LIVE REVIEW: Downswing @ The Star & Garter, Manchester
US-based metal band DOWNSWING made a stop at the intimate The Star & Garter in Manchester on their first UK headline tour with support from the city’s own ALCHEMIZE and ANGEL NUMBER, a supporting lineup which showcased a variety of what the upcoming local rock and metal scene have to offer.
ALCHEMIZE were up first, offering their own fusion of metal and R&B. The pop infused metal got everyone on their feet dancing, with frontman Connor encouraging more out of the audience throughout. A stand out feature of this band is the blend of vocal styles, as the frontman and both guitarists each bring something to the table ranging from harsh screams to clean vocals, which all blend seamlessly to create a soundscape which is uniquely theirs. Given their pop influences over a backdrop of metal, the set was laced with catchy hooks perfectly curated to sing to, scream to and pit to, it would be a surprise if anyone left that room without one of their songs stuck in their head.
Rating: 8/10
Next on were ANGEL NUMBER, another band which doesn’t stick to the confines of genre, aligning closely with shoegaze, with a synth-infused, almost darkwave edge. While not being as pop driven and dance inducing as the previous band, ANGEL NUMBER had their own appeal of creating an immersive, dark, yet ethereal atmosphere, perfectly crafted in every way from the lighting set up to the music and performance. If somehow the emotiveness of Petr Vybrial’s vocals wasn’t enough to draw the audience in, every other element of their performance came together to ensure that the crowd was watching and listening intently throughout. Ranging from the catchy High On You, to more hard hitting songs like Another Cathedral Wall, and closing out with A Worthy Host, there was definitely something for everyone within this set whether you were just there for a good time or wanted a big hit of emotions.
Rating: 8/10
Before they had even stepped on stage, DOWNSWING were already chatting away to the fans who were filling out the front row of the show, a rapport which not only continued to grow throughout the set but also spread through the rest of the venue as the show went on. Despite the show being on a Sunday night, they made sure to encourage the audience to put their all in for their first headline run of UK shows, calling on people to fill out any gaps in the crowd towards the front and getting some pits going.
It didn’t take a lot from vocalist Harrison Seano to get people going though, as their set was filled with back to back high energy and heavy riffs which had the crowd giving it their all in screaming every lyric back. Towards the end of the set, Seanor split the room down the middle for a wall of death, which saw eager fans jump at the opportunity to go absolutely feral for the breakdown.
For What It’s Worth was the clear fan favourite of the night, a track off their latest release, last year’s And Everything Was Dark, which perfectly encapsulates what you can expect from the band, infectious lyrics going into harsh screaming vocals, backed by relentless guitar riffs and punchy drums. It is also a great example of a song which sounds even better live than it does recorded, which can be said for most, if not all, of DOWNSWING’s set, as the band feeds off the energy given back from the audience and uses it to fuel their set to deliver the best performance that they can.
This immersive approach to the songs, almost becoming a collaboration between the band and the audience, results in the songs sounding even more impactful. The result? An exhilarating performance.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Libby Percival here:
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