LIVE REVIEW: Winterfylleth @ Rebellion, Manchester

WINTERFYLLETH are one of the UK’s premier black metal bands. Since their formation in 2007, the Manchester-based metallers have become hugely popular within not just the local scene but on an international scale. After relishing in the acoustic soundscapes of the brilliant The Hallowing of Heirdom last year, including a run of stripped-back and incredibly intimate live performances, the band are back with their trademark metallic edge, bringing a homecoming show to Manchester’s Rebellion, with support coming from SOLSTICE and WODE.

Although tonight’s headliners are certainly Manchester’s biggest black metal band, WODE are certainly generating a buzz in the underground. With two excellent albums of ferocious musical quality and a strong and frequent live reputation, WODE intend on giving WINTERFYLLETH a run for their money and judging from their opening performance, they look set to cement their clam to the throne of UK black metal. In a compact but highly gripping performance, the quartet power through a six song set that packs a bountiful offering of razor-sharp riffing, blastbeats and howling vocals. It’s a powerful and intense atmosphere with material from 2017’s Servants of the Countercosmos proving to be highlights of the set. A solid opening performance from a band who look set to dominate the UK’s underground black metal circuit for years to come.

Rating: 8/10

Although WINTERFYLLETH are the night’s headliners, it seems that a large portion of tonight’s crowd is here solely for SOLSTICE (WINTERFYLLETH included as they joke later on in their set). With a career spanning near three decades, the epic doom metallers are very much a firm favourite in the UK underground and with the band suffering a plethora of lineup changes across the years, it very much seems that the chance to catch them live in action is a rare treat indeed. And they did not disappoint. Although sandwiched between the black metal ferocity of WODE and the atmospheric icy riffs of WINTERFYLLETH, SOLSTICE held their ground with an arsenal of powerful riffing that towers above you, bombastic drumming and soaring vocals from new vocalist Felipe Kutzbach. Although the music on offer was incredibly enjoyable, it was with Kutzbach who stole the show as his passionate vocal deliveries and animated stage presence captivated the crowd’s attention throughout their hour-long set. Given the rapturous response to every song performed here, it’s safe to say that SOLSTICE are very much adored in the underground and long may it continue.

Rating: 9/10

“We’re WINTERFYLLETH and we’re from…here”, a good a statement as any to kick of a homecoming show. Humorous nature aside, there is nothing amusing about the band’s brand of black metal and the execution of their material was approached in the most serious manner, leading to a performance of glistening quality. The Divination of Antiquity kicks off proceedings and right from the get-go, it’s clear that the band are on scorching form as Dan Capp and Chris Naughton‘s dual riffing react organically to the sustained rhythms of Simon Lucas‘ drumming and Nick Wallwork‘s basslines. Naughton‘s vocals are spot on throughout the set, delivering every scream and howl to solid effect and his harmonised chanting with his bandmates on The Swart Raven is simply chilling.

Powering through a set of material from across their career, aside from The Hallowing of Heirdom which is understandable given the tone and environment of the show, the band left no stone unturned. Whisper of the Elements‘ subtle melodic leads held their own to the sustained pummelling of the drums, Defending The Realm still is a downright epic in its own right and A Memorial‘s up-tempo blasts injected some adrenaline in the set’s second half. Concluding with Mam Tor (The Shivering Mountain), a nice callback to 2008’s The Ghost of Heritage, ensured that the band ended the night on a resounding high, reaffirming that WINTERFYLLETH are one of the UK’s finest ever black metal bands.

Rating: 9/10

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