LIVE REVIEW: Black Moth @ Rebellion, Manchester
BLACK MOTH have been making considerable noise in the UK’s underground for some time now. Since their formation back in 2010, the Leeds outfit’s brand of no-nonsense heavy metal has generated quite the buzz and as a new album looms on the horizon, BLACK MOTH have hit the road to build anticipation for their forthcoming release. We caught their headlining show in Manchester to see if the band can capitalise on their bubbling popularity.
Aiming to kick off the evening’s proceedings in the best possible fashion, OVER THE INFLUENCE intended to inject high-octane energy right from the off and largely, the Northampton quintet delivered just that. Rapid and bombast riffing from guitarists James Evans and Jake Phelps echoed influence from rock’s behemoths and kept the pace rattling forward whilst Bex Holland displayed the characteristics of a solid frontwoman in the making through oozing confidence in both her on stage persona and her vocal deliveries. Granted there was nothing particular fresh or innovative on display here, but what OVER THE INFLUENCE displayed was a solid and tight package of hard rock; one which surely will build a solid platform for things to come.
Rating: 8/10
Intending to tap into the same explosive energy as OVER THE INFLUENCE, HELL’S GAZELLES unfortunately didn’t hit the same heights as their predecessors. Displaying typical hard rock and wearing their influences on their collective sleeves is fine in itself, albeit playing it safe, but it did allow for glimmers of enjoyment across their set. Steady chugging rhythms that are easily digestible and some impressive guitar-work from Nath Digman demonstrated quality in HELL’S GAZELLES repertoire but the issue here is that it, on the whole, the band did little to stand out in a style that has been done to absolute death. Sure, frontman Cole Bryant has a solid set of pipes as he effortlessly executed high vocal lines and his buckets of enthusiasm is commendable to see from a supporting act. Yet moderation is the key issue here and unfortunately, Bryant‘s continuous demands for audience participation and his over-reliance on the higher end of his vocal pitch resulted in HELL’S GAZELLES missing the mark and gave a performance that will be largely forgettable.
Rating: 6/10
After the hard rock worship from the first two supports, GRAVE LINES intended to bring sonic devastation through some absolute visceral doom metal. The wall of sound on offer here was absolutely gargantuan as thick basslines fused expertly well with the sludge-esque riffs which washed the crowed like a wave. On top of the sonic assault, vocalist Jake Harding held his own and executed his range of barks and growls that added extra power to their imposing sound. It was a set that offered exactly what one can expect from a hard-hitting doom band, and in that regard GRAVE LINES excelled and gave a performance that retched and churned and threatened to shatter the foundations of Rebellion.
Rating: 8/10
Usually a band tours across the country once their latest opus is released to the masses but in BLACK MOTH‘s case this was the total opposite. With their third record, Anatomical Venus, not due for release until early March, it therefore was interesting to see what the band would choose to perform live. Do you focus on material that, aside from a handful of singles, has yet to be heard by the crowd or focus on a back catalogue and neglect your upcoming release? These are difficult choices and so, in this instance, deciding to dedicate the majority of their set to new material was a bold move. But, by God, BLACK MOTH pulled it off and delivered a stunning headlining performance.
Demonstrating slick and rather stunning guitar-work from Jim Swainston and Frederica Gialanze that kept the pace twisting and turning to intoxicating rhythm, BLACK MOTH worked their way through a solid set where they just went from strength to strength and their new material more than showcased this. From Moonbow‘s killer lead riff packing plenty of bite, Severed Grace‘s wicked swinging tempo changes or Istra‘s subtle melodies enabling Harriet Hyde‘s vocals to truly shine, BLACK MOTH were showcasing their prowess with their newest material. That being said though, when they did dive back into their pool of older cuts, these proved to be highlights within themselves. Blackbirds Fall‘s utterly satisfying riffs had the crowd banging their heads in unison whilst Tumbleweave‘s mid-tempo bounce kept the crowd transfixed thoroughly throughout. It was a nice touch to feature older material and whilst more would certainly have been welcome, this is just nit-picking a performance from a band who were firing on all cylinders.
Speaking of Hyde, she more than displayed her ability as a vocalist by giving one hell of a captivating performance. With her range of vocal pitches being executed to pin-point precision and her polite and mild-mannered approach to interacting with the crowd which ensured the intimate atmosphere was maintained, Hyde was absolutely brilliant to watch as her vocals soared over the grooves and melodies amply provided by her bandmates. All in all, it was a set that more than demonstrated BLACK MOTH‘s professionalism and ability to deliver a killer live experience, and set the stage incredibly well for their forthcoming opus.
Rating: 9/10
