Sacred Reich
Special Guests: Damnations Hammer + Hidden Intent
Venue: Academy 3, Manchester
Date: 9th August 2023
Review By: Mark Young
It’s a balmy evening in Manchester, and it’s dry, which is always a massive plus on gig night. The Academy 3 plays host to a Summer of Love mini tour with a quick fire run of club shows taking in London last night, and Dublin tomorrow. What was initially strange was the lack of people about. Normally there is a decent buzz around, but tonight it seemed to take an age for people to turn in.
Up first is Hidden Intent, Australian thrash / groove trio, who came out and did their level best to shake up those who were there at the start, with a sound that hits square in the chest. It’s a glorious noise, and anyone who plays a Jackson V gets my vote. It’s heads down, full bore thrash with a capital T.
They tear it up, song after song, despite the crowd seemingly being too cool to get involved. By the last song, the audience look as though they have woken up and start to engage. Luckily for them, we get a whiplash inducing cover of Altar of Sacrifice as a mini encore, and done. It’s excellent, just the stuff to get the night going, and I’m going to apologise now for the lack of crowd reaction; don’t stand at the bar talking. Come down to the front and watch the band, and you actually might remember what you have come out for tonight. Short set, but they absolutely battered us 
(3.5 / 5)
Damnations Hammer fly the flag for the UK, taking up the middle slot and proceed to give us a different flavour with thick solid riffing underlying that mid-tempo speed that is so cool to head bang to. There is a doom/ ethereal approach to their music, and they showcase a collection of songs taken from their latest (Into the Silent Nebula released earlier this year) with Sutter Cane and Outpost 31 (excellent tribute to the Thing) being just two highlights.
The sound is immense, showing the strength in arrangement as they blast into a higher tempo track, showing that they can thrash when they need to. It’s intelligent riffing, employing a precise attack or crushing when they need to. If you see them live near you, give them a go because you won’t be disappointed 
(4 / 5)
The main event, and finally the room is busy with the floor filling up with a mixture of old and new school attendees. It’s a decent balance too, and now it’s bloody warm to boot.
Thin Lizzy is our cue that the phoenix natives are about to throw down, and they kick off with The American Way. It’s almost palpable the step-up between them and the others, given that they have been pummelling crowds since the mid-80s. This is no shade at the others, who both gave decent sets, but Sacred Reich just fly through a mix of old and new, with Phil Rind occupying the role of the happiest looking man in metal. It’s a tight set, with some positive chat from Phil that offers an uplifting feeling to the night. There are some absolute bangers played, and you forget just how many they have written since their first release in ’87.
Unfortunately, the night has to end, but it does on a high note with Surf Nicaragua, the crowd going mental, and then we are out into the still warm night, ears ringing and big smiles all round. I would say that if you get the chance, you have to watch them because they deserve your attention and know how to give you a great night 
(5 / 5)
