Live Review : Ingested + Fallujah + Mélancolia @ Rebellion, Manchester on April 20th 2024

The Mondays at the G-Mex, Oasis at Maine Road, Morrissey (before he became a racist twit) at the MEN and The Roses at Heaton Park. To the lexicon of great Mancunian homecomings we can now add Ingested at Rebellion. Despite the ludicrously early start time the place is heaving from the get-go. There is a fevered atmosphere that consists of a potent mixture of expectation and civic pride. Every conversation seems to major on our own individual roles in Ingested’s majestic ascension to the death metal top table.

Live Review : Midnight + Cyclone + High Command @ Rebellion, Manchester on April 16th 2024

Some shows loom large in the memory for many moons to come. Midnight’s inaugural visit to this fair city back in June ‘22 is one such instant. Tales of masked men hanging from support beams and unheard-of reserves of ravaged energy have been passed around the metal fraternity ever since. It has achieved such a legendary status (of course we were there, our review can be found here) that their return to Manchester less than two years later has become something of an event. Rebellion is impressively packed out for a Tuesday, with an audience made up of those who were lucky enough to be in the Academy 3 24 months ago and their mates who have been dragged along to enjoy the spectacle.

Live Review : Cattle Decapitation + Signs Of The Swarm + 200 Stab Wounds + Vomit Forth @ Rebellion,Manchester on March 9th 2024

We are continually told that guitar music is dead. The mainstream piles on the narrative that rock music has had its day, and it is simply a forgotten genre in its death throes. If this is the case somebody has forgotten to inform the hundreds of multigenerational attendees that have packed out Rebellion for the last couple of nights. The simple fact is that death metal is sticking its finger up at all this "guitar music is out of fashion" nonsense and is becoming more vibrant and important by the day.

Live Review : Orbit Culture + Defects @ Rebellion, Manchester on March 8th 2024

Orbit Culture have been touted as being “the next best thing” since “Nija” appeared during the pandemic days. Despite only just embarking on their debut headline tour, after 10 years of being a band, they have earned acclaim from the likes of Trivium and Machine Head. Having blown us all away opening for the former last August, they are very much a band on everyone’s lips. All bar a few shows on this inaugural UK/EU slog are sold out, and the ones that still have a few tickets to be snapped up, are sure to be at at full capacity come show day.

Live Review : Novelists + The Word Alive + Elwood Stray + Ashen @ Rebellion, Manchester on February 21st 2024

Tonight’s headliners, Novelists, have undergone a recent changeup with Camille Contreras replacing Tobias Rische as vocalist. The four tracks recently released with Camille as singer have been impressive, and match the excitement the band have portrayed through social media. This European and UK tour is where many of us long-term fans can get a true feel for the songs, new and old, with this fresh line-up.

Live Review : Frozen Soul + Creeping Death + Foreseen + Disengagement @ Rebellion, Manchester on February 14th 2024

The stateside ground zero for Death metal used to be the tropical climes of Florida, however over the intervening years it has shifted westward and now the epicentre resides in the Lone Star state of Texas. Creeping Death and Frozen Soul are both examples of just how exciting modern American death metal has become. They have respectively evolved this art form by taking it back to its core routes. They have turned their back on the pick-and-mix shunt job that death metal had become and sought solace in their Bolt Thrower and Carcass imports. This is death metal shawn of its pretensions and re-engaged with its brutal ferocity.

Live Review : Baest + Pist + Beyond Salvation @ Rebellion, Manchester on February 7th 2024

Most musical sub-genres have the lifespan of a Mayfly. They bloom and wither before the ink is even dry on the requisite hyperbole. Death metal has had a counterintuitive evolution. Born 40 years ago it completely bucks the trend by managing to go around in infinite circles of regeneration. Currently, it feels more vital and fuller of life (pun very much intended) than it ever has. Baest are one of those new generation of death metal acts who are deftly managing to remain steadfastly authentic but also bring a dimension of light and shade to the music. Basically death metal long ago stopped being an underground phenomenon and has now become one of the primary movers that are shaping modern metal.

Live Review : Evil Scarecrow + INTHEWHALE @ Rebellion,Manchester on February 3rd 2024

Within the ranks of our very particular community, Evil Scarecrow have ascended to the lofty position of national treasure. This distinctly odd and ramshackle act has not only carved out a niche in our collective hearts but they have managed to transcend genres and tribal barriers. Tonight's audience is pulled from all over metal’s multicoloured subdivisions. We stand united by one thing, a desire to dance and embrace the silliness in a world that is becoming darker by the day.

Live Review : Bat Sabbath + Margarita Witch Cult @ Rebellion, Manchester on January 27th 2024

There are cover bands and then there is Bat Sabbath, the crazed Sabbath-obsessed alter egos of Canadian hardcore heroes Cancer Bats. Initially intended as a daft way of blowing off steam, their commemoration of the inventors of metal has morphed into its very own thing. This evening Rebellion is packed to the rafters with a mix of Cancer Bat devotees and those looking to throw themselves around stupidly to the songs that started this whole blooming endeavour.

Live Review : Lawnmower Deth + Ward XVI + Solitary @ Rebellion, Manchester on December 16th 2023

And so, we descend into my final gig of the year and what a year it has been… And my life being one of extremes, I have gone from Wednesday night at WARGASM on my ownsome to being out tonight with a vast swathe of people from Primordial Radio’s #PRFam. Well, I might not be a fan of Christmas but what better way to spend the festive period than with your mates, watching live music. The place is full of Santa hats and Christmas jumpers and even I, the Grinch, put on my Millie Manders and the Shutup Christmas jumper. But I’m more enamoured by the access all areas pass I’ve been given at (that’s a first, though I did not use it to its maximum potential).

Live Review : Gorgoroth + Aeternus + Impalement + Aran Angmar @ Rebellion, Manchester on December 5th 2023

We are entering an interesting timeframe where bands that we consider rebellious upstarts and proponents of new blood are now celebrating landmark anniversaries. Gorgoroth are marking 31 years of hellish existence, not bad for a band that exists primarily to stick two-fingers up at the musical mainstream. To ensure that they are not supping bloodwine alone they have brought with them an impressive 3 bands undercard.

Live Review : Harakiri For The Sky + Ellende + Fen @ Rebellion, Manchester on November 16th 2023

It is quite rare for me to be faced with a review assignment that offers the Holy Grail, namely a band that I have yet to witness in a live environment. Harikari For The Sky have existed in some form or other since 2011 however they only really pricked our collective consciousness with their astonishing 2021 effort, “Mӕre”. The superlatives were tossed around like confetti, but since we were still deep in the non-touring days of the pandemic, they had little or no opportunity to get out on the road to cash in on the extraordinary level of newfound interest.

Live Review : Deathstars + Priest + Liv Sin @ Rebellion, Manchester on November 9th 2023

Tonight I am in Rebellion to watch one of my favourite genres of music – bands from Sweden, Ok ok I know that’s not a genre, but the fact is that although bands from Sweden come in all kinds of musical varieties they all have one thing in common - they know how to entertain an audience. This evening’s bill is no exception, even if it is quite a big step away from my usual favourite Swedes with big hair and guyliner.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Jo Crosby11 November 2023RebellionDeathstars, Priest, Liv Sin, Rebellion, Manchester, 2023, Live Review, Jo Crosby, Ryan HicksonComment

Live Review : Lost Society + North Atlas + Dacara @ Rebellion, Manchester on October 23rd 2023

Dacara are a 4-piece that prove uneasy to pigeonhole. Their sound is kind of rock with a dance twist and just mereist lashing of goth for good measure. The singer has a good voice (if somewhat lacking in power) and that is complimented nicely by the guitarist’s shouty growl. Every now and again it skirts the edge of commercial euro-rock but then plunges back into the subterranean delights of the underground.

Live Review : Heart Of A Coward + TheCityisOurs + Forager + Cut Short @ Rebellion, Manchester on October 19th 2023

It’s an early start and we’re treated to Liverpool's Cut Short. The first thing that strikes you is the satisfyingly angular, stabby, quality of the guitars. They play with melodies that are layered over a backdrop of excellent almost scattery jazz-infused drums. It makes me think they’re trying to strike a delicate balance between the prog and tech-metal, but still need to hit on the perfect mix. The intricate guitar work fully supports this ambitious attempt, and their musicianship is solid and individual performances truly engaging.

Live Review : Annisokay + Shields + Fixation @ Rebellion, Manchester on October 14th 2023

Tonight is a rather odd mix of fan bases. It is obvious from the off that a large proportion of the audience have come to see German’s Annisokay on the back of their impressive stint supporting Electric Callboy last year. However, there is also an almost equal proportion who are here for reformed metal core also-rans Shields, who have decided to put aside their differences and make another attempt at trying to make it. All this means that the only unknown element here this evening are Norwegian openers Fixation.

Gig Review©Ryan Hickson16 October 2023RebellionAnnisokay, Shields, Fixation, Rebellion, Manchester, 2023, Live Review, Ryan HicksonComment

Live Review : Pain + Ensiferum + Eleine + Ryujin @ Rebellion, Manchester. on October 11th 2023

Over on the continent, this billing makes perfect sense. You see Pain may be a side project of Hypocrisy main man Peter Tägtgren but its success in mainland Europe has in many ways eclipsed that of his day job. Over here it is a different story and whilst folk metallers Ensiferum are billed as a “very special guest” on UK soil this has become very much a double header and there are far more Ensiferum shirts to be seen upon entering the building.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Stewart Lucas13 October 2023RebellionPain, Ensiferum, Eleine, Ryujin, Rebellion, Manchester, 2023, Stewart Lucas, Ryan HicksonComment

Live Review : Municipal Waste + GEL + Undeath @ Rebellion, Manchester on October 8th 2023

Municipal Waste could quite easily have taken the easy route. They could have stuck a couple of identikit, but inferior, thrash revivalists on their undercard and jobs a good un. But not only is there a real desire to provide, in these troubled times, real value for money but Municipal Waste are more than happy to be given a run for their money each and every night of the UK tour.

Live Review : Full Of Hell + Jarhead Fertilizer + Antichrist Siege Machine + Unyielding Love @ Rebellion, Manchester on September 6th 2023

There is something nourishingly cathartic about unadulterated noise. To the ear of the uninitiated, this four-band bill probably sounds like chaotic clatter, a cacophony of unconnected hullabaloo with no discerning rhythmic touchstones. However, there is an utter beauty to be found within music that skates this close to being an unrefined racket but still manages to maintain a coherent shape and form.

Live Review : Signs of the Swarm + Mental Cruelty + Harbinger @ Rebellion, Manchester on August 31st 2023

We've managed to catch Harbinger this summer headlining Tech Fest and putting on a killer main stage performance at Radar. Tonight, we get the treat of a much more intimate affair with our favourite tech-metal boys. They're on fire once again, and each of them is clearly revelling in the chance to play to the ever enthusiastically rabid Slamchester crowd.