Live Review : Resolve + Windwaker + Tropic Gold + Ashen @ Academy 3, Manchester on January 29th 2026

Tonight is a farewell to Resolve. Well, to some of Resolve. Ok, to some of the songs of Resolve. It’s the end of the cycle for ‘Human’ and with it they are looking to shelve the majority of the songs from both that album and ‘Between Me And The Machine’. In the future it will be the new album and sound that they’ve showcased in the three new tracks on ‘Extended Cut: Human’. But before all that we get a headline set delivering all the songs we’ve grown to love over the past few years, together with a packed undercard.

ASHEN step out first to set the tone for the evening. They look far too self‑assured for an opener, stylish and composed, carrying themselves like a band who already know exactly what they’re doing. Their modern melodic metalcore lands with an infectious confidence, the kind that spreads through the room before the first chorus even hits. Vocalist Clem Richard is a force from the outset, delivering note‑perfect harshes and cleans with a delightful balance.

The guitars snarl with that mid‑scoop nu‑metal flavour and the whole thing evokes the best elements of Wage War and Thornhill without ever feeling derivative. It’s cohesive, intricate, and polished, and the band command the stage with a unity that makes their set sparkle. As openers go, ASHEN redraw the baseline.

Tropic Gold follow with a very similar energy but in a different guise. They’re lean, focused, and carrying a male‑fronted Lake Malice vibe threaded with Siamese‑style melodies. Another stripped‑down trio, but you wouldn’t know it from the sheer density of sound they push out. Yes, it’s heavily tracked, but instead of feeling inflated, the layers give their set a thick, groove‑laden weight. The guitar tone crunches exactly where it should, modern and muscular, while the drums absolutely stomp, hitting with that heavy‑but‑hooky punch reminiscent of Thrown and Northlane.

What elevates them is the vocal performance of Jacob Parris - versatile, emotive, and controlled, never tipping too far into angst or aggression. It’s the anchor that keeps everything grounded. Tropic Gold make a slim lineup feel expansive, delivering groove, grit, and a surprising amount of polish. They know exactly what they want their sound to be, and they hit it with precision.

Main support comes in the form of Windwaker from Australia. It’s their first time in Manchester, but they strut out like they’ve already conquered the place, and clearly plenty of fans have been waiting a long time for them to visit. They arrive with a level of slickness that feels almost engineered and hyper‑styled – sugary and unmistakably a big pull for those in the crowd swooning to band’s looks. The coat, the hat, the hair… it’s all of a certain aesthetic. Take it or leave it, I guess.

Musically, they’re like a techy Pierce The Veil filtered through TikTok. The cleans lean heavily into the whiny end of the spectrum, the guitar tone feels strangely undefined, and the hooks never quite materialise. There are some decent flirts with Normandie’s melodic punch and Siamese’s dramatic flair, but it still doesn’t fully commit. Windwaker are undeniably slick, and there’s clearly an audience for this hyper‑sweet, hyper‑styled strain of alt‑metal, but for me it’s not quite there.

From the moment headliners Resolve stride onto the stage, it’s obvious how far they’ve come. Visually sharper, sonically bigger, and carrying themselves with the confidence of a band who’ve grown into proper headliners, they radiate a maturity that none of the earlier acts could touch. The enthusiasm is still there, still infectious, but now it’s wrapped in a slick, professional presence that elevates everything. Their melodic hardcore‑infused metalcore has levelled up massively since across their two albums and they are at the top of their game now. The melodic passages land right in that sweet spot for fans of Normandie or Don Broco, while the heavy sections hit with a While She Sleeps‑style punch. They move effortlessly between crushing intensity and atmospheric stillness, and the setlist showcases that range perfectly.

Anthony Diliberto’s vocals shine brilliantly tonight - rich, powerful, and loaded with that genuine passion and grit elevating them above the rest of the bill. Resolve have always had strong songs and live they feel so much more physical and powerful. What really stands out is how every member performs like they’re headlining a festival. Suited, booted, bounding across the stage with charisma to spare, they’re worlds away from the band we saw supporting Landmvrks on their first UK headline run. This is a band who’ve grown into themselves completely. Of course, there is that bittersweet edge to the night, though. But the future belongs to the new era teased on ‘Extended Cut: Human’, and if those tracks are any indication, Resolve are gearing up for something even bigger.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Resolve + Windwaker + Tropic Gold + Ashen