LIVE REVIEW: Shadow Of Intent @ Club Academy, Manchester
Deathcore is in rude health as of late. Thanks to a crop of bands spear-heading the genre’s resurgence and pushing the deathcore template to new and exciting blackened and symphonic pastures, deathcore is in arguably its strongest state since its inception two decades ago. SHADOW OF INTENT are one such band. The band are at the frontline of the deathcore charge in 2023 and after years of many a postponement due to the pandemic, the band arrive on UK shores to a much anticipated and sold-out crowd at Manchester’s Club Academy.
Such is the health of deathcore in 2023 that the support package to SHADOW OF INTENT is one of bludgeoning propositions. Aussie troupe TO THE GRAVE kick off the evening’s antics with a tight and visceral affair, one that accurately reflects their disdain and disgust to the meat industry. Dane Evans‘ combination of piercing shrieks and guttural snarls blend effortlessly with the pummelling riffs from guitarists Jack Simoni and Luke Ringin, as the band power their way through their short time on stage. No frills and right to the point, and with a healthy offering of material from forthcoming album Director’s Cuts on show, TO THE GRAVE did more than enough to show that their stock is set to increase in the coming months.
Rating: 7/10
Canadian mob ANGELMAKER are up next and with two vocalists leading the line, akin to fellow countrymen DESPISED ICON, their ace up their sleeve proves to work wonders. Easily, the highlight of their set comes from the efforts from Casey Tyson-Pearce and Mike Greenwood, whose combined shrieks, growls and animated stage presence help elevate the band’s aural barrage. With the bulk of the set comprised of material from 2019’s self-titled effort and last year’s Sanctum, the Canadian mob powered through their time on stage as Leech brings the curtain down on their set, it’s fair to say that the band will have earnt themselves a bountiful offering of new fans.
Rating: 8/10
ENTERPRISE EARTH have had a rocky time over the course of their nine year career, with members seemingly coming and going through a revolving door. As of now, there are no original members within the band’s ranks but don’t let that diminish the fact that live, ENTERPRISE EARTH are a force to be reckoned with. Psalm Of Agony is one hell of an opening statement as the band fire into top gear right from the get-go as a cacophony of down-tuned riffing and powerful growls from new vocalist Travis Worland, who excels throughout the set, ignites pure bedlam in the pit. From there, ENTERPRISE EARTH keep the punches swinging. Reanimate // Disintegrate‘s hench riffs strike with the power of a hammer hitting an anvil and new single, Death Magick, sits comfortably alongside their previous material; demonstrating that the future of the band is in safe hands indeed. A solid outing from a band that looks set to continue making their mark within deathcore.
Rating: 8/10
Initially conceived as a metallic tribute to the Halo franchise, latter records have seen SHADOW OF INTENT expand their lyrical content to wider subjects, and as such, their orchestral-meets-deathcore musical blueprint has worked wonders, leading to a surge in popularity that is reflected in the swarm of people eagerly anticipating the band to grace the stage. And as opener Farewell begins to unfold, the crowd hold a collective breath before sheer chaos explodes within the intimate confines of Manchester’s Club Academy. One hell of an opening indeed.
From there, SHADOW OF INTENT continue to impress as they aurally bludgeon. A bountiful offering from last year’s Elegy are on full-show in Manchester showcasing the latest era of the band in all its glory whilst Barren And Breathless Macrocosm, arguably the song that sent the band’s popularity soaring, is an early highlight where frontman Ben Duerr‘s lows are genuinely terrifying and he replicates the shrieks of the late great Trevor Strnad (who guested on the studio version of the song) to wonderous effect. A one-two punch of The Prelude To Bereavement and The Prophet’s Beckoning is a nice throwback to 2016’s Primordial and 2017’s Reclaimer, pleasing long-time supporters of the band as the extravagant orchestral dance with Chris Wiseman‘s elaborate leads on the guitar, whereas the thrash-tinged Blood In The Sands Of Time injects a bout of extra adrenaline in the latter stages of the set.
Although it was disappointing to not hear the likes of Gravesinger and The Catacombs, these are just slight niggles to what was a stunning performance from one of the band’s spear-heading deathcore’s ongoing resurgence.
Rating: 9/10
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