Last Sunday, Deansgate played host to five bands battling to make it to Bloodstock Open Air festival.
This was the second quarter final of the Manchester ‘Metal 2 the Masses’ tournament, where the winner gets to play at the legendary festival.
The chance to play Bloodstock would be a dream come true for the bands, as well as a massive opportunity to progress.
As Bloodstock themselves point out on their website: “Quite simply the opportunity for a breakthrough act to play at Bloodstock in front of thousands and network with the industry is second to none.”
Further tournaments are taking place across the country and Europe, with the Manchester events being organised by the 0161 MUMC.
Before the gig began, MM spoke to one of the competing bands NAPIERDALAĆ about what the tournament and Bloodstock mean to them.
The Gig
The show began with I Am The Wreckage, a post-hardcore group local to Manchester. The band’s bassist instantly stood out as he stormed around the stage. The band were impressive and kicked off the show with a bang; the crowd chanting along to their song ‘Friday Night Redneck’ was a particular highlight. However, the best was yet to come.
Up next was DEKAYTAH, a metalcore band from across the North West. Their set began with a sample of the famous Ezekiel 25:17 speech from Pulp Fiction – and went on to blow the crowd away with hardcore tunes alongside some heavier, more extreme metal later in the set. Their lead singer had a commanding presence on stage and was very likeable. By the end of the set the crowd were chanting their name – really excellent stuff. They were probably the best band of the night.
Hardcore band Feign were next up and although they had a somewhat more muted response than the other bands they still delivered an enjoyable set. The three-piece had their bass and guitar players sharing vocal duties with fast and ferocious punky riffs and beats. Their particularly characterful drummer provided some dirty and majestic facial expressions whilst bashing along to Feign’s aggressive brand of metal. Their tunes were more noticeably more straightforward than the previous two bands.
If Feign were more stripped back, NAPIERDALAĆ were the opposite. Sporting matching Victorian outfits and corpse paint, the Salford band were a sight to behold as they played their unique brand of extreme metal. Their gig began however with technical difficulties – with a delay to the start of the set and a restart during the first song. This echoed similar problems they had in the previous round. They were also unable to play their orchestral backing tracks which are integral to the band’s symphonic sound. However they managed to overcome this clunky start and delivered a good set. Their song ‘Sex Addicted Vampires’, with its melodic basslines, and the conga-line moshes were particular highlights.
The final band of the night were Release The Hounds in what was apparently only their second gig. The band are in fact a metal homage to The Simpsons – and they came out with heavy-metal renditions of ‘Monorail’ and the Stonecutters song ‘We Do’. The band sported Simpsons merch and were unapologetic in their fandom and charismatic to the core. They describe their sound as a “football to the groin – it’s heavy, it hurts, but it’s gonna put a smile on viewers’ faces”. This was fun at its purest. Cue the crowd chants.
The Winners
Two bands could make it through to the semi-finals; one band on crowd vote and another on judges. In the end, it was DEKAYTAH and Release The Hounds that made it through on the crowd and judges’ vote respectively.
MM interviewed Release The Hounds and asked them what it would mean for them to make it all the way to Bloodstock.
MM: You’re one step closer to the ultimate goal of the tournament. What would it mean for the band to make it all the way to Bloodstock?
RTH: If we go all the way to Bloodstock we’d be buzzing like Bumblebee Man, and possibly caught up in legal trouble with Disney/20th Century Fox… Playing on the New Blood stage would be like a party in our mouths with everyone invited. If we didn’t make it that’s fine, life is just one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
MM: What gave you the inspiration to start a Simpsons themed band?
RTH: Why not start a Simpsons themed band? We’ve all been in bands before that didn’t work out in the end for whatever reason, and now we thought we’d do something just for us, and the people of Springfield. All we’re trying to do, or trying to try to do, is take what we love and give it to the people, and what we love is The Simpsons and heavy music! So why not – you don’t win friends with salad!
Reflections on the night
Overall it was a very fun night. You can’t say the bands didn’t go for it all and the crowd responded accordingly – the atmosphere was palpable. A show with good bands who gave it their all and an electric crowd is all you can ask for.
DEKAYTAH and Release The Hounds going through feels fair: DEKAYTAH were a cut above, and the light-hearted, charismatic fun of Release The Hounds will be perfect for Bloodstock.
Events like this are a good platform for grassroots bands and promoters to get involved in the Bloodstock process and build their skills. As Bloodstock point out: “Even if bands don’t win their respective showcase finals, the fact is the entire campaign and regional initiatives build the bands profile, fan base and expertise in performance.”
It is early days for every band who played. Only time will tell if any can reach their full potential – or Bloodstock.
Featured image is of competing band Feign. All images used with permission from Rich Price Photography.
