Modern deathcore band PSYCHO-FRAME opened the night at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester with a brutal intensity that immediately grabbed the audienceās attention. Guttural screams tore through the air, perfectly layered over heavy, pounding drums. The guitar riffs were thick and aggressive, each note striking like a punch, and the guitaristās wild headbanging added a visual rhythm that mirrored the musicās raw power. The combination of sound and movement created an almost hypnotic effect, drawing the crowd into the chaotic energy that defined the bandās performance. PSYCHO-FRAME set the tone for a night that promised unrelenting hardcore intensity.
Dying Wish followed, bringing a different but equally compelling energy. The band seamlessly blended harsh, guttural vocals with melodic singing, creating a dynamic soundscape that swung between aggression and melody. The drumming was precise and rhythmic, driving each song forward with an urgency that made it impossible for anyone to remain still. Vocalist Emma Boster added an extra layer of depth, her harmonies cutting through the harshness of the guitars and screams to create moments of haunting beauty. The contrast between heavy breakdowns and soaring melodic sections made the set feel like a rollercoaster, with highs and lows that kept the audience captivated. The audience responded in kind, moshing and moving in waves that matched the ebb and flow of the music.
By the time Speed, the hardcore band from Sydney, Australia, hit the stage, the energy had already reached a fever pitch. From the first note, chaos erupted drinks flew, people jumped, and the crowd became a writhing mass of movement and noise. Speed thrives on interaction, and the bandās constant engagement with the audience amplified the frenzy. Vocalist Jem Siow encouraged chants and call-and-response moments, making sure the crowdās energy never flagged. Every song was delivered with explosive precision, the fast-paced riffs and relentless drumming creating a sonic wall that left no space for calm. Fans were shouting along to every word and thrashing at any chance they could get. The band never fail to create an atmosphere of adrenaline-fuelled celebration of hardcore culture.
Finally, Malevolence, the hardcore heavyweights, closed the night with a performance that felt almost mythic. From the first beat to the final note, the crowd was in constant motion, moshing and thrashing as the band unleashed one punishing song after another. The instrumentals hit with staggering force, and vocalist Alex Taylorās presence was commanding, even spitting at the end of the song So Help Me God to punctuate the chaotic energy.
This was the biggest headline show of their career, and their gratitude toward the audience was palpable in their speech afterward. They spoke about the tour, the incredible line-up, and the overwhelming support they had felt, creating a genuine connection with the crowd. Crowd-surfers sailed over heads, during the song On Broken Glass, which is a song that is sharp, aggressive and dark in terms of sound. Thus, maintaining the performances unrelenting heaviness. The sheer intensity of songs like Karma turned the pit into a war zone of energy. During the performance Taylor even pointed out his mother in the balcony, a tender humanising moment amidst the chaos.
For the song Higher Place the band asked the audience to raise up their lighters and lights, casting a warm glow over a crowd united by movement and music. The track brings forth the contrast of a more melodic tone to the set and allows for the audience to take in this very moment and reflect back on the night that they have experienced. Couples danced in the front, demonstrating that regardless of genre, live music has the power to bring people together.
As the night drew to a close, the band thanked everyone once more before launching into their final song, If Itās All The Same To You. Closing the set with sheer aggression, electric guitar riffs and an overall sense of pure power and catharsis. Leaving the audience on a fuelled, but exhausted, and completely satisfied note.
The night as a whole was a testament to the enduring power of hardcore music, a shared experience defined by intensity, community, and unrelenting energy. Each band brought its own flavour, from PSYCHO-FRAMEās raw aggression to Dying Wishās melodic interplay, Speedās interactive chaos, and Malevolenceās headline-making, era-defining intensity.
Words by Zena Morris
Photos by Maryleen (Instagram / Website)
