Featured image and gallery: Ameena Ceesay
So-Cal band Of Mice & Men have spent the better part of a decade rising through the metalcore ranks. A couple months from the release of their 8th studio album, Tether, and as part of their UK and Europ…well, Germany tour, they grace the Rebellion stage and proceed to tear the house down.
Before that, Defects and Caskets face the sold out crowd, with Defects already confirmed for next year’s Download Festival. It’s unclear whether it’s down to technical issues, but while the instruments are on point, Tony Maue’s vocals suffer from a muffled sound. The group make up for it by starting a circle pit – a recurring theme of the night – and cajoling the audience to sway their phone torches in time to one of their songs.
Caskets follow with a similar presence and sound, although the vocals are much easier to pick out. The similarities aren’t a hindrance, and while they don’t bring about the same level of chaos, the crowd don’t care.
After a changeover full of cheesy pop tracks, Of Mice & Men emerge, kicking straight into opener, ‘Bones Exposed’. No theatrics. Just music.
Vocalist Aaron Pauley divides the set into two camps: “Sing-alongs” and “heavy shit”. Granted, a lot of the songs blend together, including the highlights of ‘Warpaint’ and ‘Obsolete’. As a general performance, it barely differs from the supports; a consequence that comes with the territory in metalcore. It ultimately doesn’t matter, given that it’s still exhilarating.
The small venue allows for everyone to be up close and personal with each other – from the crowd to the band. Pauley stokes this sense of unity asking how the crowd is doing and casually conversing with them. ‘Would You Still Be There?’ sees our second mosh pit of the evening, followed by drinks being splashed about and crowd surfing. Lots and lots of crowd surfing. By the time we get to the encore, ‘Second & Sebring’, even security gets in on the action.
It’s no wonder they’ve shared a stage with the likes of Slipknot and Metallica. If you’re looking to headbang with a like-minded crowd in an intimate setting, Of Mice & Men is the band for you.
Featured image and gallery: Truck Festival For almost thirty years, set within the rolling fields of Hill Farm in Steventon, Oxfordshire, Truck Festival has been a cornerstone of the British festival calendar. Dubbed the ‘godfather of the UK’s small festival scene’, the festival continues to live up to that title, with a line-up packed with…
Featured image: American Football – American Football album artwork The debut album has long been treated as a baptism of fire for artists – the deciding factor that determines whether a band will ‘make it’ or not. Some debuts set the tone for what follows: Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra come to the Palace Theatre in Manchester to celebrate the release of their new album, Night Blooms. Liverpool-based Brooke Combe opens the evening with a stripped-back set alongside her guitarist, her soulful vocals instantly captivating the crowd. Blending heartfelt performances with quick-witted…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch Three decades after they first emerged in Manchester, Take That return home to the Etihad Stadium and deliver an unforgettable show, combining circus theatrics and crowd-pleasing hits from across their catalogue. Formed in 1990, the group have released multiple chart-topping albums and embarked on numerous world tours, including 2009’s…
Leave a reply