Defects
Special Guests: Profiler + Knife Bride
Venue: Rebellion, Manchester
Date: 31st October 2024
Review: Mark Young
Well, it’s Halloween night and Manchester has managed to avoid the traditional shocking weather that always seems to welcome me whenever I come across for a gig. Tonight, it’s Rebellion’s turn to be our host, and I’ve said this before that they have a reputation for hosting some cracking bands with well curated line-ups. It’s no exception this evening, with three bands that offer a different slant on heavy music ranging from Knife Bride through to Profiler and to headliner Defects, which is a testament to how you set up a tour line-up.
Knife Bride
There is some belting Halloween dress on display and the crowd has arrived on time to pick up the set from Brighton’s Knife Bride. What strikes me from the off is just how polished they are and so very comfortable on that stage. They have an incredibly powerful vocalist in Mollie, who is someone that has that ability to just own a crowd, which they do over the course of a very good set. What I loved about them was how they sounded, each of the moving parts putting the effort in to make each song just go. They also had the right approach in engaging the crowd and there was a very palpable sense of joy that was manifested in their performance.
Sacrifice/surrender is first up and has that quiet/loud dynamic and is underpinned by Mollie who commands and dictates how it flows. This sets up the songs that follow, but don’t think that it is simply a case of rinse and repeat because it isn’t. Each song has its own identity, whether it is the expansive Melancholia or Smother, with its immediate start and stomping riffwork each case has the same well-built feel to it. What is apparent is that they apply themselves on every song, and the set list itself is purpose built to bring you along on a journey with them. Territory, their latest single, is next up, and it has some exceptional drumming on this (shout out to Sean). It’s a slower pace, but is no less effective because of it. Final track is Fang Dummy and gives them the big finish that their set deserves. I don’t think that they will be in the opening position for too long based on their performance tonight. They managed to make the stage seem bigger whilst delivering a tight and focused set of brilliantly crafted songs, and if you get the chance to check them out, then do so. 
(3.5 / 5)
Profiler 
Profiler are up next, and checking online have their debut release out, A Digital Nowhere (available on streaming and at their web store). Noted as a ‘Nu-Metal reawakening’ they bring a different vibe to the evening, and I’ll be honest from the start: I didn’t like Nu-Metal back in the day, but in the interests of being fair I’ll put that to one side. They hit the ground running with Notion, it’s a big start with a huge sound. Everything is up and in your face, and it seems that it is a race for Mike and co to cover as much of that stage as is possible. The crowd is now warmed up and Identify comes in next, with no escaping that massive sound. There is a different tack to this one where it’s less of the traditional Nu-Metal and maybe more of a ‘gaze’ type where the soft vocals are offered as a counterpoint to that low end. In any event, it goes over well and similarly the band themselves are settling into their groove. In much the same way as Knife Bride, there is an unquestionable craft on display here as they make their way through the set as they constantly reach out to the crowd to engage. The delivery is spot on, and although I don’t like the genre, you can appreciate the noise they are making. What I did find is that I wanted more grit in the vocals, and with Operator they brought it, with the guitar getting more prominent within their sound. There is no faulting their performance here or the confidence in which it is played. They close out the set with two monstrous songs – Ninety-Three and Zero, both of which flatten the audience. What I would say is that whilst they didn’t change my mind, they certainly impressed with their performance, and they know how to do it live. (3.5 / 5)
Defects
And now for Defects. As you would expect, there is a noticeable shift as they explode onto the stage. This is a set of quality and application with a set of riffs that you could chew on, and they leave no inch of that stage left uncovered in a high energy 11 song set that was just spot on.
End of Days is our starting point, and it is day and night between them and the others. I mean no disrespect by this, it’s just there from the off that this is the reason why they are headlining. It’s telling, too, that the crowd are now ready for them as the pit starts to move. This is something I’ve noticed before, though, that Manchester crowds sometimes are difficult to energize, unless they are saving themselves for the main event. In any case, they tear into Scapegoat and then just continue to batter the place, keeping that energy level high with Second to None with a mixture of melody and supreme musical violence. This is what bands should be aspiring to do on stage, give every song everything you have, and this is what they do to the point where the fancy dress is removed because they must be absolutely wringing wet.
It’s too hard to say what was a high point of their set, because each of the songs were just royal and performed as though it was the last time they were playing them. The intensity displayed by Tony Maue (vocals) ripples out to the rest of the band, and it’s there right through to the end, as they drop a hat-trick of songs that just phenomenal. That constant movement is somehow increased as no one on that stage is standing still as Broken Bloodlines detonates and drops a savage breakdown, whilst Echo Chamber sees Tony just pull this from within, and it is a sight to behold as he just puts everything out there for us. It’s a song of massive hooks and one that they should be rightfully proud of.
And then they join us on the floor for their last song, as Recurring comes in and crowd and band come together as one, it’s like a metal guard of honour for them and then descends into semi-organised chaos. This has been an 11-song masterclass from a band that deserves your attention. Excellent set. 
(5 / 5)
