It’s like the planets aligning, combining a date night (for the Wife’s birthday; Happy Birthday Bel, Love Ya!) with watching the cream of the UK metal scene in Manchester. What’s not to like? It’s no secret that I have a deep love for Heriot (10). We caught them the first-time supporting Svalbard at Yes in Manchester and I’ve had the pleasure to watch them grow from rough around the edges to the absolute behemoth they are now. Any time they are in town we have made the effort and in return they have consistently delivered a crushing night of metal.
Tonight was no different. Flanked by False Reality (7) and Grove Street (6), this was their final night of the tour which saw them sell out the Underworld on the way here, to Rebellion which has seen some less than stellar turnouts for bands you may think were more popular. Considering that it was a Sunday, the place was getting full for False Reality, who just turned up and went for it. The band formed in 2023 and checking online via Hassle Records they have garnered a strong reputation for their live performances.
It was fantastic, one of those moments where you go ‘Oh aye? What’s this?’ as they laid waste to a decent crowd. On vocals, step forward Rachel Rigby who made sure that despite some crushing guitars all eyes were fixed on her, who just constantly moved, geeing the crowd up, getting them to move. I really should have done my homework because all of their songs are new to me but not knowing them didn’t affect how well they went over with me at all. It was a huge performance from the 4-piece, who by their own admission have taken Hardcore as their base but don’t stay there, mixing in a number of genres to devastating effect and for me it’s the way they have done this so that each song had something different to say. I’m no Hardcore fan but there was something here that made me want to watch them again.
Next up were Grove Street, with a name that should be familiar to fans of GTA, who took the stage to a crowd whose anticipation was tangible. They have been around a bit longer than False Reality and that shows in how they commanded the stage tonight. It was perceptible step in how to work the crowd to your favour but for me there was something that didn’t vibe with me. Again, I hadn’t heard them before tonight and as a result went in blind to what they are about and ultimately how they sound. Stage wise, it was a display that I half-expected given the way that the crowd slowly wound themselves up prior to them starting. You couldn’t fault Ben (vocals) and Joe (Bass), locked in deadly competition for who could move the most on stage.
Tonight was no different. Flanked by False Reality (7) and Grove Street (6), this was their final night of the tour which saw them sell out the Underworld on the way here, to Rebellion which has seen some less than stellar turnouts for bands you may think were more popular. Considering that it was a Sunday, the place was getting full for False Reality, who just turned up and went for it. The band formed in 2023 and checking online via Hassle Records they have garnered a strong reputation for their live performances.
It was fantastic, one of those moments where you go ‘Oh aye? What’s this?’ as they laid waste to a decent crowd. On vocals, step forward Rachel Rigby who made sure that despite some crushing guitars all eyes were fixed on her, who just constantly moved, geeing the crowd up, getting them to move. I really should have done my homework because all of their songs are new to me but not knowing them didn’t affect how well they went over with me at all. It was a huge performance from the 4-piece, who by their own admission have taken Hardcore as their base but don’t stay there, mixing in a number of genres to devastating effect and for me it’s the way they have done this so that each song had something different to say. I’m no Hardcore fan but there was something here that made me want to watch them again.
Next up were Grove Street, with a name that should be familiar to fans of GTA, who took the stage to a crowd whose anticipation was tangible. They have been around a bit longer than False Reality and that shows in how they commanded the stage tonight. It was perceptible step in how to work the crowd to your favour but for me there was something that didn’t vibe with me. Again, I hadn’t heard them before tonight and as a result went in blind to what they are about and ultimately how they sound. Stage wise, it was a display that I half-expected given the way that the crowd slowly wound themselves up prior to them starting. You couldn’t fault Ben (vocals) and Joe (Bass), locked in deadly competition for who could move the most on stage.
Sound wise, there were a lot of similarities with False Reality in terms of the Hardcore slant but with a different application to it. Both executed rapid guitar work but I felt that Grove Street’s sound was ‘lighter’. They worked hard to keep the energy levels high and this was reciprocated by a rapidly filling room ready for the main event which places me in the minority but I didn’t get the same feeling watching them as I did with False Reality. Putting my view to one side, they were incredibly well received from start to finish which says more about my taste then it does for the audience and shows that they have the fan base there to make that next step.
By the time Heriot come on, I think everyone had suffered enough with the 80’s school disco playlist. Cathy Dennis, 5 Star (Rain Or Shine, anyone?) and then Bang. They are on and just go. The floor is now packed and I’ve never seen Rebellion like it, especially on a Sunday evening. Its rammed and it’s about to go off. Greeted like conquering heroes, they launch into Sentenced to the Blade sounding like a modern-day apocalypse. Any notion of writing notes whilst this is going on gets binned straight away with the pit opening up almost immediately without any cajoling from Debbie who takes up the mantle of ringleader from hell (in a nice way).
By the time Heriot come on, I think everyone had suffered enough with the 80’s school disco playlist. Cathy Dennis, 5 Star (Rain Or Shine, anyone?) and then Bang. They are on and just go. The floor is now packed and I’ve never seen Rebellion like it, especially on a Sunday evening. Its rammed and it’s about to go off. Greeted like conquering heroes, they launch into Sentenced to the Blade sounding like a modern-day apocalypse. Any notion of writing notes whilst this is going on gets binned straight away with the pit opening up almost immediately without any cajoling from Debbie who takes up the mantle of ringleader from hell (in a nice way).
Their growth as performers, from being slightly unsure of how to do it to now being completely assured is incredible. Each knows instinctively what is required and are probably one of the tightest bands I’ve seen in an age. Its one thing for the band to be good and we have seen it before where the audience are lacking . Not tonight, Rebellion were up to the challenge and matched them as banger after banger detonates. It’s a set that is designed to bludgeon with little time for between song chat and to be honest its refreshing that they don’t feel that they have to rely on it and that they know the music is strong enough to say what is needed to be said.
And it sounds great, dual vocals are on point offering the guttural and the higher registers which compliment Erhan’s crushing tone and Jake’s rumbling bass. You pick up on everything especially during the rare moments of quiet where they use that silence to amplify the incoming attack. I mentioned growth and tonight it’s their as each knows where they need to be with Debbie front and centre to continue the cajoling although I don’t believe anyone stood still for a moment. And if Debbie didn’t get you, then Jules did, constantly gesturing from behind the kit.
And it sounds great, dual vocals are on point offering the guttural and the higher registers which compliment Erhan’s crushing tone and Jake’s rumbling bass. You pick up on everything especially during the rare moments of quiet where they use that silence to amplify the incoming attack. I mentioned growth and tonight it’s their as each knows where they need to be with Debbie front and centre to continue the cajoling although I don’t believe anyone stood still for a moment. And if Debbie didn’t get you, then Jules did, constantly gesturing from behind the kit.
It was performance that harnessed brutality and sheer talent. I’ve seen clubs that are full but aren’t necessarily engaged with the band. Tonight, everyone was there for them with no exceptions, carried along by a display that shows why they are being hailed as one of the best extreme metal bands in the UK. If they can continue that growth on the next release then this could have been one of the last times I will see them in a venue like Rebellion.
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