We went down to Rebellion in Manchester on Friday night to see Birmingham’s Oceans Ate Alaska, with support coming from Resolve and InVisions on the last day of their UK tour. Unfortunately Kubrick was unable to perform this evening.
Resolve
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Back in the UK again after being here as recently as May supporting LANDMVRKS, France’s Resolve opened the evening. Having been a hit previously, people turned out early to catch the early set, taken in by the blend of melodic choruses and heavy hits. The crowd were even treated to a new song, yet to be released.
InVisions
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Turning the evening up a notch and bringing that real weekend vibe to the venue were InVisions. High-tempo riffs and catchy hooks really began to get the crowd off their feet. Rebellion opened up into a mass of chaos, with a cheeky wall of death being thrown in there, to which there was participation with aplomb. The bar had been raised and Manchester was now ready for the main attraction of the evening.
Oceans Ate Alaska
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
On the back of their newly-released record, Disparity, anticipation was high as Oceans Ate Alaska were about to take to the stage. We knew to expect technicality of the highest order from front to back, beats laid by the fantastic Chris Turner, who was being begged by members of the crowd to play part of a song when only in sound check!
Despite this being a tour to support that new record, they did include some older fan favourites from previous records, including High Horse, Vultures and Sharks, plus Escapist as an encore. Returning vocalist James Kennedy sounds on top form and puts on a real performance which is reciprocated by the crowd. The room did not stop moving throughout.
The set is opened with 2020 hit Metamorph, the first song dropped since James returned to the band. An apt set-opener beginning ‘Did you miss me?’. Other new tracks included were ‘the heaviest song of the set’ – and shortest! – New Dawn, plus Sol, ‘a love song you can mosh to’. Oh, people did! The new record is clearly being taken on board by listeners as lyrics were being bounced back towards the stage throughout. Carrying such technicality and tempo that must be hard to replicate on the stage, Oceans Ate Alaska certainly achieved this and it made for some spectacle. A very solid performance and one that is certain to get more of Manchester behind the ‘432 Crew’.
Photography and words by Kaine Crilley