Gig Review- Burning Witches and Nervosa, Manchester Rebellion- April 18th

Nervosa and Burning Witches

 I had the opportunity to visit Manchester this past week to catch the all-female heavyweights of metal, Swiss power metal band Burning Witches and Brazil's Thrash metals' Nervosa on the last leg of their UK tour, as part of their extensive European one, and they did not disappoint the waiting crowd.

The almost-packed Rebellion was ready in the misty, dark venue. The lights suddenly went out and the first act of the evening appeared to an eager audience. The band were called Bloodyard, a four-piece from the Northwest of England, led by the diminutive and tenacious singer, Donna Hurd. This was the first time I had heard of them, and they soon got the crowd bobbing and flailing. The band play groove-laden death metal. Hurd's death howls grunted in unison with the mesmerising riffs that stuck in the ear long afterwards. As for how support bands go, these were impressive. They combined all the raw intensity of Nervosa with the riffs and energy of Burning Witches. It is certainly what the crowd needed for who the main eventers were for this evening. Rating 8/10

Next up was the first of our double-header, The tall, lean Burning Witches vocalist Laura Guldemond, beaming from ear to ear. She thanked the crowd for coming and bellowed were we ready! The band quickly explode with a lung-busting performance of Wings of Steel'. a track full of speed and aggression to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Guldemond strides up and down the stage, pumping her fist in the air and thrashing her hair to the scintillating riffs of

guitarists Romani Kalkhul and Larissa Ernst. The duo gets together with bassist Jeaninie Grob to headbang in unison, whilst the crowd bang their heads in appreciation. The band then ask the fans to join in and wave their arms for 'We Stand as One', a true ballad for the baying mob. The Witches put on a solid performance with Guldemond getting the fans to join her with some 'Oi ' Chants, as her vocals reach high octave proportions. Other highlights of this special night include asking fans to join her on stage for a full-on mosh experience for 'Dance with the Devil', a reminder they are witches that rock on 'Hexenhammer, and donning a crown and sceptre for 'The Witch of The North' Rating 9/10

And finally, it was time for the evening's main event. Nervosa sauntered onto the stage with a brand-new lineup, led by the fiery Diva Satanica slithered around the stage like a cobra ready to pounce on its prey. She thanked the fans for turning up for 'The metal community', before bursting into opener 'Vultures' to get the fans back on their feet. Satanica strides up and down the stage, shaking her hips and growling to the groove-laden guitars of Prika and the charismatic bassist Mia Wallace. The two women play their instruments with such fervour and power it matched the equally rabid mob. The band soon break into 'Kill the Silence' to consolidate themselves as the potential new queens of thrash metal.

Other highlights include Satanica encouraging a circular mosh pit in time for 'Into Moshpit' and inviting Burning Witches vocalist Laura back onstage for a duet on 'Rebel Soul'. Satanica got an opportunity to introduce the new lineup with Mia having fun with the crowd...and a pillar stood in her way. There was an immense drum solo from drummer Eleni before the show closed with two new tracks from their latest LP 'Perpetual Chaos'. The show finished with 'Guided by Evil' and 'Under Ruins'. Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable night full of three talented additions to the metal giving it all for the fans. Rating 9/10

Words by Anselm Anderson

If you want to discover further reviews like this, please click on the link below to receive all the latest interviews, news, and playlists.

https://follow.it/anselmanderson

'The Witch of The North'- Burning Witches

'Guided By Evil'- Nervosa