Live Reviews – Page 3 – Wonderbox Metal

The Origin of Madness Tour – Enterprise Earth/Distant/The Last Ten Seconds of Life/Harbinger – Rebellion, Manchester – 27/02/25 (Live Review)

I didn’t want to miss the chance to see Distant and Enterprise Earth, so I have been looking forward to this show. The latter in particular keep impressing me, to the point where they are now easily one of my favourites when it comes to the deathcore and related styles.

It’s not one of the busiest shows I’ve been to unfortunately, (although it certainly wasn’t as empty as some), but for those in attendance it was riotously good fun. Continue reading “The Origin of Madness Tour – Enterprise Earth/Distant/The Last Ten Seconds of Life/Harbinger – Rebellion, Manchester – 27/02/25 (Live Review)”

Better Lovers/Frontierer/Greyhaven – Academy 3, Manchester – 19/01/25 (Live Review)

Now this is a lineup. All three bands I’d go and see in their own right, let alone all touring together. Tonight I feel like I’m in for a real treat. Morale is high as I enter the Academy 3, and it’s about to get a whole lot of busy. Continue reading “Better Lovers/Frontierer/Greyhaven – Academy 3, Manchester – 19/01/25 (Live Review)”

Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)

I’ve never seen Alcest before, so this was a great opportunity to remedy that, especially as the wonderful Svalbard were also playing. Doodseskader too, but I don’t really know them. Continue reading “Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)”

Hulder/Verwoed/Aristarchos/Ante-Inferno/Deathless Void/Burial/Slimelord – Rebellion, Manchester – 30/11/24 (Live Review)

It’s time for another high quality (mostly) black metal all dayer courtesy of the fine folks at Reaper Agency. Today was originally meant to have been headlined by the mighty Worm, but despite that unfortunately no longer being the case, they were never the only reason to attend. So let’s get on with the show – the day promises to be a very enjoyable one indeed. Continue reading “Hulder/Verwoed/Aristarchos/Ante-Inferno/Deathless Void/Burial/Slimelord – Rebellion, Manchester – 30/11/24 (Live Review)”

Winterfylleth/Wormwitch/Bizarrekult – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/11/24 (Live Review)

Now this was a show I knew I couldn’t miss out on. All three bands are great, and any one of them I’d have come to see. All three together? Unmissable. Continue reading “Winterfylleth/Wormwitch/Bizarrekult – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/11/24 (Live Review)”

Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. As always, the organisers are to be commended for putting on one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. I’ve been coming here most years for almost two decades now, and I’ve never yet had a bad day.

There are three stages. Two smaller stages that clash with each other, and a main stage that clashes with nothing. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)”

UK Slam Fest 2024 – Day Two: Saturday – Disavowed/Devangelic/Fulci/Anime Torment/Impurist/Anoxide/Spawned from Hate/Slug Gore/Colpocleisis/Type A Secretor – The Bread Shed, Manchester – 19/10/24 (Live Review)

Day two of UK Slam Fest. I couldn’t make day one unfortunately, but I had to make sure I was here for today. After all, it promises a glorious celebration of ugly heaviness. It’s brutal, fun, and had to be seen. The Bread Shed is not a venue I’ve been to before, but I like it and I’d happily come back here again.

Spoiler alert – this was a top day of brutality. Even Borat was in attendance, unexpectedly. Continue reading “UK Slam Fest 2024 – Day Two: Saturday – Disavowed/Devangelic/Fulci/Anime Torment/Impurist/Anoxide/Spawned from Hate/Slug Gore/Colpocleisis/Type A Secretor – The Bread Shed, Manchester – 19/10/24 (Live Review)”

Nile/Hideous Divinity/Intrepid/Pestifer – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/09/24 (Live Review)

Me, miss a chance to see the mighty Nile once more? Especially as they’re touring on the back of the very strong The Underworld Awaits Us All? No way. So I once again find myself in the loving care of Rebellion for the evening, and tonight it’s all about the death metal. Continue reading “Nile/Hideous Divinity/Intrepid/Pestifer – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/09/24 (Live Review)”

Saor/Cân Bardd – Rebellion, Manchester – 28/07/24 (Live Review)

I couldn’t miss an opportunity to see Saor again, especially on an event like this – the 10th anniversary of Aura. The entire lineup is good though, although getting to the venue tonight is not without incident, annoyingly. Continue reading “Saor/Cân Bardd – Rebellion, Manchester – 28/07/24 (Live Review)”

Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)

What an incredible lineup this is. I mean, just look at it. It’s ridiculous. I’ve never been to Fortress Festival before, (this is its second year), or Scarborough, but this was an event not to be missed. My words below won’t really do justice to what a great festival this was, but hopefully you’ll get a flavour of it at the very least.

Before we get into it – if you’ve ever read one of my live reviews previously you’ll notice that the quality of the photos used here far, far, far outstrips my usual meagre efforts. This is because I didn’t take them. I’m enormously pleased to say that they very talented Aleksandra Hogg captured and supplied all of these photos, and I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)”