As winter moves into spring, we went on down to New Century Hall in Manchester to catch Paleface Swiss on their UK/EU tour. Support was delivered by Desolated and The Acacia Strain. Check out our live review and images from the night below!
Desolated
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Kicking off proceedings were hardcore legends Desolated, a name synonymous with raw aggression and unfiltered heaviness. No strangers to the north of England, given their ties with Sheffield-based Malevolence they wasted no time, launching into their set, immediately igniting the crowd. The energy only escalated as they introduced new single ‘Bite Down’ to the set, and tore through ‘Therapy’, each chugging riff and guttural vocal fueling the pit. The response from the Manchester crowd was nothing short of emphatic, with a sea of swinging fists and two-steppers setting the tone for the night ahead. Closing with fan favourite ‘Death By My Side’, New Century Hall was riled up and ready for the evening ahead. Desolated’s performance proved they remain a force to be reckoned with, delivering a set that was as pummelling as it was cathartic.
The Acacia Strain
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Next up, The Acacia Strain took to the stage, their reputation as one of the heaviest bands in the genre preceding them. Having previously headlined UK Tech Fest in 2018, their return to Manchester was met with roars of approval. The opening notes of ‘Dr. Doom’ sent shockwaves through the venue, immediately prompting a flurry of movement. As they powered through the setlist, blending older classics like ‘Carbomb’ with newer devastation in the form of ‘Chhinnamasta’, the room descended into pure carnage. Relentless crowdsurfing at the call of front man Vincent Bennett and bodies colliding in a whirlwind of fury – New Century bore witness to absolute chaos. The Acacia Strain delivered a set that was equal parts nostalgic and fresh, proving their staying power in the heavy music world.
Paleface Swiss
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Finally, it was time for the night’s centrepiece: Paleface Swiss. Having gained considerable traction following their UK/EU run with Counterparts in 2023, their latest release, Cursed, had been highly anticipated. The album, released in January, saw the band evolving their sound while retaining their signature brutality. Entering the stage to ‘un pobre niño murió’ (translated as ‘a poor child died’), they wasted no time plunging into the sheer heaviness fans had come for. ‘Suppressing Times’ hit with full force, and as the set progressed with newer tracks like ‘My Blood On Your Hands’ and ‘Love Burns’, the crowd matched the intensity at every turn. Pits erupted, bodies flew, walls of death collided and band and crowd were intertwined right the way through. ‘River of Sorrows’ provoked a unanimous singalong throughout the sold-out room. Paleface Swiss proved why they are at the forefront of the new wave of heavy music, delivering a climactic performance that left no one standing still.
Photography & words by Kaine Holik-Crilley