Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)

Psycroptic, Ghost Bath, and Underdark were originally part of a larger event, (with a pretty damn sexy lineup), that got cancelled for reasons unknown. In its place is this very enticing show, with only these three bands surviving the cut. It was a relatively late change, with the tickets not transferring, so I was hoping that this new event would have sold enough tickets in its own right to have a decent-sized crowd for the bands. Regardless of the turnout, I’ve been looking forward to this, Psycroptic especially, as I’ve never seen them and they’re one of the best tech death bands in existence.

Underdark

Apparently I’m too late to catch openers Trenchfoot, but thankfully I’m here for Underdark. Having enjoyed 2021’s Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry and 2023’s Managed Decline, I’m glad I got here in time for their set.

Underdark’s blackened presence is well-received. They benefit from a good sound, and their songs come across very well, with both power and more nuance than you typically get live.

The band’s singer is the obvious focal point – shrouded in white initially, with a piercing scream and deep monstrous growls. She spends a good amount of time off the stage at a couple of points too, up close with the crowd. Her performance throughout has a gravitational pull all of its own. During the last song – Managed Decline II, one of their best – she walks off near the end, through the crowd, up the stairs, past the bar, and into the bowels of the venue, never to return. The rest of the band support ably throughout the show, providing a strong backdrop of soundscapes that range from beauty and introspection to rage and devastation.

Underdark were really, really good. The crowd roar their approval, and it is clear that their set has been a firm hit. Get out and see them if you can.

Ghost Bath

I’ve seen Ghost Bath once before, (shockingly, eight long years ago!), but am looking forward to seeing them play material from their last two albums especially, (Self Loather and Rose Thorn Necklace), as their darker, rougher edge is much appreciated by yours truly.

Ghost Bath make their presence known in no uncertain terms, tearing out of the stage with their specific brand of depressive black metal and ferocious intensity. I really like their combination of heaviness and aggression on the one hand, and melancholic beauty on the other. Live, their aggressive side is emphasised, but not to the complete exclusion of melody and atmosphere.

The band put on a good performance, with the bassist in particular really getting into it. The songs are well-delivered, and I’m quite happy watching them do their thing. Ghost Bath’s firm grasp in the material is readily apparent, and their black metal hits the spot with those in attendance.

Good stuff from Ghost Bath, with a strong, enjoyable set.

Psycroptic

As a huge fan of Psycroptic, (check out 2015’s Psycroptic, 2018’s As the Kingdom Drowns, and 2022’s amazing Divine Council), I’ve been waiting to see them for years, (I ended up missing them at 2017’s Damnation Festival, sadly). They’re a band that just seem to keep getting better and better, so expectations are high.

Opening with Cold, Psycroptic showcase their impressive precision with a mostly clear, potent sound. The singer’s a bundle of energy, and boasts a charismatic, engaging, and humorous personality. He gets a circle pit going for second song The Watcher of All simply by asking for it. New song Architects of Extinction bodes very well for the future, and goes down a storm.

We Were the Keepers, dedicated to Sean from Ingested, demonstrates Psycroptic’s superlative merging of technicality and melody. Introduced as a “nice thrash number”, Frozen Gaze throws out the chunky riffs like boulders rolled down a hill.

When they unleash Ob(Servant)‘s surgical ferocity, the crowd go especially wild. The same can be said of Carriers of the Plague too, really, and is delivered with gusto by the band.

I love Psycroptic’s ability to bring emotion into a style that typically lacks it. This is apparent in so much of their material, but exemplified by a song like Enslavement, which is just wonderful tonight.

Psycroptic are a premiere league band and deserve to be playing to the biggest venues tech death has to offer. Still, I’m extremely happy they’ve played at Rebellion. They give the crowd absolutely everything, and leave as victors.

Make Psycroptic your tech death band of choice, for both your live and recorded pelasure. You won’t regret it.