LIVE: Offal Festival (Saturday)
Offal Festival (Saturday)
Saturday 26th July 2025
Rebellion, Manchester
Live Review by Oli Gonzalez
Saturday 26th July. Manchester Day; a celebration of all things cultural and artistic in the city of Manchester. Manchester Comicon is also taking place . It’s an awesome sight. As I disembark from the tram at St Peters Square, the streets are littered with groups of cosplayers in fantastic outfits, likely the fruits of many weeks and months of labour. This is alongside other celebrations and public displays of the arts, creating a carnival atmosphere. Though I’m here for a different kind of celebration for the darkest of arts, to take place in the deepest darkest corner of the city; Offal Festival.
Unlike other festivals, I had actually slept in my own bed the night before and had a decent rest! Some others may have partied late into the night and look a little worse for wear as they assemble outside of Rebellion for round two. Others arrive fresh for their first day. The half an hour gap between doors and the first band allows for a respectable crowd to assemble, with many perching right at the right for the best viewing spot whilst I take refuge in the safety of the venue’s recesses. How much energy would the crowd have at this early hour?
“Manchester I wanna see some movement!!”
The challenge laid down. How would the 100 or so already in attendance respond? With our first circle pit of the day, cartwheels, and even a crowd surfing attempt! It was crazy to think this was the opening band and it had not long turned 1.30pm. Clearly some were still pacing themselves or needed a few more drinks to loosen up. The band were not pacing themselves and threw everything at the crowd in an attempt to rile them up. A promising start to today’s proceedings.
https://www.facebook.com/DawnOfAnimosity
“We are disgracing, you are not”.
As far as debut shows go, that was far from a disgrace! Feeling more like a stand up comedy show at times such was the banter between the band members and the crowd. Band members that felt like a super group featuring festival organisers Jake Gamble and Jack Bolan. A challenge was issued to the crowd for someone to be surfed to the very back of the venue and whilst they didn’t make it that far, there was still more than enough movement in the pit to make you forget that this was only the second act of the day!
https://www.facebook.com/DisgracingDM
Heading from Norfolk, the 5 piece took to the stage and the extra instruments gave them the fullest and most densely layered sound of the day so far. It was still early in the day and it took encouragement from the band to see some movement. Though with their bruising death metal, they made a good account of themselves however and are a band to be taken seriously.
https://www.facebook.com/thyfleshconsumeduk
“Anybody who crowd surfs right to the back of the venue get’s a free tshirt”
The challenge laid down. Some attempted though fell painfully short. Nowhere was safe it seemed. This is just an example of the fantastic crowd interaction between the band and crowd who were clearly extremely popular in these parts.
https://www.facebook.com/chainsawcastration
At this point, both my stomach and feet were yelling at me, so a food break was needed. This unfortunately meant missing 55 Gore and Impurist, though I had learned that this featured members of Gorerotted, a band I listened to a lot during my teenage years. As such, a visit to the merch stand and an acquisition of a Gorerotted patch was made later in the evening.
Reported visa and other logistic issues meant that a few attempts for the German act to make it to the UK had fallen through. Not this time though! The band’s vocalist was clearly taken aback by the crowd’s reaction and made his appreciation on behalf of the band known. He commanded the crowd with frightening ease, ordering circle pits as casually as ordering a coffee from Starbucks! A friend of mine had hyped up the band all day and I began to understand why. This represented a clear step up in quality.
https://www.instagram.com/__bfi__official
Wanna talk about a step up in quality? The Italian juggernauts stepped up multiple levels (with all due respect to BFI) and laid waste to Rebellion, with those in the pit throwing their bodies about with little regard for their own safety! I quit counting the number of crowd surfers!
I decided that standing near the edge of the pit to get closer to the action would be a good idea. Just like poking a grizzly bear with a snooker cue is a good idea; I had to retreat to safety at some point. Fans of the more technical side of extreme metal, in the style of Origin, would purr in admiration at the band’s sound (I found myself mesmerized by the skill of the band’s bassist) whilst lovers of all things brutal would be satiated here. How on earth could anybody top that?
https://www.facebook.com/PUTRIDITY.OFFICIAL
Following this was a rare performance by the Basque country’s very own Cerebral Effusion, a band which reportedly came at a significant cost but judging by the reaction of festival attendees, this came with a major return on investment. Due to a combination of feeling a little overstimulated and needing a time out, I unfortunately missed the majority of their set but felt this was worth mentioning as it highlights how well regarded the festival is and their influence in the scene. From what I did see, it’s clear to see why they’re so well regarded.
During this break, it felt to me as though the festival had perhaps outgrown Rebellion and a future venue upgrade would be needed. Perhaps Club Academy Manchester could be a suitable upgrade ? Though easier said than done. If the festival really has outgrown the venue, then that speaks volumes about the efforts of Jack and the Offal team in making the festival what it is.
How do you make those who have parted with their hard earned cash feel appreciated ? By giving them an exclusive sneak preview of next year’s festival line up! With festival organizers on stage, they expressed their sincere gratitude to the crowd whilst they delivered the news for next year’s festivities. Then it was time for the night’s headline act.
Look in any direction at Offal Fest this year and you were bound to see a piece of Skinless merch, which speaks to the band’s popularity and how anticipated this set was. A reported 18 years since the band were last year, this was clearly a big deal. Now, I’ve been to some chaotic shows at Rebellion and have seen some carnage over the years. The likes of Ingested, Deicide, and Nile have laid waste to the venue in recent years. Though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like Skinless’ performance! There was something immersive and captivating about watching these masters of their craft, making me forget about the cumulative fatigue I had been feeling prior to their set. Though others may have found another form of immersion and escapism as the savage pits became a fight for survival. Crowd surfing over a circle pit? Why not! Nowhere felt safe inside Rebellion! Will it be another 18 years before Skinless return to this island?
https://www.facebook.com/Skinless
Closing Thoughts
It’s been an eye opening to experience the more extreme and brutal side of metal. The passion of the Offal Festival team for this is palpable and the respect from their devoted fan base is clear as daylight. The whole day combined the spirit of the local underground scene with scorching international talent right at the top of the bill!. I have a new found respect for the sub-genre as a whole now! Tomorrow would feature some heavyweights at the top of the card, one lower which I had been looking forward to seeing again, and perhaps a boat load more discoveries.
Promoter
https://www.facebook.com/RxOxPromotions
Venue
https://www.facebook.com/rebellionmanchester
Disclaimer: This preview is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this preview, 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.
