Live Review : Hypocrisy + Vomitory + Vreid @ Academy 2, Manchester on May 1st 2026

To have one successful band is an achievement; to have two is rather confounding. There is, of course, the plaudits involved in hitting the jackpot consecutively, but the dedication and devotion involved in keeping the wheels going in two separate units calls for plenty of tenacity and perhaps a dollop of self-adulation. Hypocrisy is no longer Peter Tägtgren’s sole day job. His industrial plaything Pain, has now morphed into an endeavour that takes up as much time and energy as the band he began thirty-six years ago. It must be a meticulous balancing act, as it does feel that as soon as he comes off the road with one band, he is back on the road with the other. But Peter is nothing but a grafter, and this evening feels like a celebration of a true Renaissance man of metal.

He is also brought out with him an impressive undercard of metal mainstays. Main European support Abbath has been left on the other side of the channel, but we still get the considerable heft of fellow Scandinavians Vreid and Vomitory. Whilst the latter have been going on first on the continental section of the tour tonight, that running order is inverted and it is the Norwegian progressive black metallers who are the first out the traps. Emerging from the ashes of black metal trailblazers Windir, Vreid interestingly mesh progressive tendencies with a forthright rock 'n' roll aesthetic. It feels like a combination of Kvelertak's swagger and Enslaved's dense instrumentation. They get a measly half-hour set and are therefore only able to present two songs from their rather spiffing new record “The Skies Turn Black”. But even with limited stage time, they put down a firm marker that they are doing something rather special within a well-healed genre. ‘Into the Mountain’ is epic, but also has an infectious groove. They use black metal's atmospheric intent but tilt it towards a more melodic and upbeat appeal. Highly enjoyable as well as being infectiously entrancing.

Vomitory self-describe themselves as archetypal Swedish death metal and they have certainly been around since early on in the scene's inception. Whilst they have never reached the heights of Entombed, Unleashed or Grave they seem to be having quite the afterlife, having returned from hiatus in 2018. Both 2023 comeback effort “All Heads Are Gonna Roll" and this years “In Death Throes” have been well received, and they take to the stage to a rapid and receptive crowd desperate for music to run around in circles to. There is something fantastically vital and vociferous about well-done death metal. It’s the crunch and sheer weight of the penetrating riffs. This evening Vomitory take no prisoners. For half an hour they just accelerate, high octane number after high octane number. A brilliant display of the powerful passion of pristine death metal. Just wonderful.

Hypocrisy are the last word in dependability. Peter and Mikel Hedlund have been doing this for so long that they are telepathic in their delivery. There are no solos or unnecessary interaction this evening. Instead, it is a foot to the floor celebration of why this band is so revered. With all Peter Tägtgren’s extracurricular activities, it is not surprising that there is no new product being promoted during their comprehensive march around Europe and the UK. Instead, this tour offers an opportunity to dust off several tracks that seldom see the light of day. This evening ‘Inferior Devoties’, ‘Deathrow (No Regrets)’, ‘Carved Up’ and ‘Killing Art’ all make welcome returns to the set. The latter two are particularly well received as they hail from “Abducted” considered by many as their high-watermark.

Whilst this is strictly classed as melodic death metal, it has a much harsher and brutal feel to it than other examples of the genre. Tracks such as ‘End of Disclosure’ and ‘Eraser’ are frantic and furious, fueled by pulsating riffs and bristling drumbeats. The only let-up during the hour and 10 minutes is the fairly new song ‘Children of the Grey’ which temporarily slows down the tempo. However, even in its more subdued pacing, it is still a beautiful but blistering cacophony of notes, very much a signal that in nearly four decades of producing records, they have never once sacrificed quality control. Peter is not in a particularly chatty mood, preferring instead to lean back into his machine gun like waltz through their thirty-six-year history. However, he does take the time to thank us for choosing this room as our destination out of the myriad shows taking place in the University tonight.

Whilst the room is not full, it is impressively populated, and you can feel the devotion oozing from the front rows. Over the years Hypocrisy have cultivated a passionate and committed following, and it is obvious that their devotees from across the country have gathered here this evening, given that their only other UK show on this tour is a London festival appearance on Saturday night. In fact, the heaving of the cauldron of human flesh is a Babel tower of different languages and accents, once again highlighting the band's position on the continent.

‘Fractured 'Millennium’ and ‘Warpath’ usher in the encore. Both tracks fantastic constructs of grizzly guitar and malevolent melody. But it is with ‘Roswell 47’ that the roof metaphorically comes off the place. As the title had been howled at the band by some quarters since the beginning of the show, its appearance feels heralded and expected. It is still a brilliant and spikey slice of anthemic glory fuelled by a soaring chorus and crunchy hooks. He may be the master of two juggernauts now but this evening, Peter Tägtgren looked perfectly content once again captaining the good ship Hypocrisy. A fantastic reminder of just how good this band are.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Hypocrisy + Vomitory + Vreid