On a freezing Tuesday night, fans of Wheel are treated to an extensive, value-packed set, rewarding those who braved the cold for the Finnish-based prog-metal band. For some, the dedication runs even deeper - like our Scottish mate, who made a 7-hour round trip from Scotland just to catch their performance!
Read MoreThe spooky season is here in full effect in this old Mancunian town. For those who are up for a night of haunting melodies there is plenty on offer. Horror metal aficionados Wednesday 13 are plying their wares with a Murderdolls heavy set over in the academy (see review from Chester here). Modern day vampires Creeper are providing the scare jumps at the Ritz and electro pop troubadour John Grant is having a whale of a time with fake blood at new century hall. But we at ROCKFLESH towers have plumped for a ghoultastic evening of thoroughly modern metal here in rebellion with Defects touring their recent album “Modern Error” with the Bloodlines tour and they’ve brought along Knife Bride and Profiler to join in the fun.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreCreeping around the dark corner into what feels like a witches cave, this vespertine exhibition of siren songstresses is just getting revved up and already the venue is filling out. The merchandise is set up in its usual space facing the bar, patrons peeking over their shoulders to marvel at the display of artwork as they wait in line for a beer.
Read MoreIt’s a crisp evening in Manchester, and the crowd are eager as they queue outside Rebellion with hopes of setting sail on a voyage led by symphonic-pirate-metallers Visions of Atlantis. The headlining band are fundamentally known for their captivating symphonic metal inspired by tales of the sea, and have been selling out venue after venue on this tour with their nautical nights of symphonic-metal dynamism. It’s another full-house tonight and the place is buzzing with anticipation, a palpable sense of musical narrative adventure hanging in the air.
Read MoreEmbarking on an evening of dark bewitchment, Rebellion Manchester hosts four enthralling metal bands with Romanian rockers Bucovina at the helm. The essence of the night is Folk Metal, with mystical melodics taking centrestage, charming medieval quirks, and the undeniable stench of the Scandinavian metal spirit, blackening the night.
Read MoreHarbinger top the bill in what is otherwise a showcase of local talent for this all-dayer at Rebellion. There’s a mix of styles on display, but at the core if it all is metal, and some unique and fresh takes on various sub-genres at that. It’s an early start, and we’re told the venue has plenty of footfall from the mid-afternoon doors until the evening when we land at the venue.
Read MoreTonight the inaugural UK deathcore tour organised by promoter Dead Species rolls into Manchester after starting off in Newcastle last week. As a Brucey bonus Draconian Reign have been added to the roster after having to miss the first date due to illness within the band. First to take to the stage are Bournemouth’s To Obey A Tyrant.
Read MoreThere was a time in the early 2000s where Ill Niño were everywhere. Ripping up the tent at Download. Appearing on the Roadrunner Road Rage tour with Spineshank and Chimaira. Even singing about your favourite stripey jumpered horror icon on the epic soundtrack to Freddy vs Jason. To the nu metal kids of the time, these guys were massive, and tonight more than two decades later, Ill Niño take to the stage again in Manchester.
Read MoreDeath metal was envisaged as a repugnant knee-jerk reaction to the excess and blatant commerciality of eighties hair metal. It was meant to burn bright and leave a grizzled corpse. However, something caught and nearly 40 years later Death Metal is in rude health. Tonight is an interesting and potent mix of obnoxious upstarts, cult heroes and venerated legends of the genre. Rebellion is heaving and the generational mix is both fascinating and varied.
Read MoreMoldova's Infected Rain blew us away with their set at Bloodstock Festival a few weeks ago, and we couldn't pass up the chance to see them play a more intimate venue in Manchester. Their take on modern metal is unique and dynamic, and in Lena Scissorhands they have a charismatic and engaging focal point. We managed to catch up with Lena for a chat prior to the gig (Interview HERE) and then were treated to a superb headline set.
Read MoreFrench act Resolve have quickly become favourites at Rockflesh towers, with their blend of melodic metalcore. But they’re more than that. They break that pigeonhole with vibrant melodies and energetic groove. We did interview them in early 2023 (video interview) but this time they are back headlining Rebellion in support of their latest rather brilliant release “Human”.
Read MoreThe Mondays at the G-Mex, Oasis at Maine Road, Morrissey (before he became a racist twit) at the MEN and The Roses at Heaton Park. To the lexicon of great Mancunian homecomings we can now add Ingested at Rebellion. Despite the ludicrously early start time the place is heaving from the get-go. There is a fevered atmosphere that consists of a potent mixture of expectation and civic pride. Every conversation seems to major on our own individual roles in Ingested’s majestic ascension to the death metal top table.
Read MoreSome shows loom large in the memory for many moons to come. Midnight’s inaugural visit to this fair city back in June ‘22 is one such instant. Tales of masked men hanging from support beams and unheard-of reserves of ravaged energy have been passed around the metal fraternity ever since. It has achieved such a legendary status (of course we were there, our review can be found here) that their return to Manchester less than two years later has become something of an event. Rebellion is impressively packed out for a Tuesday, with an audience made up of those who were lucky enough to be in the Academy 3 24 months ago and their mates who have been dragged along to enjoy the spectacle.
Read MoreWe are continually told that guitar music is dead. The mainstream piles on the narrative that rock music has had its day, and it is simply a forgotten genre in its death throes. If this is the case somebody has forgotten to inform the hundreds of multigenerational attendees that have packed out Rebellion for the last couple of nights. The simple fact is that death metal is sticking its finger up at all this "guitar music is out of fashion" nonsense and is becoming more vibrant and important by the day.
Read MoreOrbit Culture have been touted as being “the next best thing” since “Nija” appeared during the pandemic days. Despite only just embarking on their debut headline tour, after 10 years of being a band, they have earned acclaim from the likes of Trivium and Machine Head. Having blown us all away opening for the former last August, they are very much a band on everyone’s lips. All bar a few shows on this inaugural UK/EU slog are sold out, and the ones that still have a few tickets to be snapped up, are sure to be at at full capacity come show day.
Read MoreTonight’s headliners, Novelists, have undergone a recent changeup with Camille Contreras replacing Tobias Rische as vocalist. The four tracks recently released with Camille as singer have been impressive, and match the excitement the band have portrayed through social media. This European and UK tour is where many of us long-term fans can get a true feel for the songs, new and old, with this fresh line-up.
Read MoreThe stateside ground zero for Death metal used to be the tropical climes of Florida, however over the intervening years it has shifted westward and now the epicentre resides in the Lone Star state of Texas. Creeping Death and Frozen Soul are both examples of just how exciting modern American death metal has become. They have respectively evolved this art form by taking it back to its core routes. They have turned their back on the pick-and-mix shunt job that death metal had become and sought solace in their Bolt Thrower and Carcass imports. This is death metal shawn of its pretensions and re-engaged with its brutal ferocity.
Read MoreMost musical sub-genres have the lifespan of a Mayfly. They bloom and wither before the ink is even dry on the requisite hyperbole. Death metal has had a counterintuitive evolution. Born 40 years ago it completely bucks the trend by managing to go around in infinite circles of regeneration. Currently, it feels more vital and fuller of life (pun very much intended) than it ever has. Baest are one of those new generation of death metal acts who are deftly managing to remain steadfastly authentic but also bring a dimension of light and shade to the music. Basically death metal long ago stopped being an underground phenomenon and has now become one of the primary movers that are shaping modern metal.
Read MoreWithin the ranks of our very particular community, Evil Scarecrow have ascended to the lofty position of national treasure. This distinctly odd and ramshackle act has not only carved out a niche in our collective hearts but they have managed to transcend genres and tribal barriers. Tonight's audience is pulled from all over metal’s multicoloured subdivisions. We stand united by one thing, a desire to dance and embrace the silliness in a world that is becoming darker by the day.
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