WORDS/PHOTOS: LMW
Walking into Rebellion in Manchester, it was impossible to know exactly what was about to unfold. Yet there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air—a hidden energy humming throughout the venue long before the first note rang out. Whatever awaited us that evening promised to be something extraordinary: a collision of raw aggression and technical brilliance, combining untamed energy with astonishing musicianship.
The night’s lineup unfolded almost like a chronological journey through thrash metal’s evolution, each band representing a different layer of that fusion. Unfortunately, transport delays meant we arrived late and only caught the closing moments of Cryptosis. Even from that brief glimpse, however, it was clear they embody what could be the next evolutionary branch of progressive thrash metal—a band carrying forward the sci-fi imagination and technical prowess first cultivated by Voivod. Their sound was dense, futuristic, and intellectually engaging, marrying precision with unrelenting intensity.
Two pints in, one for each hand, we settled towards the back of the main room. It’s worth mentioning that Rebellion’s staff were among the friendliest and most welcoming I’ve encountered at a venue in quite some time.
Then the lights dropped, and Midnight took the stage.
Where do you even begin with a band like Midnight? As someone with a soft spot for visually striking crossover acts, I was immediately hooked. Being new to the band, I was impressed before they even played a note, their three-piece lineup resembling a dangerous gang from an ’80s science-fiction film, faces obscured by black scarves and radiating menace.
Musically, they exploded into a barrage of Venom’s speed and ugliness, infused with the punk spirit of Discharge and the ferocious urgency of Minor Threat. Beneath the crusty exterior lurked surprising musicianship, with flashes of the technical precision associated with early Iron Maiden and Slayer. They never eased off the throttle. Every song felt like a motorbike tearing through neon-lit streets in the dead of night, all speed, danger, and exhilaration.
Midnight seamlessly fused the savage edge of early black metal, the relentless drive of d-beat, and the razor-sharp attack of thrash into one gloriously filthy package. The result was exhilarating from start to finish.
Quite simply: fucking amazing! What impressed me most was the band’s ability to balance self-awareness with heavy metal cliché without ever becoming trapped by either. They clearly understood the traditions they were drawing from, but instead of merely playing into familiar tropes or relying on predictable shifts between standard and double-time rhythms, they breathed new life into them. I was reminded at times of Infest the Rats’ Nest by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, with its ability to celebrate classic metal while simultaneously pushing it into fresh territory.
More than anything, though, it was the energy that struck me. There was a genuine sense of togetherness in the room, with the crowd completely locked into the performance. It served as a reminder of what live music can be at its best: something primal and deeply human, something that compels you to move, to shake, and simply have fun without inhibition.
By the end of the set, Midnight hadn’t just become one of my favourite metal bands—they had earned a place among my top musical artists of any genre.
Next up, Voivod.
Where do you even begin with one of the most influential yet underrated bands of all time? Apparently a favourite of Dave Grohl’s as well—so much so that drummer Michel “Away” Langevin created the artwork for Probot’s first and only album. Despite their legendary status, it felt as though the crowd took a little time to warm to them after Midnight’s explosive set. From the very first song, however, I was left flabbergasted by the sheer technical brilliance on display, with Langevin’s drumming proving especially astonishing.
The band opened with “Experiment” and took us on a journey that eventually reached “Korgüll the Exterminator”. Throughout the set, I couldn’t stop thinking about just how many bands have been shaped by Voivod’s sound. You can hear echoes of them in acts like Mastodon, Tool, Conan, and perhaps even The Dillinger Escape Plan. It’s not difficult to imagine Mike Patton being inspired by their off-kilter approach either.
Guitarist Daniel Mongrain’s Cardiacs T-shirt seemed particularly fitting—it was a subtle reminder that this was never a clichéd late-’80s thrash band whose influences began and ended with Deep Purple or Black Sabbath. Voivod have always worn their eclectic tastes proudly and pushed beyond the genre’s boundaries.
Their set effortlessly balanced blistering thrash assaults with more progressive and experimental excursions, showcasing the full breadth of their catalogue. They even delivered a superb rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Astronomy Domine” transformed into something that leaned more toward progressive metal than psychedelic rock. Closing with “Voivod”, the title track from their debut album War and Pain, they left the audience with an unforgettable finale and proved exactly why their influence continues to resonate across generations of heavy music.
Voivod are undeniably a metal band, but they belong in the same conversation as acts like Killing Joke, Converge, Swans, and Faith No More—bands that understand the conventions of their genre only to twist, challenge, and transcend them. Rather than borrowing ideas to chase trends or stay relevant, they absorb influences organically, creating something that feels entirely their own while effortlessly bleeding into other musical territories.
Midnight may not operate in the same progressive or boundary-pushing way as Voivod, but they certainly achieved something else entirely: they entertained, and they moved the sweat and chemistry of every body in the crowd. There was a real sense of oneness in the room, without needing to frame it in anything overly philosophical—just pure, physical, collective release through music.
It was an astonishing night of performances from two very different but equally compelling bands. Amazing show. Amazing bands.
