LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Loathe – Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool – 04/12/2025

A former wind-turbine factory, the Invisible Wind Factory was the historical turned vibrant and cultural host for Liverpool’s own Loathe. Love is noise and Zetra were the bands to open this home show.   

First band of the night, Love is noise, brought a shoegaze and post-hardcore sound to the lineup. It made perfect sense for this band to open for Loathe, as you can hear the influence within their own music. Vocalist Cameron Humphrey showed a diverse range of balancing raw screams with melancholic ambience. Before their last song Movement, the band played an intro from the Batman movie, which made for an interesting concept to end on. Humphrey even ended the set by saying “Fuck Nigel Farage”, which got the crowd in commotion.   

Up next was the outlier of the night, Zetra, known for being a British new wave synth-rock duo whose music takes the night into a different dimension (literally) as they had a portal / fairytale like mirror on stage. Imagine the whimsical Magic Mirror from Shrek, but instead it evoked a futuristic, alien-like concept. Zetra’s music is mostly guitar-led, with a layered over synth soundscape.  

It reminded me of the ‘80 with influences from Gary Numan and Depeche Mode, before shifting toward the pop sophistication of the Pet Shop Boys. The performance acted as a compelling and ambiguous way to engage the crowd, giving them something unique and different to listen to and experience before the night took a destructive turn.    

Finally, back on home ground was Loathe, who came and conquered the stage. Having seen them back in summer at Outbreak Festival, as a secret set, I knew that the audience would be in for a real treat, as they never waver in getting the crowd in an uproar. One thing I love and appreciate about Loathe is that they display two sides of the same coin. They can go from being visceral, crushing intensity to a more melodic, almost velvet-soft in sound, taking inspiration from bands like Deftones.   

Starting their performance by taking no prisoners with Gifted Every Strength, Loathe proved my point. As soon as the first notes of the song played, the night instantly took a chaotic turn. It continued to do so through the rest of the performance; as a band, they proved that despite teasing a new record for some time, they know exactly how to keep everyone hooked. Especially, with this six-minute song transitioning through different fusions of sound from gnarly and aggressive riffs to more melodic, longing and angelic tones. Two-Way Mirror is a track that depicts slow-motion beauty, with its silky guitar sounds. Showing more of the band’s shoegaze and ethereal side. A Sad Cartoon was the song that made me appreciate the diversity that the band brings. It’s a wounded, reflective and introspective track that has a gentle sound by nature, carrying an emotionally raw and delicate undertone.   

They also gave the audience a taste of what is to come with their unreleased song Revenant, which immediately switched the atmosphere into an explosion of heaviness, with its mighty and hefty riffs and vocalist Kadeem France’s guttural screams, as the breakdown hits. Dimorphous Display is a well-loved song that showcases a mysterious and sweet tone, yet it has a lingering, contorted and dark ambience that underpins throughout the whole song.   

Ending the performance with the first encore song, Is it Really You? which Erik Bickerstaffe dedicated to his grandad, who was in the audience. This song always brings everyone together in harmony and acts as a moment of emotional reflection and stillness. The vocals float with grief and warmth, as the song acts as a heartfelt ballad, depicting self-reflection, contemplation and pain. The last song Gored on the other hand, brought back the performance to a final cathartic end, with panic-inducing soundscapes of snarling vocals from France and brutal and hostile breakdowns, showing the perfect example of their dynamic capability.   

Overall, for it being the band’s home show, they took the audience through an emotional spectrum. Moving from hostility to dreamlike introspection. It was yet another reminder of why Loathe continues to dominate the game.   

Words by Zena Morris

Photos by Maryleen (Photos / Website)