SoIL, HED PE, Nonpoint, The Union Underground
SoIL, HED PE, Nonpoint, The Union Underground
Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
09/11/2024
Live Review by Oli Gonzalez
Photos by Rob Lindesay – Instagram – rock.the.lens
How many times do you get to stroll down memory lane and revisit your early teenage years, and witness the bands you adored during that time in the flesh? The many in attendance would have had this opportunity to do so on this evening in Manchester. An evening with a line up featuring heavyweights from the 90s/00s Nu-Metal era, and the chance to reconnect with their younger selves. For me, I can remember 10 year old Oli dancing round my mum’s living room singing along to Halo by tonight’s headline act SoIL, screaming “I WILL STONE YOU STONE YOU” and not quite understanding what those lyrics meant. On this night though, I and many others could understand how much of a big a deal this was, on a sold out event that would feature a playthrough of the band’s seminal album “Scars”, as well support from Hed PE, Nonpoint, and The Union Underground. See what I mean about nostalgia and Nu-Metal? Exactly.
After a short delay to doors opening, we managed to get in JUST as The Union Underground were beginning. The air con was on, and thank goodness – we were going to need that. Don’t underestimate how much heat 900 or so metalheads can make when crammed into one room! Many had hustled their way to the front, and others lurked towards the back and fringes, saving their energy for the main event. It was time.
The Union Underground
WWE fans will be familiar with The Union Underground as they provided the theme song ‘Across The Nation’ to ‘Raw’ circa 2002-2004. While I was mostly excited for THIS song, it would be a disservice to suggest that they’re a one song band. Nope. You could clearly see those towards the front singing along in unholy unison to many of the band’s tracks and being wholesomely engaged. While it was fairly sparse at the start, it was much busier towards the latter end of their set. Where some had been as still as statues towards the start, there was much more wriggling, jiggling and movement in the audience. After all, they’re veterans and they know how to work a crowd. Up until Across The Nation began, the band’s magnus opus and final song.
“LIVE FOR THE MUSIC, PLAY THAT FUCKING MUSIC”
Oh yeah! Just hearing those lyrics again gave me a much needed rush of endorphins and reminded me of the iconic days of WWE’s Ruthless Aggression era, as I’m sure it did for many others. Thirty minutes flew by and was perhaps too short for the band’s first UK appearance in roughly 20 years.
“One more song! One more song!”
Due to time constraints, the band could not satisfy the crowd’s pleas. Need I say more on how well this was received?
https://www.facebook.com/theunionundergroundofficial
Nonpoint
After a remarkably fast 15 minute turn around, it was time for Nonpoint. It was a little busier now but still with breathing space. My friend bolted towards the barricade while I stayed in the safety of the fringes. A somewhat shaky start given some issues with the vocals and the bass which was impossible to ignore. Still, the set was more than salvaged as those from the back and fringes made way for the newly formed pits. Yep, our first pits of the night. A bunch of middle-aged rockers crashing into each other like crash test dummies was a sight! The band had laid down the challenge which was gratefully accepted by the victims in that pit – it’s Saturday night in Manchester after all. Another thing; at this point I barely noticed any phones out. Just everybody living in the moment and absorbing it.
Confession time. Teenage Oli loved the Smackdown Vs Raw video games, especially the soundtracks. I had no idea that Nonpoint wrote the iconic ‘Bullet With A Name” from that series. So when I heard the iconic chorus to that track, that was a much welcome surprise, like finding a ten pound note in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn for a while! A solid way to end the set no doubt!
https://www.facebook.com/nonpointofficial
Hed PE
Among my social network, I saw how big a deal it was when Hed PE were in the UK during the autumn of 2022! As such, I wasn’t surprised to see more bodies amassing towards the front of the venue, securing prime viewing spots for the Californian heavyweights. It’s easy to see why their Nu-Metal sound, deeply rooted in reggae influences, was so disruptive and influential during the mid-late 90s. That combination could have you grooving and breaking out your most embarrassing dad dances, before abandoning that and wanting to throw your body into the pits! That’s exactly what we saw, and that dichotomy was awesome! Throw in a wall of death and even a crowd surfer for good measure too. After all, this was what vocalist Jared demanded!
https://www.facebook.com/hedpe
SoIL
“SOIL! SOIL! SOIL!”
The crowd roared. They couldn’t wait and urged the headline act to get to the stage with haste. Those who were lurking at the back for the supports were making their way to the front. Then it came.
“LET IT GOOO!”
Ryan McCombs bursts onto the stage and bellows out the first line to ‘Breaking Me Down’, the opening track on “Scars”. His voice sounded sharp and filled with the same venom from over 20 years ago. We knew the set would feature ‘Halo’, the band’s signature track. Would it come second in the set, as per its position on the album? Or would they save their juggernaut for last?
Unity. It’s often said how music unites. This set was the living embodiment of that. People of all ages, creeds, sizes and genders here, embracing and hugging one another (some total strangers), roaring out the lyrics to some of the greatest Nu-Metal anthems of all time. Perhaps best illustrated when ‘Halo’ finally played, at the end of their set.
“I WILL STONE YOU, STONE YOU! WRAP MY ARMS AROUND YOU!”
Nostalgia. Ryan didn’t need his microphone at this point as the crowd took over and did the work for him. Instead of 10 year old Oli dancing round his mum’s living room, now 32 year old me was dancing round Manchester’s Academy 2 to this very same song. How things come full circle, ey?
There were some sore heads and voices tomorrow, me included.
https://www.facebook.com/SOiLmusic
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. Photography by Rob Lindesay @rock.the.lens . It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
