LIVE REVIEW: Pist + Mastiff @ Academy, Mancester

When lockdown hit at the end of March last year, few of us expected that 15 months later, we’d still be throttled by restrictions to fight COVID-19. With lockdown after lockdown, tier after fumbling tier, the live music industry has been flatlined by the pandemic. However, like a beast awakening from a long winter hibernation, rumblings are being heard once more. Gigs are back, albeit in rather different circumstances than what we’d all love, but alas, they are back. And such, as PIST and MASTIFF grace the large stage at Manchester’s Academy, tonight’s performance not only comes as an emotion return of heavy metal to the Northern powerhouse, but a statement of intent that bolsters the claim that UK metal has never been in better health.

In normal times, the likes of PIST and MASTIFF would be more likely to crush the stages of the intimate Star & Garter or Rebellion but these are not normal times. COVID-19-related restrictions are still in place for large gatherings so, with social distancing and allotted seating enforced, tonight’s show at the large Academy feels bemusing as it does a superb opportunity for the two bands to take advantage of the venue’s much larger stage and mighty sound system.

And as MASTIFF roar into life, the feeling is overwhelming. Live music is back with an almighty bang. What follows from the Hull natives is nothing short of exhilarating as the band unleash a vicious maelstrom of blackened sludge. Guitarists Phil Johnson and James Andrew Lee are dynamic as they move through riffs of hardcore-esque bounce to a droning boom that oozes filth, drummer Michael Shepherd beats his kit to within one inch of its life and combines really well with bassist Dan Dolby to keep the pace flowing over the course of their time on stage. And then there’s frontman Jim Hodge. Previous live outing from MASTIFF prove he is the centrepiece of the band’s aural barrages and tonight is no different. And with the extra room to manoeuvre on stage, Hodge prowls the stage oozing enthusiasm and charisma and his manic screams and guttural barks are incredibly impactful.

With a large chunk of the set comprised of material from the forthcoming slab of brutality, Leave Me The Ashes Of The Earth, it would have been the icing on the cake had we have a slathering of cuts from 2019’s stellar Plague, and with occasional blurring of the sound making individual components of the sound difficult to hear through the noise, the set is not perfect, but that is not important. Tonight, the focus is the future. MASTIFF set a big statement of intent, a claim to be one of the UK’s next juggernauts. And with a lovely sentimental shoutout to APF Records head honcho, Andrew Field, tonight’s curator, MASTIFF embody the attitude, determination and DIY spirit of what has made UK metal so intoxicating in 2021. And it doesn’t get much better than that.

Rating: 8/10

Without the grind of extensive touring and frequent festival appearances, the growth and development of bands has been much more lowkey and behind closed doors since the pandemic struck. Bury’s PIST have been slogging in the underground for sometime and with COVID-19 halting the momentum of 2019’s superb Hailz dead in its track, the band could have easily become yet another musical casualty of the pandemic.

But, the second the band erupted onto the stage of Manchester Academy, you get the feeling that we’re seeing a much more mature and refined band than what came before. Sure, PIST ooze the denim and leather attitude of heavy metal, oozing the grit and snot-fuelled attitude of what makes the genre so damn satisfying, but the professionalism the band display on stage is incredible.

John Nicholson and new guitarist Jack Trelawny are the focal point for the band’s bombastic sound, driving the pace through excellent NOLA-esque riffing and by the concluding stages of the performance, the crowd have defied being sat and are risen (albeit socially distanced) with heads banging a plenty. Vocalist Dave Rowlands has grown into a natural frontman, commanding the stage with his excellent gritty vocal croons and sharp screams and the way he can hold the crowd’s attention, a crowd that is forced to be refrained due to the setup of tonight’s show, is nothing short of admirable.

From the first crushing riff to the triumphant roar upon their conclusion, PIST have made a claim to be one of the UK’s next big breakout names. And with material like Mind Rotter in their arsenal, easily the highlight of a superb performance, the future is certainly bright for the Bury metallers. As the world continues to unlock following the great pause of the pandemic, with bands like PIST and MASTIFF fighting the good fight for UK heavy music; you can’t help but get ecstatic for the future.

Rating: 9/10

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