With a hefty 7 band line-up, the Impericon
Never Say Die! Tour is back in town and set to get Manchester’s Club Academy
basement hotter and louder than ever before.
With the line-up including acts
such as Betraying The Martyrs, I Killed The Prom Queen and Emmure (headlining
the night) it is set to be a good mix of bands from across the world, and with
a packed-out venue and the first band heading to the stage let’s go…
Hand
Of Mercy may be the first of seven bands on stage
tonight but the crowd is out early and more than willing to get involved. The
Sydney five-piece kick the tour off in style and bring to the stage a raw
energy that spurs on the fervent crowd even more. Their no holds barred
approach sees them throw themselves into the mix with big hitting hardcore
anthems such as ‘Last Lights’ and ‘Mr Nasty Time’, with its aggressive unclean
vocals and killer riff. They are full on and forceful and a great start to the
evening. 7/10
Next up, fellow Sydney metalcore act Northlane take to the Club Academy
stage. Frontman Adrian Fitipaldes admits that this is their first time in the
UK but there is an excitement and buzz surrounding them. The pit, that was
started by openers Hand Of Mercy, is back in even bigger and more violent form
as the crowd throw themselves forward at Northlane’s mercy. Crowd favourite
‘Quantum Flux’ with its slow, atmospheric beginnings opens out into a musical juggernaut
of hardcore mixed with melodic undertones. A force to be reckoned with. 8/10
Straight out of Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina is Hundredeth. The crowd
dips in ferocity slightly and isn’t ready to get quite as energetic. However,
that isn’t to say Hundredeth’s set isn’t filled with ambitious, fast paced,
thrashing big hitters. Raw, brutal and passion-filled tracks such as ‘Weathered
Town’ are percussive and stirring, but it is the dynamic and anthemic ‘Free
Mind/Open Spirit’ which turns things around and by the end of the set the crowd
are won over. Frontman Chadwick Johnson throws himself amongst the crowd and suddenly
they are back in the party mix. 7/10
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| I Killed The Prom Queen's Jona Weinhofen |
A Parisian
flavour is brought to the mix in the form of Betraying The Martyrs. The band makes their way to the stage and,
before frontman Aaron Matts has even stepped up the crowd is already throwing
themselves over the barrier. The set starts as it means to go on and is high
octane from here on in. Betraying The Martrys don’t hold back and step things
up on the Never Say Die! 2013 Tour.
Inciting a wall of death by the second song, they mean business. Brutal
and anthemic, and it didn’t matter that they couldn’t play a new song due to technical
issues. Aaron is the perfect frontman, whilst the rest of the band provoke the
same grit and energy. As the last notes of ‘Man Made Distaster’ power out,
keyboardist Victor Guillet takes an almighty leap off the stage and out into
the crowd. Job well done. 9/10
Betraying The
Martyrs is a tough act to follow and that job falls to Australian quintet, I Killed The Prom Queen. Coming out
strong, they play a mix of older material and throw in a new song or two. The
crowd takes a little warming up, seemingly flagging slightly, and it is down to
new song ‘To The Wolves’ to reignite the spark. Taken from the forthcoming new
album, the brand’s new track is an instant favourite and the anticipation
builds for the new release. ‘Sharks in Your Mouth’ closes the set out in style;
it’s instantly recognisable riff soaring across the Club Academy. 8/10
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| Front-man Jamie Hope in Manchester |
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| I Killed The Prom Queen's Jamie Hope |
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| Carnifex's Scott Lewis |
Carnifex take to the stage
with an almighty energy; the room is sweltering by this point in the evening
but they aren’t willing to let people have a rest yet. Commanding horns, circle
pits that engulf the entire room and crowdsurfing, they know exactly what they
want from a crowd. Classic songs such as ‘Lie To My Face’ incite vicious pits
as everyone throws themselves full throttle into the mix. Taking time to debut
a new song, ‘Die Without Hope’, leaves the crowd looking a little lost and
unsure what to do with themselves. The new offering doesn’t disappoint, the
crowd just crave something more familiar to get involved with. ‘Hell Chose Me’
does just this and ends the set in a furor of chaos. Carnifex is the perfect
lead up to the headliners of the tour. 7.5/10
It is down to Emmure to headline tonight and finish
off the Never Say Die! Tour 2013 in style, and they certainly don’t mess
around. Renowned frontman Frankie Palmeri isn’t here to mess around and tonight
is all about the music. With six bands having graced the stage before them it
would be easy for the crowd to be weary at this point, but not with Emmure up
they’re not. Their set is filled with songs from their entire back catalogue,
each one proving just as popular with the rowdy audience.
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| Carnifex on stage in Manchester |
Having been a band
for over a decade, their live show is tight and flawless, yet still has the air
of spontaneity as the band parade up and down the stage and crowd surfers
appear in abundance. Set highlight has to be crowd favourite ‘MDMA’ and
Emmure’s wide range entire headline set proves how their musical style transcends
genres and has wide ranging appeal. Quite rightly Emmure command the largest
pit of the evening and end the night with ‘When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong’.
Worthy headliners. 8/10
With such a high caliber of bands here
tonight it definitely upped the ante and ensured that everyone brought their
A-game. Seven bands down and we don’t think that the Club Academy basement has
been hotter and sweatier. Never Say Die! Tour 2013 done. 8/10
