LIVE REVIEW: Spiritbox @ O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

The rise of SPIRITBOX has been nothing short of meteoric. Since first exploding onto the scene with the monstrous Holy Roller, the Canadians have never taken their foot off the gas. Their debut album, 2021’s Eternal Blue, is critically acclaimed and sporadic shows on Continental Europe have been hailed as a triumph. Now, after what seems like an age, SPIRITBOX finally arrive at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse for their biggest UK headline show to date.

Given the popularity of tonight’s headliners, it’s not surprising the queue is snaking round the venue upon doors opening. As such, there is a a healthy numbers of bodies awaiting openers BRAND OF SACRIFICE. Fellow countrymen of the main event, the Canadians have enjoyed a surge in popularity (albeit not to the same intensity as SPIRITBOX) and as the main theme of the Pokémon animated series announces their arrival, the crowd holds their collective breath. Bursting to life with a quick-fire rendition of Blinded and Demon King, (both from this year’s Between Death And Dreams EP) a multitude of hefty shredding pummels the crowd. While frontman Kyle Anderson is an animated presence on stage, exuding energy with aplomb and dispatches piercing shrieks and guttural lows aplenty.

For all their prowess though, BRAND OF SACRIFICE are unfortunately plagued by sound issues which blunts their overall impact, especially given their technicality in the guitar department. An overriding fuzz of bass dominates large portions of their live sonics and whilst it is hench enough to make most dive into the pit, it dampens the impact of Anderson‘s vocals and the technical shred of lead guitarist Michael Leo Valeri. It’s disappointing because on record, BRAND OF SACRIFICE are one of the frontrunners of deathcore’s resurgence, but here in Manchester, they are dealt a bad hand.

Rating: 6/10

Fortunately, for UK homegrown champs LOATHE, they experience no-such issues as the Liverpudlian genre-splicers continue to add stock to their claim as one of the most exciting names in heavy music today. Fresh from their last-minute step up to headline UK Tech-Fest, we’d forgive the band if there was an air of fatigue within their ranks, but as they erupt with a one-two punch of Aggressive Evolution and Dance On My Skin, it’s clear the hunger is very much alive within their collective stomachs.

Playing the bulk of 2020’s I Let It In and It Took Everything, the band are on top form as the likes of Gored and New Faces In The Dark hit like a ten ton hammer and ignite the pit, but as we know, the jewel in LOATHE‘s crown is Two-May Mirror and in the big setting of the O2 Victoria Warehouse; it is simply astonishing. The melancholic riffs ebb and flow and Kadeem France‘s vocals are crystal clear. One moment in a set it may be, but it showcases exactly why LOATHE are such a treasured name in UK heavy music.

Rating: 9/10

If the excitement was noticeable for the supports, the moments proceeding SPIRITBOX arriving to the stage are palpable. We touched upon the fact the band have experienced a meteoric rise in recent times and whilst naysayers may cry this is down to internet hype alone, bearing witness to 3,500 people lose their collective shit to opening salvo of Rule Of Nines and Hurt You quashes these critics in an instant as Courtney LaPlante and company set an immediate aura of conviction. A thundering opening it may be, but with Yellowjacket next on the agenda, the venue becomes a warzone as the swelling crowds bounce and collide as the hefty riffs from Mike Stringer pack a wallop and LaPlante‘s guttural blasts hit like a freight train.

Anyone who is familiar with the palette of SPIRITBOX knows they are far from being one dimensional, as their debut can attest to, but live; the experience is astonishing. Circle With Me is an early highlight of the night as the tech-laden riffage combined with LaPlante‘s growls and angelic highs send shivers down the spine, Holy Roller ignites utter carnage in the pit and is arguably SPIRITBOX at their heaviest, and Constance showcases the band at their most emotionally fragile as they guide us through the most shimmering aural beauty.

With every date on their UK headlining run sold-out in record time, it’s clear that SPIRITBOX are a band that are cherished by many. Here in Manchester they reward their legion of fans by stoking the fires of their incendiary rise up the ranks. Captivating, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable, SPIRITBOX‘s debut in Manchester is a triumph and perhaps what is most exciting of all, is that this only feels like the beginning.

Rating: 10/10

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

Like SPIRITBOX on Facebook.