Live Review : Saor + Cistvaen + Oakenthrone @ Rebellion, Manchester on March 14th 2026

Given that Thrice are playing just down the road and Wolfbastard are celebrating their rather spiffing new record at the Star & Garter, Rebellion is impressively full for this celebration of British black metal. The size of the crowd heralds the buoyant scene that exists within this country. In fact, this is a scene within the scene, as Oakenthrone, Cistvaen and headliners Saor all specialise in an introspective and transcendental version of black metal that is highly atmospheric and contemplative.

Oakenthrone are a studio project made flesh. On record, local boy Simon Nagington plays every instrument and composes every note, however for the move into the live arena, he has recruited an impressive backing ensemble, including Andy Hunt from the late lamented Pist on drums. This is a brooding, desolate take on black metal. It rejects all the theatrical pomp of the genre and instead concentrates on its haunting nihilism. This results in a highly personal and beautifully bleak sound that evokes the turmoil of real life rather than faux mythology. Whilst Simon is currently beavering away recording Oakenthrone’s proper grown-up debut record, tonight’s set is exclusively mined from their recently released retrospective record “Paths Once Trodden”. Powerful and penetrative, tonight’s set provides a fitting line in the sand before they head off into potential new directions.

Cistvaen are rather a word-of-mouth sensation, with lots of written and proclaimed about their 2024 debut “At Light’s Demise”. Hailing from the deepest darkest south-west, this is the first time they have made it to the northern climes of Manchester. Their version of Black Metal consists of alternating textures and juxtaposing waves. They go heavy and then light and then heavy again. This is akin to being plunged into ice-cold water and then hauled back into the warm summer air. The contrasting velocity and pressure work incredibly well, creating an enchanting and entrancing cauldron of sound. We are in the preserve of long, drawn-out tracks, so yet again we get just four songs (all from the above mentioned record). There is an impromptu hiatus between ‘At Light’s Demise’ and ‘Cessation of Hope’ caused by an on-stage malfunction, but the band weather the storm admirably. There is playful banter with the audience before suddenly everything kicks back into gear. Overall, a highly accomplished performance that impressively showcases the shades and depth that is possible within black metal. 

Saor are another one-person studio project that is brought to life with a bevy of highly competent live musicians. Many members have passed through the ranks since Andy Marshall started this malarkey 13 years ago; however, this iteration of the live set-up has been pretty constant for the last couple of years. This evening they are frankly astonishing, a heady and atmospheric swirl of sound that wraps the inherent nastiness of black metal in melodic splendour. With Cistvaen the jagged brutally and fragile harmony came in contrasting but fiercely separate waves. With Saor, they exist simultaneously in a continually shifting marriage of bleak and brightness. The windswept folk elements combine with the pounding black metal, blending together to create something that is significantly bigger than the sum of the parts.

A key component of what makes Saor so special is multi-instrumentalist Ella Ziotos. Her use of traditional instruments such as tin and low whistles and the Uillean pipes, not to mention our own highly ethereal vocals, wraps each track in a spellbinding, haunting trance. The pipes are low and lingering, a slow, fragile sound that magnificently complements the fury of black metal. It is that constant weaving of different but harmonised musical entities that makes the evening is interesting and enriching. Even the guitar parts of Nicholas Bise and Martin Rennie entwine in and out of each other, constantly fluctuating in style and tone.

Like the calm centre of a tumultuous whirlwind, band leader Andy Marshall stands in the middle as the perennial constant. His voice soars from barked bite to soothing fragility. He marshals on the galloping intensity, then happily ushers in the soothing deceleration. The Sylvan Embrace is especially evocative and entrancing. It is a slight but sturdy woven tapestry of otherworldly sounds that entraps the listener. Beautiful but also infused with rugged harshness, it is far and away the highlight of the set and the already bewitched crowd are subdued into silence. 

Tonight, Saor prove that cruelty and calmness can co-exist. They show that Black Metal can be an evocative and entrancing canvas on which to explore our relationship with Mother Nature and the need for a harmonious realignment with the natural world. They are cinematic and widescreen, bringing to life via music the rough organic splendour of Andy’s beloved Scottish homeland. Spirited and spectacular they create a cloud of ethereal wonder that manages to live on long after they exit the stage. Absolutely astonishing.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Saor + Cistvaen + Oakenthrone