Opening for the night, Manchester’s own Dacara take to the stage with their brand of pop metal infused with themes from anime, videogames, and popular culture. This young band needs our support, and they certainly prove they deserve it with their energetic set. The songs touch on serious topics like calling out liars and those stuck in denial, but equally with fun tracks about weebs, sell-outs, and psychopathic anime girls. Fans of early Sertraline, Lake Malice and Within Destruction will enjoy their mix of bouncy and fun pop metal, which is reminiscent of a more rocky Future Palace.

Their brand new single ‘NICE TRY’ is a standout, with its sassy, fun, melody and groovy beat. Emma Shippen's voice is a highlight of the night, powerful and crystal pure, hitting the highs perfectly. The song ‘REPENT’ has to be heard to be believed live with highs reaching the sky. Meanwhile, guitarist David Dyson seems like a possessed devil, racing about the stage and at one point playing on the floor during the final song (or was he changing batteries on the fly…). The addition of dirty vocals from the guitarist and bassist lift the performance when needed, and their cover of Kingslayer was simply awesome. The only minor critique is that the balance of the drums on this occasion was possibly too full-on, but with more experience the band's cohesion will only get better.The band also have a cohesive look that fits well with their green and black futuristic colour palette, designed by their branding and artwork designer Myth O'Kell. In fact, Dacara don’t look like a local support act but rather a first on tour support. They need to play live more to hone their skills and build a bigger following, but with their distinctive image and unique sound, Dacara is a band to watch out for in the Manchester scene.

Dacara at the Academ 3 in Manchester on February 22nd 2023 ©Joh

Fronted by Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy, the London three-piece Diamond Black state they will “take you on a journey through crushing riffs, cinematic choruses, and mesmerizing melodies”. It’s a strong claim, and to me they are almost like a goth-not-tech version of Voyager, but there’s no denying Diamond Black is a treat for any fan of the genre. As the band takes the stage, you can't help but be drawn in by Ben Christo's amazing quiff and the bassist’s stunning red hair. When Christo opens his mouth to unleash his very polished lead vocals, the entire room is electrified, which must be immensely pleasing for him after taking only taking lead vocal duties since last August. On their first song, Diamond Black, I’m sure I notice some solo bits that are not quite executed perfectly, but that's just a small blip that isn’t dwelled on in an otherwise flawless and slick performance. In fact, the more they play the more confident and clearly enjoyable the band find the experience. As the night progresses, I hear shades of Queensrÿche and The Cult, but Diamond Black takes those influences and certainly put their own twist on it all. They’re a fully realised vision of what a gothic rock/metal band can be, and when Christo comes to the front for his guitar solos, it's by a frontman who knows his crowd. If you're a fan of HIM or The Mission, then Diamond Black is the band for you.

Diamond Black at the Academy 3 in Manchester on February 22nd 20

Are you ready to be mesmerized by the soaring, sensual, and sophisticated sounds of Esprit D'Air? If you're a fan of Japanese metal, this band is a must-see. Formed in London in 2010, they saw success with single ‘Shizuku’ being used as the only ever J-Rock song on Rock Band, but then disbanded that year only to be reformed by lead guitarist Kai as a solo project in 2016. Their music is a fusion of various styles, including rock, metal, electronic, and Japanese music, and while their early work was clearly primarily influenced by J-rock and visual kei, the sound has evolved to incorporate more Western vibes and tech-rock elements. Kai is back tonight in Manchester with his band showcasing their latest album, “Oceans”. As always their music features dynamic, heavy guitar riffs and intricate drumming, as well as electronic elements and atmospheric synth sounds. ‘Ocean's Call’ has a full-on gaming assault synth intro that leaps into a bouncing and soaring tech-rock metal ditty. ‘The Abyss’ is a more classic tech-metalcore offering, with Ryo Kinoshita (previously of Crystal Lake) providing dirty vocals on the recorded version, and it’s worth mentioning the recently re-released ‘Shizuku’, with embellishments from producer and Earth Caller keyboardist Misstiq, is now being used on Rock Band 4. The vocals are very loud in the mix tonight, but Kai demonstrates a really good range. It's interesting that a lot of that tech-metal intricacy is found on the synth backing track, with the live rock guitar added in. The songs are catchy, anthemic, and showcases all the elements that make an Esprit D'Air song - the tech chugging guitars and stomping drums, with flowing videogame-esque synths breaking into the beautiful Japanese language vocals floating over the top of the jagged guitars and syncopated snare hits. The crowd love it when Christo makes an appearance for his album collab ‘Dead Zone’, as well as for the encore closer cover of ‘The Trooper’, which has everyone grinning. If you're a fan of Japanese metal and looking for something fun and energetic, Esprit D'Air is a band that shouldn't be missed.