LIVE REVIEW: Heriot @ Rebellion, Manchester

As one of the defining voices in the British metal community currently, HERIOT’s Manchester show – and the final night of their headline tour – could only be described as a victory lap of sorts. In the devastating wake of their Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell album release, there has been an undeniable shift in the standings of the Swindon four-piece, a knowing glint in their listeners’ eyes that unimaginable ferocity is currently on the way. 

Somewhere, late last year, during their UK tour with SYLOSIS and FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, the teething problems associated with any breaking band had finally subsided, and HERIOT’s live performances became polished and wildly brilliant. Whilst this isn’t to say that the band weren’t already destined for greatness – Profound Morality felt truly untouchable when it was released –  the band’s trajectory within the heavy music community is only getting more unimaginably exciting from here onwards.

Supporting HERIOT was a dynamic duo of FALSE REALITY and GROVE STREET. Whilst our headliners lean on the precipice of the extreme and thrash (an excellent combination for anyone attending their Bloodstock set this year), the support’s hardcore roots lent themselves well to stirring up the tentative energy of the crowd. Amongst all three bands was an unrivalled love of the shred, with headfirst dives into technically wild guitar solos. 

FALSE REALITY are an exciting promise to the UK underground scene. Hailing from London, they also debuted their first album, Path Of Self Destruct, last year. Rocking the pit from side to side, moshers and crowdkillers alike made themselves known during the set. An impressive start, especially as the opening band, with influences from TRAPPED UNDER ICE and TERROR forming a rich, thrash-infused sound. The highlight of this set was their iconic Pay The Reaper, which got the loudest and most abrasive reaction from the audience. Expect big things from this band. 

Rating: 7/10

Southampton-based GROVE STREET made big moves, especially after the release of their 2023 album, The Path To Righteousness. The hardcore five-piece, who push the historic legacy of thrash to its limits, are more concerned about having fun than pit brutality. Asking the audience to come to the front, vocalist Sully explains, “We’re not that kind of band!” before setting the tempo for some much-needed headbanging. Despite a few hecklers, who made it known that guitarist Sandy was wearing a Manchester City shirt, the set was easy breezy and full of groove. 

Rating: 7/10

HERIOT’s entrance was nothing more than a spectacle. Opening with Sentenced To The Blade, the overwhelming impact of the band’s crushing sound rattled violently around Rebellion. Pioneering a devastating sound known affectionately as ‘Siege Metal’, the band have punctuated their snarling guitar tones with a love of Medieval weaponry, establishing their own brutally metallic sound. Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell, their first album, forges this sound into brutal setlist artillery that rallies the crowd into a frenzy. 

An opportunity to show off the full extent of their new sound, Solvent Gaze and Mourn are beautifully damaging to hear in a live capacity, bloodbathed in their dark ambience. Whilst the ferocious Siege Lord lends itself well to vocalist and guitarist Debbie Gough’s raptured vocals. Guillotine guitars slice through their dense choruses as bassist Jake Packer cauterises the wound with wonderfully low growls. 

Soul Chasm, released between projects, makes the most of their sludgy, catastrophic sound, with both Debbie and guitarist E Alman’s sound reaching the boiling point as they cut above the noise. Demure commands a thick and sweaty circle pit, spun into fruition by Julian Gage’s high intensity rhythms. As an entire unit, the band performs with a wicked passion, on a high from their week of touring the country, only matching the crowd’s energy to move violently through the hot air building in the venue.

In the wake of it all, favourites from 2022’s Profound Morality EP make a welcome return. Foul Void, Enter The Flesh and Dispirit weld the intense, industrial strength sound of the setlist together, without the appearance of fan-favourite Coalescence. Regardless, they made strong foundations, as the band moves towards the back end of their set. Opaline dazzles, with harrowing sung vocals- a highlight of the evening. Finishing with At The Fortress Gate, spirits ran high. A fitting victory to their week of touring.

As the tide of alternative music is turning again, becoming more fashionable with the remarkable rise of SLEEP TOKEN, the return of LINKIN PARK, and acts such as BRING ME THE HORIZON headlining Reading Festival alongside LIMP BIZKIT, the UK underground scene is also having its own uprising of exciting new bands challenging the conventions of heavy. The wild unpredictability of STATIC DRESS, the fearlessness of HIDDEN MOTHERS, and the tenacity of NOVA TWINS, GRAPHIC NATURE, ALT BLK ERA, CALVA LOUISE and LOATHE, amongst many others. Too many to name. HERIOT are the jewel in the crown that makes our scene great, and our future unstoppable.  

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Manchester from Sabrina Ramdoyal Photography here: 

Like HERIOT on Facebook.