After tearing up the motorway after work, I arrived at Rebellion just in time to catch the last couple of tracks in Pulverise's set. Songs like Slam Time are perfect for a show like this, and the audience lap it up as though Pulverise were headliners. The sound was superb and the band were on top form. Relentless gigging has really paid off and Pulverise are a machine that fans of Rap Metal can't resist. I really hope that they're picked up by a decent label soon as there aren't many bands out there as deserving as they are.
Armada of Secrets are a three-piece alternative band that mix an array of styles into bass-driven Rock. The twist is that there are no guitars. The bassist is exceptionally good and makes up for this with some complex, dynamic bass lines that powers the band through. I thought it was a little strange that a band with such a fantastic slot would play a set with so many covers, as this was the perfect opportunity to present their original music to the masses, as opposed to just trying to please them with songs that they're probably already familiar with.
Their set was good, albeit a little samey due to the nature of their set-up, but I'd be more interested in hearing them when they've developed a stronger set of original material.
Tonight marked Bloodywood's first time in Manchester as part of their first ever UK tour. Their music videos, where they've mixed contemporary Metal, Rap Metal and traditional Indian music, have gone viral and the international interest in this band has gone through the roof. Let's not forget that they don't even have a full-length album out yet, and there are still hundreds of people snapping up tickets to see them regardless.
The hype is well and truly justified, as Bloodywood were fantastic. The entire set crackled with energy and this positive spirit and enthusiasm from the band infected the audience, making for a truly great show. It was really clear the band were having the time of their lives on this tour, and that's part of the magic.
Opening with the killer Machi Bhasad (Expect A Riot), they tore through a short-but sweet set of all the songs we've come to love them for from their YouTube channel, including Endurant, Jee Veerey, and the defiant celebration of diversity that is Ari Ari. They even did their own interpretation of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, which was also really cool. At the end of the show, they played Machi Bhasad (Expect A Riot) again as an encore. The room exploded one more time as Bloodywood sealed their place in our memories as one of the best bands to come to Rebellion.
Bloodywood appear to be getting significantly bigger on a daily basis, and it was an honour to catch them at this relatively early stage of their career. I have absolutely no doubt that by next year they'll be playing bigger venues and UK festivals. I'm also very excited for the day when their first full-length album comes out. I'll be a 'first day buyer' for sure.
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