WORDS AND IMAGES RHYS GROVER
A trio of metalcore meets pop-punk was the perfect storm for a night packed with energy
As Manchester begins to finally bask in some better weather, it was a pleasant night to be piling into O2 Victoria Warehouse, a venue notorious for either being rather on the warm side of things, and with a night packed with mosh pits and crowd surfing, a bit of a breeze in the air was much needed to keep the crowd going.
There was a buzz floating about from the moment the curtain raisers took to the stage, and what a fantastic set Blind Channel delivered. A relatively underground band with an incredible following, it’s clear to see what this band will be capable of as they continue to forge their path. A short setlist was the perfect starting shot for what lay ahead, and the incredible chorus of ‘Dark Side’ really got the crowd bouncing
Trash Boat were given the mammoth task of being the meat in the sandwich that was Blind Channel and I Prevail, but they lived up to the expectations and standards very well. It was always going to be an uphill battle following on from the blazing opener from Blind Channel, but Trash Boat were there to take things up that one notch further, getting the crowd riled for I Prevail, and they managed that with ease and an insane amount of energy.
Back drops switched over, stage set, and stage raisers laid down at the front, and it was now time for I Prevail. A fine selection of support acts meant there was an air of anticipation around the venue as the lights dimmed, the roar from the crowd as the band took their places was something pretty breathtaking, and then as I Prevail powered through their opening numbers, you just felt like you were in amongst something rather spectacular.
I Prevail are one of the few bands who have an ability to switch from Pop-Punk/Alternative into metalcore at the flick of a switch and pull it off with elegance and style. The energy levels on stage were contagious, every member of the band fully up for it, ready to deliver their best for the full near two hour set, the crowd were more than ready to reciprocate the energy.
This gig had clearly been a long time coming for some people, with one diehard fan holding a sign on the front row, stating she bought her tickets more than 1300 days ago. An insane amount of time to wait for a ticket, but when the band are capable of performances of this calibre, it’s really no surprise that they have fans willing to wait that long.
These sort of gigs are ones that come by once in a blue moon, and it’s not a genre I would particularly listen to on a daily basis, but for any fan of live music, getting down to at least one metal gig is a must. It’s an experience like no other, and when the artists are as fine tuned and well picked as the trio on display here, then it’s really a no-brainer.
SET LIST
1/ There’s Fear in Letting Go
2/ Body Bag
3/ Self-Destruction
4/ Bad Things
5/ Come and Get It
6/ Hurricane
7/ Feel Something
(ILLENIUM cover)
8/ Chop Suey! (Intro)
(System of a Down cover)
9/ FWYTYK
10/ Breaking Down
11/ DOA
12/ Choke
13/ Deep End
14/ Scars
Encore:
15/ Gasoline
16/ Bow Down
FOLLOW I PREVAIL
FOLLOW TRASH BOAT
FOLLOW BLIND CHANNEL
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
