From delving into the world that is hardcore, I have found that there is something uniquely intense about experiencing a show of this kind in Manchester. Maybe itās the low ceilings of the O2 Ritz; maybe itās the way the historical sprung wooden dance floor (one of Manchesterās only remaining) is built for impact. Or maybe itās simply the crowd, who are always ready and willing to throw themselves into the chaos. Whatever it is, this lineup of the Heaven Let Them Die tour promised carnage from start to finish, and it delivered.
The night started off with an appetiser of Merseysideās very own hardcore band God Complex. Having first caught them at No Play Festival last year, it was exciting to see how naturally they commanded a bigger stage, and an even bigger crowd. God Complex wasted no time. Their sound delved into hefty downbeats and crushing, sonic breakdowns, which came thick and fast, where each one landed with gut-punching force. Likewise, the guitar tones sounded sludgy and oppressive. While the drumming felt sharp and dynamic.
To keep the audience on edge, flashing lights strobed across the room. Adding to this disorientating feeling. Within minutes of the band performing, people were already creating a space to two-step, thrash and collide shoulders in that chaotic choreography hardcore shows seem to perfect. Watching the crowd move this early on in the night felt promising. God Complex closed their set with the song Flooded Lungs and overall, they were the perfect opener. As they were heavy, uncompromising and impossible to ignore.
Next up was One Step Closer, an American more melodic, post-hardcore leaning band who acted as the palette cleanser on the lineup. As their sound depicted a more introspective feeling and balanced aggression with melody. During the set, vocalist Ryan Savitski barely stayed still. As throughout the performance Savitski was energetic, pacing the stage and leaning into the crowd. He shouted āAre we alive out there?ā, and āIāve heard this place is called Slamchester, I wanna see you have some fun.ā
Red lighting dominated the stage with flashes of white light hitting in time with the drumbeats, giving the atmosphere a pulsing, urgent feel. From their sound, I could hear the melodic rock and post-hardcore influences from bands like Basement and Title Fight.
As the set drew to a close, Savitski took this last opportunity to exclaim āLast chance to dance, fuck the barricade and have some funā, the audience obliged and surged forward again. The last song of the set, The Reach, led with a raw electric guitar riff and Savitski harsh and straight edged vocals matched with the fast paced drums. Channeling both abrasive energy and melodic soundscapes.
The heat then turned up again when the Californian beatdown hardcore band Sunami took to the stage, dragging the night straight back into the punishing territory. If One Step Closer provided breathing room, Sunami stole it away instantly. The band’s sound was ferocious, heavy and unapologetic. They depicted thick downbeats, stomping rhythms and two-step drum patterns that demanded violence and audience participation, which is exactly what occurred. The pit widened, two-stepping intensified and bodies slammed harder. The atmosphere felt primal, raw and stripped back, leaving nothing to the imagination.Ā
As Sunami made their way through the set, vocalist Josef Alfonso exclaimed āBeing in the UK is fucking awesomeā and when the band announced they only had two songs left, the crowd audibly booed in protest. Showing just how locked in everyone was. Although, the performance was full of explosive energy and brutality. I personally did not connect with them on the same level as the previous bands or Counterparts. Having said that I still was able to enjoy the experience for what it was.
Finally, it was time for the hardcore entrĆ©e: Counterparts. Where the earlier sets thrived on chaos, the Canadians brought an atmosphere. To set the scene, there was the striking backdrop of church-like imagery, candles and stained-glass window imagery loomed behind the band. Casting an almost scared and religious glow across the stage. It felt eerie, dramatic and like stepping into a confession booth before impact. Contrasting sharply with the musicās emotional violence.
Then came the sound: pure emotional rage.
It built upon a foundation of lyrical themes involving grief, loss, guilt, self-doubt and mental health, wrapped in a blanket of visceral and heart-wrenching soundscapes, in terms of instrumentals and vocals from Brendan Murphy. The set kicked off strong with the song A Martyr Left Alive, which depicts a sound that instantly draws the audience in with its frantic and pounding drums, serrated riffs that cut sharp and its relentless pace mirroring lyrics that depict the themes of burnout and self-sacrifice. As in this case Murphy showcases himself as someone who gives everything to others, but as a consequence is quietly deteriorating. Where the brief melodies only heightened the feeling of exhaustion beneath the rage. You could personally feel that the screams were guttural, desperate and completely emotive. Counterparts sounded exactly raw and powerful as they do on record. Just the genuine feeling of pain spilling out across the venue.
Paradise And Plague was a song that did not disappoint in a live capacity. Since, it continues this darker, more oppressive atmosphere. Where it balances stomping breakdowns and dissonant guitar tones against reflections on how the moments of hope can be overshadowed by the idea of inevitable suffering. Hence, creating the notion of a push and pull between the idea of fleeting light and creeping emotional decay. Where the audience took this opportunity to sway between the depths of frenzy and reflection, shouting every single word back like a confession.
The track No Lamb Was Lost is driven by urgent rhythms and the use of religious imagery in relation to redemption. The outro also featured an intense and repeating riff, paired with the lyrics of āNo lamb was lost / No love was lost/Iād kill to keep them both alive/ Iād kill to keep them both aliveā, reinforcing the songās sense of inescapable guilt.
Heaven Let Them Die brought a different sound to the set because it was around a two minute song that was atmospheric, but at the same time, crushing. Where the drum and guitar tones fused together to alternate between a mid-tempo pounding sound and frantic bursts. Its slower and weighted sections allow the space of resentment and grief to coexist. As if the feelings of mourning and anger are intertwined with one another.
The song Love Me was a favourite from the set. It interplays with the idea of being almost soft-sounding paired with the contrast ofĀ Murphyās screaming vocals, which enhances the emotional tension. As the song captures this feeling of vulnerability,Ā longing and this desire for acceptance and connection. The song repeats the lyrics of āWill you love me when thereās nothing left to love?ā, which highlights the underlying theme of the fear of rejection and internalised self-doubt.
The performance ended with the song Whispers Of Your Death, which closes the night on an emotional arc. The bridge and final chorus of the song combine the sense of melody and fury. Leaving a lasting emotional impression, as only Murphy can write a personal song about his cat Kuma’s brush with death. Overall, the set perfectly balanced brutality with vulnerability. Swinging from the juxtaposition of crushing heaviness to moments that felt strangely reflective.
One thing was made clear from these performances that hardcore shows are not meant to be tidy. As a matter of fact, they are meant to be all things messy, loud, overwhelming, and overstimulating. Thus, on this particular night, God Complex, One Step Closer, Sunami and Counterparts came together to create chaos. Leaving no stone unturned. Where everyone was united in the sense of throwing themselves headfirst into the noise. Instead of standing still and watching. Sometimes, that is all you need.
Words by Zena Morris
Photos by Will Robinson (Instagram)
