LIVE REVIEW: Marduk @ Rebellion, Manchester

MARDUK are amongst a select number of bands that hold a prestigious status within the world of black metal. Boasting a career touching near three decades and a consistently solid track record when it comes to studio record, it’s fair to say that the Swedes are a driving force in metal’s most visceral genre. Now, with a new record on the horizon, MARDUK have took to the road once again to gain support for their upcoming release. We ventured to Rebellion in Manchester to see if the Swedes can maintain their fierce reputation.

Blackened death metal horde AZZIARD had the formidable task of opening proceedings and whilst other bands would buckle under the pressure, for this French quintet, they rose to challenge and gave a very solid performance indeed. Thanks to a consistent and tight live sound, the band dispatched thunderous riffing and countless blastbeats as their sonic maelstrom swirled violently throughout the confines of Rebellion. The riffs from guitarists Nesh and Gorgeist packed plenty of bite and the hooks captivated your attention whilst A.S.A delivered vocals laced with aggressive tenacity effortlessly and displayed a commanding stage presence. The only dampening aspect to AZZIARD‘s live performance however was the occasional microphone squeal which broke the band’s immersive chokehold somewhat, but fortunately, this technical issue was sparse and didn’t derail the band’s impact. A very strong opening indeed.

Rating: 8/10

Intending to follow in the wake of the impressive AZZIARD, German horde UNLIGHT maintained the thunderous atmosphere with an equally impressive musical display. Fusing black metal with thrash is nothing new, and whilst UNLIGHT certainly aren’t reinventing the wheel here, what they offered was nothing short of solid. Thrashing riffs, explosive drumming and commanding vocals were the order of the day here as the band delivered a set that flew by. Sprinkles of harmony in the guitar work added a welcome splash of melody breaking up the mayhem, with guitarist Raptus dispatching solo after solo effortlessly, showcasing his proficiency on his instrument whilst Blaspherion impressed with his rhythm playing and vocal work. A strong and equally enjoyable performance.

Rating: 8/10

RAGNAROK may not be the first name to spring to mind in Norwegian black metal, but the band certainly have the credentials to hold their own against the heavy hitters. Forming at the heart of the genre’s infamous second wave, the band have gone onto forge a credible career and their performance in Manchester certainly demonstrated this. Frostbitten riffs were dispatched in sheer abundance that kept heads banging aplenty and Jontho demonstrated the qualities of a solid frontman with his charismatic stage presence and ear-piercing vocal shrieks.

When they hit their stride RAGNAROK were a force to be reckoned with but what was thoroughly disappointing was that a wave of technical problems plagued the band throughout their set. The resulting issues resulted in the band taking prolonged breaks in between tracks which buckled their momentum, it was very stop-start, resembling a thorn in their side and dampening their impact. Issues aside though, when they fired on all cylinders, RAGNAROK were incredibly proficient and demonstrated their class, but it is just a shame that the aforementioned problems hindered what could have been a phenomenal set.

Rating: 7/10

Fortunately, no such issues plagued MARDUK who gave a headlining set that pushed their barbaric and visceral brand of black metal to the absolute maximum. Right from the off with the artillery bombardment of Panzer Division Marduk, the Swedish metallers rarely let up, never allowing you to catch your breath as sharp, shredding riffs and a bombardment of blastbeats were dispatched relentlessly. At the heart of this sonic devastation, frontman Mortuus stood firm and executed solid vocal deliveries throughout the performance, deliveries which only intensified MARDUK‘s explosive live sound.

Pulling from a whole wealth of material from across their illustrious career, the band’s setlist left no stone unturned and each track they dispatched was met with a ravenous response from the densely packed crowd. Baptism By Fire is very much a fitting title to match the band’s visceral sonics, Throne of Rats had heads banging aplenty and finale Serpent Sermon gave the crowd one last bout of savage live black metal. New material from upcoming record Viktoria, the previously released singles Werwolf and Equestrian Bloodlust, both sounded impressive and matched well to the band’s older material, showcasing that they are still have their cutting edge.

With no tricks or surprises up their sleeves, MARDUK gave a performance that was to be expected from a band so high up the ranks in black metal. Visceral and thunderous, the band delivered a solid live performance, one which will maintain their revered status in extreme music.

Rating: 8/10

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