t’s been a while since I’ve been along to a gig at O2 Victoria Warehouse, so it's good to get my bearings again before Radar Festival is held here later this month. Whilst it’s sometimes reassuring for things to remain the same, I’ve got to say with this venue it’s not that great a trait. As usual while the photographers get direct access, the reviewers have to queue up with everyone else (not even affording us O2 priority access). What it means is it's a race against the clock and a 30min queue to get in for the opening support band. That’s not a great scenario for us or them I’d suggest. I’ve got to be honest and say the security, stewards and bar staff also range from friendly and efficient to rude and clueless. The full gambit. How they can get it so right at the O2 Ritz and yet so wrong here I haven’t a clue.

In any case, I manage to dash through the entrance just in time for the second song of openers Brand of Sacrifice. They are a brutal, unrelenting opening to the evening, with electronic beats and whirls mixed with jagged, stabs of distorted guitar, drilling double kickdrums and vocals ranging from guttural though screaming to clean. There's a distinctly evil beatdown theme to their deathcore, and fans of Within Destruction and Slaughter to Prevail should definitely check out this Toronto-based band. Unfortunately, they’re let down by some terrible sound for them tonight, both at the front barrier and all the way at the back. It's a muddy bass and kickdrum affair, with no definition or discernible guitars and very limited vocals in the mix. For a band that uses electronics heavily on backing track it's not ideal at all. A shame as it doesn’t show off their material to its max, but they still deliver a set that goes down well with the crowd.

Loathe continue their rise to greatness with this great main tour support slot. Having just caught them headlining the Friday of Tech Fest, it's good to see a similarly positive response to them here tonight. In fact, the crowd are positively enthralled and excited by them from start to finish. Even Spiritbox are all watching from beside the stage and loving it all. Their sound is impossible to pigeonhole yet easy to identify, with a mix of intense technical metal and atmospheric post-rock acting as a genre and crowd spanning joy. We're talking that same unquestionable uniqueness that Sleep Token offer, but in Loathe's case there's an exciting chaotic juxtaposition between the more spacey segments and the brutally aggressive passages which are more frequent and dynamic. It’s much more Thornhill and Deftones vibes for sure. There are distinct post-hardcore elements too of course - especially ‘New Faces in the Dark’ which is like an evil, tech-metal Turnstile, and demonstrates how they are able to successfully play both Tech Fest and Outbreak Festival. Oh, and for any early Loathe fans, yes, they still love their red lighting!

Loathe at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on July 6th 20

This is the first headline tour on these shores for Spiritbox, and they don’t disappoint their eager fans. Opening with 'Rule of Nines', it really is time for singing, and then some screaming, and then some singing and more screaming (if you know, you know). It’s an immediate introduction to the dynamic variety in Courtney LaPlante's vocals, and the technical abilities on guitar of her husband Michael Stringer with some finger tapping awesomeness. As I noted at Sweden Rock, they're much heavier and organic live compared to the smooth production on record, especially instrumentally, and it allows the fans to gain a different, but equally fantastic, experience of their material. Notably, they’re a slightly different beast here, playing to a crowd of fans with knowing waves and obvious ease. Courtney's vocals are once again note-perfect, and she moves with grace, fully immersing herself in the songs. Her vocal switches from guttural to angelic cleans are seamless and impressive, displaying her genuine vocal prowess and versatility. The rest of the band deliver a powerful and professional performance, with Stringer’s technical guitar prowess in particular undeniable. There aren't many, if any, bands like Spiritbox, but fans of bands like Make Them Suffer will find plenty to engage them. ‘Rotoscope’ is a catchy yet intense performance tonight, with Courtney dancing and embodying the lyrics, and as expected ‘Holy Roller’ is another highlight for the crowd, hitting brutally and letting the whole band leave it all out on the stage. I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of this band for a while to come.