Owing to the appalling weather and elevated traffic getting into Manchester, Ghosts Of Atlantis (7) are already in full flow by the time I get into the venue and into the room. Fully dressed like they are ready for battle; they do their level best to rouse those present into moving. The drums are hitting square in the chest and the guitars are great. What really stands out is the interplay between the two vocalists, Phil, and Colin as they unleash their grit and clean attack, and its very impressive. What is a shame is the start time which has caught a lot out, leading to a lot of space on the floor meaning that they have missed out on a good set of songs. There will be more gigs in Manchester for them and you should check them out.
As the stage is reset for the next band, Ignea (8), more people are coming in and the room is starting to buzz. Like GOA, they have 30 minutes to lay a marker down and impress the crowd. With the new album Dreams Of Lands Unseen, they take to the stage and proceed to wow the crowd with their atmospheric and melodic metal. Vocalist Helle just dominates, switching from the most guttural of growls to operatic cleans sometimes on the same lyric line and they just seem happy to be here on stage. There is a sense of warmth between them in the way they interact on stage and it is enthusiastically received, they thank the assembled crowd for supporting Ukraine during the present conflict which is returned with cheers. It’s a great set of songs and they deserve to have longer on stage.
What is perplexing is the lack of movement from the crowd so far. I don’t know if it’s an age thing or a beer thing, but the crowd just seems a bit flat. This changes once the Butcher Babies (9) take the stage. I’m going to admit it now: I’ve never heard their music before and didn’t know what to expect. They came out and put a show on, Heidi headbanging like Tom Araya who then puts on a masterclass in audience engagement. She asks for a volunteer in the crowd to be her Pit Master for the evening, naming him the Kingpin. They start and it just erupts, no one is standing still now and on stage, everyone is moving, playing, headbanging the lot. What is more impressive is that she is on her own as ‘partner-in-crime’ Carla Harvey is in the US following eye surgery so the ground she is covering is amazing. She’s moving like Randy Blythe, growling and singing the cleans and just keeping that energy up. Fantastic stuff, just fantastic.
And now the main event, with a set list that takes in their recorded career to date from 91’s Soul Of A New Machine to their latest, Aggression Continuum this is the live equivalent of seeing a mix tape called 'Dino’s Bangers'. I don't think I’ve seen a set where everyone knew the words to every song and the place was rammed. Milo Silvestro, who in Dino’s words had some pretty big shoes to fill does it with a look of pure joy, nailing each song which just eggs the crowd on further. They come on and just battered the crowd who just exploded and didn’t stop from the opener Shock to the closer Replica.
As the stage is reset for the next band, Ignea (8), more people are coming in and the room is starting to buzz. Like GOA, they have 30 minutes to lay a marker down and impress the crowd. With the new album Dreams Of Lands Unseen, they take to the stage and proceed to wow the crowd with their atmospheric and melodic metal. Vocalist Helle just dominates, switching from the most guttural of growls to operatic cleans sometimes on the same lyric line and they just seem happy to be here on stage. There is a sense of warmth between them in the way they interact on stage and it is enthusiastically received, they thank the assembled crowd for supporting Ukraine during the present conflict which is returned with cheers. It’s a great set of songs and they deserve to have longer on stage.
What is perplexing is the lack of movement from the crowd so far. I don’t know if it’s an age thing or a beer thing, but the crowd just seems a bit flat. This changes once the Butcher Babies (9) take the stage. I’m going to admit it now: I’ve never heard their music before and didn’t know what to expect. They came out and put a show on, Heidi headbanging like Tom Araya who then puts on a masterclass in audience engagement. She asks for a volunteer in the crowd to be her Pit Master for the evening, naming him the Kingpin. They start and it just erupts, no one is standing still now and on stage, everyone is moving, playing, headbanging the lot. What is more impressive is that she is on her own as ‘partner-in-crime’ Carla Harvey is in the US following eye surgery so the ground she is covering is amazing. She’s moving like Randy Blythe, growling and singing the cleans and just keeping that energy up. Fantastic stuff, just fantastic.
And now the main event, with a set list that takes in their recorded career to date from 91’s Soul Of A New Machine to their latest, Aggression Continuum this is the live equivalent of seeing a mix tape called 'Dino’s Bangers'. I don't think I’ve seen a set where everyone knew the words to every song and the place was rammed. Milo Silvestro, who in Dino’s words had some pretty big shoes to fill does it with a look of pure joy, nailing each song which just eggs the crowd on further. They come on and just battered the crowd who just exploded and didn’t stop from the opener Shock to the closer Replica.
One of the things I loved about Fear Factory (10) was that machine-built precision on their records, the drums and guitar were just completely in synch and live they didn’t disappoint. Pete Webber (Havok) has stepped in for this tour and is just a sight to behold, just a constant blur of movement never putting a foot wrong. Javier Arriaga has also stepped in on bass for the current run of live shows, and he is everywhere, stomping that stage to bits. In Milo, they have a talent who knows how to command the crowd and it looks effortless. Dino, that phenomenal picking hand is on fire, and in the end, they deliver a night of pure metal entertainment.
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