Live Review : Voyager + Coldbones + Ravenface + Sertraline @ Satan's Hollow, Manchester on September 25th 2019

On this night, I find myself dashing into Satan’s in time to catch opening act Sertraline. I’d recently caught this local band at UK Tech-Fest and immediately took a liking to them, with their take on modern melodic technical metal. In Lizzie, they have a charismatic, energetic and gifted singer, but the whole band offer an energising vibe through their staging and impressive musicianship. As they progress I’m sure they’ll develop their song-writing in order to pen that one perfect song that’ll grab everyone’s attention and rocket them to the next level, but in the meantime we can all enjoy their infectiously energetic live performances.

I’ve seen Ravenface a couple of times recently, and they seem to get better on each occasion. The sound they produce is so professional, with scrumptious ebbs and flows in their songs. In James Denton, they have a frontman that delivers deeply smooth and rich vocals, full of depth and flavour. It’s a welcome change from many of the more abrasive UK metal bands we often see, with his vocals gliding over the top of the intricate guitar and bass work. It’s not necessarily going to be a mix of styles to everyone’s liking but I think it allows their song-writing and melodies to shine through and, in a period where this more European style of tech-metal is becoming popular in the UK, I think they have a chance to flourish.

Coldbones are the only band tonight I’ve not come across before, and as they start-up I’m intrigued by the three-piece’s solid stances and sombre stares. Their uniforms of black t-shirt and shorts are matched by their monochrome lighting display, but the vibrancy of their music explodes around the room. There are clear elements of Bossk and Russian Circles in this Kent based post-rock band, but the influence that comes to mind most clearly for this reviewer is Panopticon-era ISIS. Thundering bass and intricately schizophrenic drums give a brutal backdrop to the mesmerising guitars. Guitarist Jordan Gilbert delicately picks through beautiful melodies, before strobes flash and he rocks back on his heels and unleashes a wall of blitzing overdriven sound. Sometimes instrumental acts can become self-absorbed or tedious, but the soundscapes and dramatic journeys that Coldbones create are a joy from start to finish - I predict a very successful future for these guys for sure.

Having headliners Voyager here tonight is a real treat, with this only happening as they tag a few headline shows onto their exciting performance at the Space Rocks event in London. The Perth rockers’ music is truly unique, probably best described as progressive pop-metal. Johann later describes them as a cross between A-Ha and Dream Theater…and I’ve got to admit he’s hit the nail on the head. The key thing to know about Voyager gigs is that they obviously really enjoy performing - and they love to show it! Their delight is plain to see; with jokes thrown around, bouncing band members, cartoonish beaming grins and co-ordinated guitar dance routines. That’s not to say that they aren’t musically superb as well though. Scott Kay and Simone Dow deliver awesomely groovy yet sophisticated technical guitars, with the latter also providing the most amazing face-pulling, and drummer Ashley Doodkorte complements their precise style admirably. Meanwhile, bassist Alex Canion supplies not only a lively drive to the songs, but also some fantastic additional vocals.

There’s no denying that a large portion of the band’s personality comes from frontman Danny Estrin’s voice though. It’s a voice that is immediately recognisable and balances rich velvety tones with an almost syncopated staccato delivery, adding to the catchiness of their songs and allowing a unique point of reference. Ok, so maybe all the above was over-shone by a couple of delightful keytar intros (it genuinely works well!), but the one thing that is sure is that Voyager are going to be visiting our shores more and more…and you’d be a fool to miss them.