By Josh Bicknell
When Heriot opened for Sylosis at the O2 Ritz last November, their set was one of the most electrifying I’d seen all year, a whirlwind of shrieking harmonics and crushing breakdowns, led by Debbie Gough’s commanding stage presence. Naturally, when their headline tour reached Manchester’s Rebellion, I had to be there to see that intensity dialled up to eleven.
However, up first were hardcore heavyweights False Reality, who took to Rebellion’s stage with confidence. They quickly launched into a barrage of stomping riffs and sharp grooves, getting heads nodding from the start. Their energy built fast, with the band settling into a tight rhythm that set the room’s intensity.
The London-based four-piece hit their peak around the midpoint of their set, with their fourth track ‘Cranium’ locking into a punishing groove. Right after, ‘Pay The Reaper’ featured a ripping guitar solo that sliced through the mix and gave their sound extra bite. Their penultimate track, an unreleased number titled ‘Snake Eyes,’ brought a crushing breakdown that had the pit erupting, closing their set on a note of pure chaos. False Reality made a strong impression, steadily ramping up the energy across a solid and sharply delivered set, warming up the crowd perfectly for what was to come.
At that was Grove Street, who wasted no time in turning up the heat with their high energy hardcore punk sound. From the start, the room was charged with electric anticipation as the band dived straight into ‘Regressing Forward,’ a fast-paced anthem that immediately set the tone for what was to come. Their bouncy, groove laden riffs and punk infused energy made it clear they were here to have fun, and the crowd could feel it. Every member exuded pure enthusiasm, feeding off each other’s energy and pushing the performance to new heights with each track.
As the set progressed, songs like ‘Lessons of the Past’ and ‘Ultimate Penalty’ kept the intensity high, with each track featuring blistering solos that showcased the band’s raw energy. The pit was constantly moving, with the crowd thrashing around to tracks like ‘Divided Kingdom’ and ‘Born II Lose.’
By the time they hit ‘The Path to Righteousness,’ it was clear that Grove Street had won the room over, delivering a full throttle performance that was as fun as it was furious. They left the crowd buzzing, having wrapped up their set with all the chaos and joy that hardcore punk should embody.
Heriot wasted no time asserting their dominance as they kicked off their headline set at Manchester’s Rebellion. From the moment they launched into ‘Sentenced To The Blade,’ it was clear this was going to be a display of pure, unrelenting heaviness. They delivered a savage performance that brought together the best elements of their two full length albums, seamlessly blending bone crushing riffs with technical precision. The set was a sonic assault from start to finish, showcasing their unmatched ability to build tension and unleash chaos with every breakdown.
A key feature of Heriot’s live show is their duel frontperson dynamic, a rare but powerful combination that kept the energy high and the crowd engaged. Vocalist and guitarist Debbie Gough is a force of nature onstage, with her high screams slicing through the dense guitar layers. Her ability to hit those terrifyingly high notes while shredding on her guitar was mind blowing, and it made tracks like ‘At The Fortress Gate’ all the more intense. But it wasn’t just her vocals that stood out. Bassist Jake Packer’s backup screams added a new layer of depth to the band’s already heavy sound. His guttural, Isaac Hail esque growls complemented Debbie’s soaring screams perfectly, creating a powerful contrast that resonated throughout the venue. The combination of their voices turned Heriot’s performance into something truly captivating, elevating the intensity of each song.
Another standout feature of their set was the impressive sound engineering. The band utilized two separate microphones, one for the clean singing and one for the screams, and it was a brilliant touch that ensured the clarity of both vocal styles. During ‘Near Vision,’ for instance, the transition from Debbie’s soaring cleans to her intense screams was seamless, and the result was utterly captivating. The sharpness of her clean vocals, paired with the crushing weight of her screams, created an atmosphere of tension that kept the crowd on edge. The sound design wasn’t just a technical feat, but an integral part of what made their live show so thrilling.
With 12 tracks in total, the pace never dipped for a second. ‘Demure’ and ‘Foul Void’ were highlights that stood out for their sheer brutality, while ‘Soul Chasm’ and ‘Solvent Gaze’ kept the intensity climbing throughout the set. Every track felt like a punch to the chest, leaving the audience breathless and begging for more. However, the performance peaked when the band played ‘At the Fortress Gate,’ a track that perfectly encapsulated Heriot’s live power. With Debbie’s high screams and the gut punching riffs, it was a moment of pure chaos and beauty, closing the set with a thunderous roar.
Heriot’s set was a masterclass in heaviness and intensity, with dynamic vocals, crushing breakdowns, and a flawless stage presence that kept the audience locked in for every second. They proved without a doubt that they are one of the most exciting up and comers in the ÜK’s heavy music scene.
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