Ultha, Ante-Inferno & Andracca - Rebellion, Manchester (15/4/25)

Andracca are pretty standard black metal. When they play fast it sounds rather thin, with paper thick guitars and biscuit tin drums. However, when they slow it down to more of a mid pace it becomes a bit more substantial, with chunky riffs you can get your teeth into. I do find myself closing my eyes and being somewhat carried away by their frostbitten groove. Criticisms aside, this is a better showing than the last time I saw them.

Ante-Inferno are a much noisier proposition, as they are louder and more discordant than Andracca. Initially, it seems hard to distinguish the individual elements of their sound but once my ears become accustomed to it, it is really powerful. At times they have a Rotting Christ style spirituality, at others they blast like Emperor. The sound is muddy and really loud. It's at the very limit of what I can endure, as it's almost Motörhead-like in volume. It's pretty relentless and it gets a bit exhausting to be honest although I can't deny the quality and it doesn't really diminish their unholy power. The thrashy opening to the closing track evokes memories of Megadeth's 'Holy Wars'. Punishing.

There are a couple of minutes of feedback before Ultha launch into 'Dispel's epic and layered black metal. The drumming is superb, particularly when the instruments are scaled back with the martial drumbeat keeping everything together. Musically, this is in that leftfield area of black metal populated by the likes of Gaerea and Downfall Of Gaia. The vocals are distant screams which sound like they have echoed down the ages through various eras and epochs. All the songs are lengthy and epic, cramming in many riffs and comprising multiple sections. It's dizzying, it's dazzling and it feels like the black metal equivalent of Dark Angel. The final track starts off as horrifying, blackened doom before blasting into superfast black metal and the transition from slow to fast is reminiscent of Converge's 'The Saddest Day' (my favourite metal track of all time) whilst the track builds to a crushing post-metal climax reminiscent of Amenra.

Ultha ****

Ante-Inferno ****

Andracca ***

Heavy Lungs & Legss - Soup, Manchester (11/4/25)

An early start plus a late shift at work means I only catch a couple of songs from Legss. The first full song I catch sees the drummer singing and is captivating slacker rock à la Pavement which creeps up on you. Initially, it seems a bit pedestrian but I find myself being drawn in as it has a surprising amount of depth. The final track with the regular singer taking lead vocals isn't quite as compelling but is still good and comes across like a much noisier Arab Strap, and again it is a grower. Very intriguing.

Heavy Lungs open with 'Ballerina', the bubbling bass carrying it along at an intense pace whilst Danny's aggressive, confrontational vocals give it a visceral, dangerous edge. 'Cushion The Blow' is a vital slice of hardcore punk. Danny spends most of the time in the crowd for the thrilling post-punk throb of 'All Gas No Brakes'. With his shaved head and striped shirt, Danny has the look of a convict but there is still something very performative about him. Imagine Morrissey if he was in 'Romper Stomper'. 'Stutter' is like an obtuse, aggro noise rock take on 90s Blur. Both 'Get Out' and Yes Chef' are fast and furious bursts of punk rock. The bass groove of the spiky yet danceable 'Mr. Famous' is excellent. 'Caviar' manages to be quirky yet in your face. The rhythm section is fantastic throughout. Danny dances appropriately for the heavy 'Dancing Man' although his vocals are a bit ragged. The hardcore punk of 'Descend' incites some slam dancing amongst the crowd. 'Life's A Buffet' is Stooges garage rock pushed to its very limit. '(A Bit Of A) Birthday' closes the set in a blistering fashion. The crowd all sit with Danny before jumping up and bouncing around to the climactic chorus. Post-punk seems to be in pretty rude health at the moment and Heavy Lungs are another post-punk act who are absolutely incendiary live. Plus, it is all finished by 9pm which is a welcome bonus.

Heavy Lungs ****

Legss ****

Kamasi Washington & Emma-Jean Thackray - Albert Hall, Manchester (4/4/25)

Emma Jean Thackray's opening track is funk and I don't like it initially, and I'm not quite sure why but as the track progresses, the bass and vocal backing track lodges itself in my brain and I'm somewhat won over. The second track is dreary acid jazz which meanders and doesn't really go anywhere. The sound seems to shift between various styles of jazz and soul. The next track actually is jazzy soul which has a similar energy to the other tracks. It lacks dynamism but I do like the trumpet solo. The fourth track is more uptempo jazz funk. The next track is jazzy soul which has a decent groove and more of a hook. The final track has a much harder beat which Emma-Jean accompanies with her trumpet. It's all quite unremarkable though.

A Kamasi Washington gig is my wife's idea of hell as she has absolutely no tolerance for jazz. Opening with 'Lesanu', initially it seems challenging and impenetrable but this gives way to the gentle melodies of the studio version. There is a lengthy, wild saxophone solo from Kamasi in the middle of the track. It's much louder and more aggressive than the record. 'Asha The First' features a soprano saxophone solo from Rick Washington (Kamasi's dad) which starts off as simple and controlled and gradually builds in complexity and intensity. The recorded rap vocals and scratching from DJ Battlecat add a modern edge and an air of accessibility. Everyone gets their turn in the spotlight but the bass sounds too loud and distorted for the bass solo in 'Lines In The Sand'. The keyboard solo during 'Road To Self (KO)' is pretty crazy. Battlecat plays the record of 'Get Lit' which is great but there is minimal scratching. 'Vi Lua Vi Sol' sees Rick playing a lovely flute solo which is followed by a wonderful soulful sax solo from Kamasi. The mellow 'Together' features a terrific bebop style trombone solo from Ryan and an interesting talkbox solo from Battlecat. Kamasi's solo is killer during the epic space jazz of regular set closer 'Prologue' whilst a deliciously funky 'Re Run' closes the show.

Kamasi Washington ****

Emma-Jean Thackray **