LIVE REVIEW: Death Pill @ Retro Bar, Manchester

If there is one word to describe DEATH PILL, let it be this: resilient. The Ukrainian hardcore punk trio have experienced something many of us will never experience; the turmoil of war in the place you call home. The band were just several songs into recording their self-titled debut album when Russia launched their full-scale invasion last year and now, despite the conflict still raging on as Ukraine remains defiant to its foreign invaders, DEATH PILL have stood firm and won affection from music lovers across the globe. The weather may be sweltering in the UK but for those congregated in the intimate confines of Retro Bar in Manchester, they await the trio with open arms.

Acting as sole support on the night, homegrown hardcore crew FEIGN take to the small stage to just a small gathering of punters but the trio don’t let that deter them, in fact, they take it in their stride by displaying an abundance of energy and aggression. Sure, their brand of hardcore is nothing new or particularly innovative, but this young trio exude enough energy and aural power to appeal to anyone for an appetite for hardcore. They bulldoze their way through a short and snappy set with hefty riffs and breakdowns aplenty and exude enough tenacity for their craft to make them a name to keep an eye on.

Rating: 7/10

On record, there is a sense of rawness and unadulterated fury to DEATH PILL, exacerbated by the current conflict in their home country. But live, DEATH PILL can only be described as an aural petrol bomb. Explosive and utterly ferocious, the trio dispatch sheer passion and blistering fury from the first rumbling riffs of Dirty Rotten Youth to finale Would You Marry Me, all whilst ensuring adrenaline is in full flow with little respite. Miss Revolt snarls with malicious intent, It’s A Joke croons with riot grrl snottiness and Kill The Traitors leans the band’s thrash influences to ignite a fresh surge of adrenaline in the set’s latter stages.

Mariana Navrotskaya dispatches her punk-drenched riffage with the utmost ease whilst unleashing line after line of venomous snarls, drummer Anastasiya Khomenko keeps the rhythm flying in top gear and bassist Natalya Seryakova keeps the heaviness in line with thumping tones. Blitzing their way through their 23 minute self-titled debut album in chronological order, the band opt for shock and awe and for those present, it’s thoroughly enjoyable and the intimate confines of Retro Bar helps the band’s DIY charm shine bright. DEATH PILL have turned many heads towards them this year and on the base of their defiant display in Manchester, it’s clear this trio are just getting started.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Eliza Waite here:

Like DEATH PILL on Facebook.