Portal, LIVE w/ Impetuous Ritual, and Abduction
Portal, Impetuous Ritual, Abduction
Rebellion, Manchester, UK
18th September 2025
Live Review by Oli Gonzalez
A riddle wrapped in an enigma. A mystery packed within a puzzle. Pick your analogy to describe the mysterious and rarely seen Australian Extreme Metal act, Portal. So rare in fact, this Thursday night in Manchester was amongst their first in over a decade on this island! Their blistering live show that blends crushing Atmospheric Black Metal and bone-crunching Death Metal ensured that this night was unmissable and a (very near) sell-out. They enlisted the support of fellow countrymen Impetuous Ritual, as well as rising British Black Metal act Abduction, to reinforce this not-to-be-missed tag.
The crowd gathered outside Rebellion, the doors opened, but the queue moved slowly. So slow, some reported missing large chunks and even the entirety of Abduction’s short set. Fortunately, I was one of the first in, and after a visit to the bar and merch stand, it was time to take a prime viewing spot at the very front…
Abduction
The Midlands act returned to Rebellion after laying waste to the venue in February 2024 at a Reaper Agency all-dayer! I’ve seen them play in venues of all shapes and sizes, and they’ve always sounded phenomenal. Tonight was no exception, as they still sounded phenomenal, despite having an utterly complex and atmospheric sound that could easily become a muddy mess with the wrong engineering. Fortunately, they were in safe hands tonight, and despite having only a short 30-minute set, they made this count and delivered an empathetic reminder as to why they’re amongst the elite in the UK’s underground Black Metal scene!
https://www.facebook.com/abduction616
Impetuous Ritual
Loud, proud, and extravagant…we’re not talking about their stage attire either! Jokes aside, I’ve really been drawn to Death Metal as of late, and was really curious to see how the Australians’ twist on the genre would manifest in this setting. The venue was much more packed out and I was right at the front to get an ideal view. Their bleak and darkened atmospheric vibe was particularly impressive, with my optimal spot allowing for maximal immersion. They got some pits going, though one guy in particular perhaps got far too into it and was charging into people on the fringes like a constipated bull, which many were taking exception to. Eventually, he was dragged out, which resulted in cheers from the crowd. Gig and mosh pit etiquette aside, this fortunately didn’t ruin the experience, and it felt like an opportunity to witness a very rare performance, which I’ll come to appreciate greatly in time.
https://www.facebook.com/ImpetuousRitual
Portal
Finally, it was time for Portal to take to the stage, and they received a heroes welcome in the process. Now, I’ve seen some quality bands in the last few years. The likes of Dragged Into Sunlight, Amenra, Meshuggah; bands renowned for intense and visceral live performances. Portal rank right up there with the very elite! Being right at the front meant I could fully appreciate the skill and talent of their lead guitarist, watching him navigate the fret board with remarkable speed and accuracy.
The only thing that let this down was the lighting and visual aspect, which can be challenging at the best of times at Rebellion. This reduced the band to silhouettes on stage, which, whilst providing a cool atmospheric aesthetic, meant you couldn’t really see the details of their outfits. That felt like a waste as it’s one of Portal’s signatures. But make no mistake about it. This was a performance for the ages. A true ‘I was there’ moment and a major coup. The crowd shouted for ‘Kilter’ to be played towards the latter stages. They never played this song. Perhaps those at Rebellion would never get to hear this song played live in the UK. Perhaps we’ll never see Portal in the UK. Ever. Again.
https://www.facebook.com/PORTALDEATH
Check out my Video Review here:
This show was brought to us by Reaper Agency. Follow their website (https://reaperagencyuk.bigcartel.com/) for more information on their fantastic events, including Fortress Festival. Stay up to date with other events that are taking place at tonight’s hosts, Rebellion, via their website (https://www.rebellion.club/)
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. 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.
