LIVE REVIEW: Behemoth & Arch Enemy @ O2 Apollo, Manchester

Within the realms of extreme music, BEHEMOTH are an anomaly. Despite their obvious musical brilliance, by all accounts of pop culture trends, the Gdańsk-based blackened death metallers have defied all expectations to not only rise to the summit of extreme metal, but for heavy music as a whole. Ever since 2014’s The Satanist propelled the band to the biggest of spotlights, BEHEMOTH are a true force to be reckoned with, and now, with new album Opvs Contra Natvram, the band are back to lay siege to UK shores, alongside Swedish melo-death heavyweights ARCH ENEMY in a co-headlining package of riff-tastic proportions.

Portland’s UNTO OTHERS are familiar to our shores, having toured extensively across the UK earlier this year, but with the prestige of a venue like the O2 Apollo, the goth-meets heavy metallers have a bigger stage to strut their stuff and it’s simply marvellous. Whereas their extensive headline run saw dwindling attendees in the more rural towns of the UK, at the Apollo, there’s a healthy swarm of punters drawn to the pleasing twin guitar harmonies, soaring vocals and foot-tapping melodies that the band possess in their repertoire. Band leader Gabriel Franco, arguably the coolest person to wear sunglasses indoors, dispatches his vocals to wondrous effect; with the chorus of the awe-inspiring Can You Hear The Rain being a stunning highlight, whilst set closer When Will God’s Work Be Done being a thumping finisher to their short time on stage. Endlessly plugging away, tonight showcases a band that are finally reaping the rewards of their craft, and it is so well deserved.

Rating: 9/10

As veterans in the scene, CARCASS have little to prove at this point in their storied career, but that does not detract from their potency for explosive extreme metal as set opener Buried Dreams proves; the band are not here to fuck about. What transpires is one of our world’s most revered and respected names doing what they do best and the crowd lap it up at every opportunity. A blistering barrage of Incarnated Solvent Abuse, Under The Scalpel Blade and Genital Grinder showcase CARCASS at their most vicious as the grinding riffs compliment Jeff Walker‘s vicious snarls whilst material from last year’s Torn Arteries sounds absolutely colossal in the live environment. From the mid-tempo stomp of Dance Of Ixtab (Psychopomp & Circumstance March No. 1 In B) to the bombastic The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing, their newest material more than shows that there is still plenty of life in this established giant. With little respite for those watching to catch their breath, CARCASS are a force to be reckoned with and more than reaffirmed their status as one of the best bands to ever do it.

Rating: 8/10

For nearly three decades, ARCH ENEMY have been one of the more mainstream appealing bands within metal, largely thanks to their aurally pleasing riffage and powerhouse vocals from ex-vocalist Angela Gossow and current frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. Riding high on the momentum of long-awaited new record, Deceivers, in Manchester, the band roar out the gates in a one-two punch of Deceiver, Deceiver and the groove-laden War Eternal and the crowd are stunned as White-Gluz and co. pull no punches.

From there, the band continue to impress. Material from their aforementioned latest effort sound massive in the live environment, with In The Eye Of The Storm and Handshake With Hell being particular highlights as White-Gluz delivers her vocal lines with the utmost conviction, whilst the booming power of My Apocalypse, backed with an eye-striking spectacle of pyro ignitions at regular intervals, or set closer Nemesis (which boasts sheer shredding majesty from guitarists Michael Amott and Jeff Loomis) showcases ARCH ENEMY at their very best. And whilst there was intermediate splashes of repetition that crept in throughout their lengthy time on stage, there is more than enough quality on show to showcase that, after all this time, ARCH ENEMY are still a force to be reckoned with.

Rating: 8/10

For what feels like an age, by the time BEHEMOTH take to the famous stage of the O2 Apollo, the excitement is at stratospheric levels. All the more so when the backdrop falls and the band erupt into a thundering rendition of Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer. From the first song, it’s clear that BEHEMOTH have all the fire in their collective bellies and the crowd are simply stunned and from there, they continue to excel.

Backed by a boldly impressive stage show, with projections of Satanic symbols and regular blasts of fiery pyro, the band are simply on scorching form. Ov Fire And The Void is seismic in its delivery as the crushing riffs sees heads band aplenty, the blistering Conquer All sees the circle pit swell like a tornado, and Daimonos is just as devilishly wicked live as it is on record.

Promoting their newest record, its expected that there is ample new material on offer on this tour and the band deliver and the way in which the cuts chosen fit naturally in vast and expansive set just proves how consistent BEHEMOTH have been across their career. Off To War! is bound to be a live staple for years to come whilst the likes of The Deathless Sun, Thy Becoming Eternal and Versvs Christvs all boast the devilish wickedness that we’ve come to expect from BEHEMOTH.

Elsewhere, Bartzabel, arguably one of the band’s more refrained cuts, sees Nergal and his cohorts cast a mystic spell over the crowd as the spine-tingling chorus washes over the crowd with the utmost effectiveness, and Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel expands and weaves as the enormous sound compliments the large confines of the O2 Apollo, and justifies why BEHEMOTH are performing in a venue of this pedigree. Defying all expectations, BEHEMOTH are in a league in their own and their status is confirmed. They are the kings of extreme metal.

Rating: 10/10

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

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