LIVE REVIEW: Tiger Army @ Club Academy, Manchester

Plunging into the depths of the Manchester Club Academy was met with one common theme – to appeal the cold night with warmth of dark themes. A trace of a recurring theme throughout the night of TIGER ARMY, GRAVE PLEASURES and THE NIGHTMARES should delight witnesses old and fresh from the packet.

South Wales’ export THE NIGHTMARES was forecast by traditional rock ‘n roll, which brought the initial contrast as delicate, yet quite dejecting. The troupe paced through a soundtrack that expressed a blend of contrasting influences and styles right to the evening, and for new spectators of the dark side.

Rating: 6/10

Finland’s GRAVE PLEASURES lifted the veil with more than a touch of the night. When imagining THE CURE and DEPECHE MODE alluring the captivated, the Finnish quintet brought their dark magic with Mind Intruder, Infatuation Overkill and New Hip Moon. What made the night even more alluring was when new witnesses grabbed a sip of BEASTMILK classics Death Reflect Us and Love In A Cold World. Taking the spellbinding set with everyone to dance with the alluring closer Joy Through Death, a delightful response was met. Especially when fans have been expressing how long they’ve waited to see the Finns.

Rating: 8/10

Running slickly with their introduction Prelude: Tercio De Muerte through to their signature rockabilly stance with Beyond The Veil, TIGER ARMY grabbed many throats into a swinging fifties-style assembly. The psychobilly trio unveiled a welcome into their 23 year history while revisiting their back catalogue with tracks Devil Girl, Cupid’s Victim, Ghostfire and Never Die. For some, it was more than enough to keep the faithful happy and expose their testimony to the band’s enduring appeal. Anyone who were acquainted with their latest album Retrofuture, to be exposed to tracks like The Devil That You Don’t Know and Eyes Of The Night, it was surprising to observe the step back from their psychobilly roots to a cleaner rock ‘n roll based performance. Although it was clearly a surprise for the crowd, when they hit the snazzy duo of W.T.M. and Sea Of Fire, the vigour gave a sight of vintage TIGER ARMY giving a slice of of Americana pie to Manchester.

Rating: 7/10

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