LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: The Callous Daoboys – Rebellion, Manchester – 25/02/2026

Photos taken at Trinity, Bristol on 27/02/2026

Math-rock has always carried a certain mystique and dynamic. As anyone you mention the term to, will have a completely different opinion and stance (including the members of The Callous Daoboys themselves). But one that collectively has the response of: isn’t that really complicated stuff?

One important remark to make, though, is that the start-stop riffs, the odd time signatures and the notion that every musician ends up playing a slightly different compositions and components that somehow fuse together with exact precision and poise. Thus, it becomes a genre where it thrives on this organised chaos, and Rebellion was the perfect venue to showcase this. The beauty of Rebellion is its intimacy. There is no barrier, no distance between the band and audience. There is no room to hide, and the stakes are high.

Opening up this unpredictable evening was Love Rarely, a rising math-rock band from Leeds. They are a band that delves into a hybrid of post-hardcore, shoegaze, mathcore and emo. From the first note, you could tell that this band was going to be a ball of excitable energy, especially given that it was earlier on in the night. Despite vocalist Courtney Levitt admitting that they were battling a cold, there was no hint of restraint.

Throughout their set, Love Rarely showcased math-rock polyrhythms that was groovy sounding, where the technicality met and was softened at times by the angelic vocals from Levitt. The stage was bathed in flashing pink lights that bounced off the venues calling and added to the sense of the off-kilter rhythms. The contrast of the delicate and harsh melodies and restless instrumentation worked well. The band’s new track Blame hinted at the direction of their upcoming debut album Pain Travels, due out in April, before a fired-up “Let’s go!” from Levitt kicked the crowd back into motion.

Next up, the Bristolian six-piece band Knives took to the stage and were introduced by pulsing green lights. Their set led the night into twists and turns, as their sound was a concoction of jazz, hardcore, punk, and post-punk. The moment they started the set, they demanded movement from the crowd. “Let’s keep that up,” vocalist Jay Schottlander urged after the first push of the pit, soon passing the microphone into the crowd for a chaotic moment. Knives showcased a variety of soundscapes, ranging from post-hardcore riffs and Schottlander’s harsh but rap-like, spoken word vocals to LCD Soundsystem-style dance beats.

Saxophonist Lizzi Skate also provided velvety elements to the instruments with her moments to shine during the songs. Knives also took the time during their thank-you speech to mention that they had to pay out £400 to make the journey on time, since their van had broken down before the show, gaining sympathy from the attendees. Although, to add to the humour, Schottlander made a cheeky call out asking for any Manchester City fans, which triggered immediate boos. Before the last song played, he also admitted that he was big on affirmations.

The band ended their performance with a hardcore rendition of the classic Kate Bush song Babooshka, which added to this ongoing unpredictable theme. Schottlander even got the crowd to sing along during the song’s chorus. Knives left the audience with anarchic energy and enthusiasm, which they took full advantage of when the headliners finally joined the stage.

Then came the headliners, The Callous Daoboys, hailing all the way from Atlanta, Georgia. Any lingering sense of restraint vanished. From the first note of Full Moon Guidance from their acclaimed newest album I Don’t Want To See You in Heaven, it was bedlam. As the audience took immediate action, by making room for two-steppers to pack the floor. Bodies flew in every direction, as they released their frenzy. I was astonished to see how so much movement could fit inside such a small space. But never underestimate the power and disorder that jagged guitar riffs and tones, bursts of pure noise, and sudden tempo changes can bring. Adding fuel to the fire was Two-Headed Trout, leading the way with its jittery mathcore rhythms that collide with weirdly catchy hooks, paired with sarcastic and chaotic lyrical themes and tones. It feels equally claustrophobic and groovy.

Lemon ironically slows down the pace with its cleaner guitar soundscapes, textures, and melodic introspections. But at the same time, it still captures the band’s core wittiness and genre-bending sound. While Schizophrenia Legacy turns the night up a notch by the track depicting a more intense and psychological theme, as it contains jarring instrumental transitions and an oppressive soundscape, which creates tension. It captures a sense of fracture that’s purposefully uncomfortable and mirroring the title name.

Tears On Lambo Leather was accompanied by Knives’ Jay Schottlander, adding to the messiness and unhinged nature of the song. What everyone likes about this band is their fearless expression and experimentation of sound and how they defy the laws of being conventional. Embracing this theme of balancing chaotic and complex musicianship.  The band takes this last opportunity and plays their encore song A Brief Article Regarding Time Loops, where it makes for a frenetic closer, with its self-destructive riffs. Perfectly capturing everything the band is known for. The Callous Daoboys ended the night with a closing speech that cut through the distortion: tell your friends you love them, look after each other, and free Palestine.

Overall, the three bands Love Rarely, Knives, and The Callous Doaboys all brought forth different flavours and textures of chaos, tied together by math rock’s complexity. Technical and complicated? Maybe. But nights like this also prove that it can be wild, incredibly and irresistibly fun.

Words by Zena Morris

Photos by Ross Peacey (Instagram)