LIVE REVIEW: Employed To Serve @ Academy 3, Manchester
When EMPLOYED TO SERVE released The Warmth of a Dying Sun in 2017, it announced the band as a serious contender as one of the most exciting bands in UK heavy music. Flash forward to last year and with Eternal Forward Motion, not only did EMPLOYED TO SERVE refine and hone their brand of sonic aggression, but it saw them reinforce their claim to the throne. Now, whilst COVID-19 runs rampant across the globe and before countries locked down their borders marking the end of touring for the foreseeable future, the band arrive in Manchester intending to bring a show that will last long in the memories.
CRUELTY are up first and the Midlands-based hardcore troupe are intent of kicking things off with a bang. Their chunky riffs pack an almighty punch and vocalist Shaafi Parvez is particularly impressive, with both his aggressive barks and commanding stage presence ensuring attention is directed firmly at the stage. Like with any opening bands though, CRUELTY have the audacious task of winning over a thinned crowd but unfortunately, given the growing concern of COVID-19, tonight’s attendance in Manchester is desperately thin. It’s a sad thing to witness given the band giving absolutely everything to their time on stage. Maybe once the restrictions are lifted and the virus has subsided, CRUELTY will make a much more lasting impression.
Rating: 6/10
Similar to tonight’s headliners, PALM READER have been establishing themselves as a household name in UK heavy music. 2018’s Braille was adored by critics and fans alike and by the time they hit the stage in Manchester, plenty more punters have worked their way into the venue and the band reward the faithful by displaying their brand of hardcore wonderfully. Vocalist Josh Mckeown is mesmerising to watch as he twists and contorts, reflecting every anguished scream in visual form and his interaction with the crowd is warmly appreciated. With a bulk of tonight’s set comprised of material from 2018’s Braille, the songs on offer here showcase the strength of PALM READER‘s latest studio effort as Internal Winter and Always Darkest ensures that the set is kicked off in the best possible manner, and the inclusion of new song Stay Down indicates that exciting things lie on the horizon for the band. They have been on the tips of tongues of people within the UK scene for some time now, and judging from their time on stage in Manchester, things are only going to get better for PALM READER.
Rating: 8/10
EMPLOYED TO SERVE have a reputation for incendiary live shows and as the one-two punch of the title track of their latest opus and Dull Ache Behind My Eyes ensures the set is started with utmost fury and aggression. From there, things come thick and fast as the band ensure that both the momentum and adrenaline is flowing in top gear. Harsh Truth comes as an early highlight of the set as Justine Jones‘ vicious vocal snarls soar above the harsh riffing of her bandmates whilst Force Fed‘s placement in the latter stages of the set incites chaos down the front.
Whilst tonight’s focus is obviously towards Eternal Forward Motion as a large bulk of the material makes up the set, a nice splattering of songs from The Warmth of a Dying Sun, the record in which announced the band on the scene, make the cut and it showcases a band that now have a wide breadth of material to dispatch in a live environment. Void Ambition‘s crushing bass tones threatens to demolish the venue’s foundations whilst I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away) is as explosive as it is anthemic as Jones trades vocal barks with guitarist Sammy Urwin to glorious effect. It’s a set of real power and given that touring is off the table for the foreseeable future given the growing spread of COVID-19, EMPLOYED TO SERVE ensured that one of the last tours to pass through Manchester was one of sheer musical brilliance.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Blessuh Visuals here:
