Iceland and Finland.

Live Review : Esprit D'Air + Diamond Black + Dacara @ Academy 3, Manchester on February 22nd 2023

Opening for the night, Manchester’s own Dacara take to the stage with their brand of pop metal infused with themes from anime, videogames, and popular culture. This young band needs our support, and they certainly prove they deserve it with their energetic set. The songs touch on serious topics like calling out liars and those stuck in denial, but equally with fun tracks about weebs, sell-outs, and psychopathic anime girls. Fans of early Sertraline, Lake Malice and Within Destruction will enjoy their mix of bouncy and fun pop metal, which is reminiscent of a more rocky Future Palace.

Live Review: Bad Wolves + Hollowstar @ Academy 3, Manchester on December 11th 2022

There’s a healthy crowd in early for the upbeat and energetic Cambridge based openers Hollowstar. They go down very well with their fresh modern NWOCR sound full of punchy riffs, catchy choruses and songs that capture your imagination. There’s a nice cover of Skynrd’s ‘Simple Man’ thrown in there ensuring a rousing sing song from those old enough to remember it first time around and the generations since.

Live Review : The Vintage Caravan + Empyre @ Academy 3, Manchester on October 30th 2022

Those who have so kindly taken their time to read my reviews know that one of my biggest musical passions is Grunge. I am constantly making references to Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden etc and support act, Empyre, are what happens if you put the power and emotion of Grunge into a blender, with a sprinkling of the type of grooves you would associate with Mastodon and the intricacies and guitar flourishes that wouldn’t look out of place in a 25 minute prog rock Opus.

Live Review : Cassyette + Kid Bookie @ Academy 3, Manchester on September 15th 2022

Walking up to the Student Union Building I can see a ridiculously long queue and am momentarily perplexed. I push my way to the front, noting the support band are due on in five minutes and as I enter the building can see swathes of young whippersnappers on their way to Academy 2 for something obviously less palatable than the delights on offer upstairs.

Within minutes Kid Bookie takes to the stage. It is loud, louder than any other gig I have been to in here for a while, heavy, obnoxious and sweary. Described as rap rock (also trap rock – anyone?

Live Review : Lonely the Brave + VLMV + The Throwaway Scene @ Academy 3, Manchester on September 9th 2022

Arriving late (I know there is a theme emerging) I only caught the end of The Throwaway Scene. The venue is quite empty, but it is early, and it has been a surreal day after the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth yesterday. This trio are rock/ emo comprising a rather smartly dressed singer, a bassist, and drummer. Having no guitarist is weird, so we get a stripped back sound, but it works; a mix of clear, angsty but energetically delivered vocals with a heavy accompaniment. They have recently added the video for ‘Conscience Alley’ to YouTube, so give them a listen.

Live Review : Midnight + Night Demon @ Academy 3, Manchester on June 16th 2022

Night Demon are spectacularly good this evening because they don't try to be anything they are not, this is down-the-line rebel-rousing metal and it hits the spot with pinpoint accuracy. The guitar work is exemplary, minimal but with the occasional appropriate sprinkling of flair. They know that we don't want long convoluted solos, what we want are short well-defined bursts of power that we can bang our heads to and they provide it in abundance.

Live Review : Stöner + Slomosa @ Academy 3, Manchester on May 2nd 2022

Ahhh. Kyuss. The great could have been of modern metal. There was a point where they were set to inherit the earth. However, line up jiggery-pokery and record label indifference led to their dissolution in 1995. Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri would go on to form the far more successful, far more commercial, and simply just not as good Queens of The Stone Age. However, Kyuss left a legacy. A legacy that would grow and grow in prestige and scale to the point where their influence now far outweighs anything they achieved in their short time of actually being active.

Live Review : Monuments + Kill The Lights @ Academy 3, Manchester on April 22nd 2022

There’s a massive mix of rock, metal and punk punters in the Manchester Uni bar tonight, as we see a band from each genre filling Academies 2, 3 and Club. It actually makes for a vibrant and exciting energy in the building and a chance to catch-up with other Rockflesh staff for a pre-gig pint. It’s soon time for Ryan and I to make our way up to Academy 3 though, and despite having a photo-pass tonight I take up position just to the side of what will become the moshpit.

Live Review : Ward XVI + South Of Salem + Pulverise @ Academy 3, Manchester on December 18th 2021

Academy 3 for the third time in just over a month?! Yes but is this the last time for a while… Sigh...? I arrive fashionably late, as usual, and am greeted by lots of familiar faces, but the room is quieter than expected and I sense that some people are obviously keeping away, some are lurking at the back and there are lots more masks to be seen.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Samantha24 December 2021Ward XVI, South Of Salem, Pulverise, Academy 3, Manchester, 2021, Live Review, Samantha Harwood, Johann WierzbickiComment

Live Review : Punk Rock Factory + A New Hope @ Academy 3 in Manchester on December 2nd 2021

I arrive as A New Hope start their set within a fairly busy Academy 3. I would insert a Star Wars reference here but I know nothing and won’t embarrass myself so you can fill in for yourselves! Making my way to my usual position at the front I try to figure out their slightly squashed stage set up. A little way into proceedings it becomes obvious their singer is missing (apparently due to illness), so much respect to the band for going ahead with tonight’s performance. From where I am stood I see the drummer, guitarist and bassist. Behind the speakers I can hear someone else but I can’t see him.

Live Review : Wayward Sons + Anchor Lane @ Academy 3, Manchester on November 9th 2021

Oxford Road’s Academy 3 welcomes the Wayward Sons back to Manchester this evening for their eagerly awaited headline shows of 2021. With the recent release in October of third album “Even Up the Score” to promote, and with a ridiculously low ticket price of £12 and quality T shirts for just £15, where else would you rather be on a wet Tuesday in November?

Gig ReviewAuthor : Phil Beswick13 November 2021Wayward Sons, Anchor Lane, Academy 3, Manchester, 2021, Live Review, Phil Beswick, Gregg HowarthComment

Live Review : Phil Campbell And The Bastards Sons + Bastette + Ashen Reach @ Academy 3 on November 6th 2021

Live music on a Saturday night? On my birthday? In Manchester? Yes please. I might be gigging alone but as I enter the venue I remember what a great little space Academy 3 is.

I go back through the files in my brain and as usual (obviously my age) I draw a blank as to the last band I saw in here but I’m thinking maybe Clutch but that was a LONG time ago (before they were well-known and after I saw them originally with one of my favourite bands Corrosion of Conformity). Even further back in the annals of time I saw Jerry Cantrell in this room and what an absolutely mind-blowing experience that was…

Live Review : Mason Hill + Hollowstar + Empyre @ Academy 3, Manchester on September 25th 2021

You know what my first thought was about tonight’s bill when I was asked to come out and watch it? Any of the three bands playing could actually be headliners. Despite their different styles and their different strengths and weaknesses,I am genuinely amazed at the quality of some of the bands knocking about on the club-sized venue circuit in the UK at the moment. Tonight we are treated to three who are all different, yet also share an eagerness to make music and perform it, a keenness, a hunger. It’s good to see that although not a sell-out there is a decent-sized crowd gathered, and also good to see that most of them get in early and stay to watch all three acts.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Jo Crosby1 October 2021Mason Hill, Hollowstar, Empyre, Academy 3, Manchester, 2021, Live Review, Jo Crosby, Ryan HicksonComment