Kerrang Tour Special Part 3 // Live Review feat. Fearless Vampire Killers, Tonight Alive, Chiodos & Black Veil Brides

In the final part of our Kerrang Tour Special we bring you all the live reviews and hottest action shots of the four bands that took to the stage at Manchester's Academy 1. With Fearless Vampire Killers and Tonight Alive on the bill, along with the return of Chiodos and Black Veil Brides headlining the whole evening it was certainly a musical mix and satisfied all tastes. 

Click below to see our review and check out all the photo's from the evening... 

Black Veil Brides' front-man Andy Biersack. The Hollywood rock band headlined in Manchester

Fearless Vampire Killers on stage at The Academy

The Kerrang tour has a pretty mixed line-up, but is a stellar bill nevertheless. William Control takes charge of the decks and after a warm-up DJ the first band takes to the stage. You’ll see them before you hear them; their distinctive look complete with cravats, goggles and makeup makes them look as though they’ve just jumped straight out of your favourite steampunk novel. Don’t however be fooled, Fearless Vampire Killers aren’t just a style over substance band, they definitely know how to put on a show and their music only backs that up. Opener “Bite Down On My Winchester” is the perfect concoction of melodic and heavier elements, with a chorus that is catchy as hell. The quintet also shows off a new track taken from their much anticipated and intriguing literary exposition, “The Vigilante: Death Or Disgrace”, which is percussive and thrashing. Dual vocal duties are shared between Kier Kemp and Laurence Beveridge and both ooze confidence. However, the band aren’t arrogant and don’t take themselves too seriously. A cover of Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” [yes you read correctly] confirms this and you can’t help but like Fearless Vampire Killers. Narrative led tracks such as “Could We Burn, Darling?” transport you into the band’s world and emphasise how the strong fan base has really bought into not just the music, but the entire life of the band. 

The set tonight is spontaneous, theatrical and energetic; the perfect way to kick off the evening. Multi-talented and with many projects beyond just the music, we can’t wait to see what else the Fearless Vampire Killers have in store.

Fearless Vampire Killers' Kier Kemp on stage in Manchester

Tonight Alive front-woman Jenna McDougall on stage in Manchester

Tonight Alive bassist Cam Adler

Next up is five-piece Australian pop-punk band Tonight Alive. Dramatic entrance music begins; “Manchester make some noise”, shouts front-woman Jenna McDougall and then the beginning riff kicks in. No messing around from beginning to end, Tonight Alive are full force and high energy. The up-beat “Breaking & Entering” kicks off the set and starts the crowd in motion. From here on in it’s a wild ride both on and off stage. Jenna McDougall is an unstoppable force, running up and down the stage and leaping on and off speakers and amps, whilst the audience here in Manchester’s Academy 1 are just as vibrant. No two bands on the Kerrang tour are identical and Tonight Alive firmly has locked down infectious pop-punk and has a fan base to support it. Killer hooks and heavier breakdowns in the likes of “Thank You & Goodnight” hit just at the right time and prove that they aren’t too sugary sweet. Ballad, “Amelia” taken from the new album, works as an interlude and takes the pace down a little, nevertheless still soars out into the crowd. “Listening” brings the set back to a high paced finish. They may have had to fly half way across the world to be here but it was more than worth it judging by tonight’s response. They had a great 2012 and this year is set to be even better.

Chiodos return to the UK

Chiodos' Craig Owens 

It’s safe to say that the most anticipated performance of the evening was that of Chiodos, and this was only heightened by the haunting, dramatic entrance music. The band returns to the UK and brings original singer Craig Owens, who re-joined the band last year, with them. The heavy introduction of “The Undertaker's Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable” leads to the deep unclean vocals of Craig and from higher pitched controlled notes to then letting loose on unclean harsher vocals it is a powerful opener. Chiodos aren’t messing around and the set only continues in the manner it began. Last here in 2009, the band mix their set up a little, playing older “If I Cut My Hair, Hawaii Will Sink” with the newer “There’s No Penguins In Alaska” (which sees Craig practically standing on the crowd by the end). Chiodos even slip in an old classic, “Thermacare” which Craig took to his new band as “The Only Thing You Talk About” and brought back to Chiodos when he rejoined. The infectious and melodic “Thermacare” suitably stirs the audience tonight regardless if they are fans of either project. “Open that pit up” demands Craig and the entire floor goes wild. The beautiful “A Letter From Janelle”, (a slow-jam as the band calls it) allows the crowd a welcomed respite. “Throw your inhibitions into the wind” instructs Craig before Chiodos burst into their final song, the dramatic “The Words "Best Friend" Become Redefined". And just as the set began, it ends in the same dramatic, thrashing manner affirming that Chiodos is back and on form.

Andy Biersack, Black Veil Brides' enigmatic lead singer

Black Veil Brides headline The Kerrang Tour 

It would seem that most people came to see Chiodos tonight, or at least them and the bands that preceded them, with quite a few audience members exiting the Academy before Black Veil Brides. They are glamorous, over the top and they divide opinion. However, whatever your opinion of them you cannot deny that they know how to put on a show. A big stage band they relish the opportunity to show off and strut up and down the stage commanding the audience. And they do it extremely well. The audience members that have stuck around to see their headline set sing along to every word. Songs such as “Wretched And Divine” is a big hitters with huge rock riffs and dramatic vocals. Andy Biersack, the enigmatic front man is not shy in coming forward in his Batman emblazoned vest. Songs such as the infectious and fast paced “Rebel Love Song” confirm that for all their bravado they can really write a glam rock hit. They even throw in an impressive cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” into their set. Saving the best until last the Hollywood five piece return for an encore with the epic and soaring “In The End”. Black Veil Brides are eccentric, pure rock n roll and love them or hate them they aren’t going anywhere.

Photo credit: Danny Peart Photography

http://dannypeart.500px.com/

Missed Parts 1 & 2? Click below to head straight to them 

Kerrang Tour Special Part 1- Interview with Fearless Vampire Killers

Kerrang Tour Special Part 2- Interview with Tonight Alive

 & there's still time to catch the Kerrang Tour 2013-