Live Review: Riffolution Festival - Sunday
26th September 2021
Words & Photos: Neil Bolton
Sunday arrives and I am greeted by Pelugion making the trip up from Coventry. This band’s guitar skills are on show from the offset. An early request to get the crowd to cheer from the second stage is met with a positive response, followed by a raising of horns. Their N.W.O.B.H.M. flavoured stoner rock mixes well with this imagery, along with the high class riffage on show. Pelugion’s tunes make you pull your riff grimace early in the day; which is a good thing. The powerful fast and loud track 'Bane of Humanity' thrashes out toward the end of their time; showing this band can shred as well as riff. As horns are raised once more Sunday at the Riffolution begins well.
As I move over to the main stage my friends and I get a place at the front barrier. A place I will not relinquish even for an elderly frail senior or pregnant lady. For the next band to appear on the main stage are the mighty Morass of Molasses. I am indeed a fan boy, and as the air begins to vibrate the barrier does too. The air movement is caused by two guitars and a drum kit just about to launch into the most colossal riffs imaginable, the barrier movement is caused by the crowds excitement. Singer “Bones” and his mates fire up 'Centralia' from their 2017 album, and the fun begins. This band actually contains front man who dances as if Ian Anderson has possessed his very soul. The bass hum strong enough to wake the dead amazing, especially as this band have no bass player, only have a standard Gibson Les Paul, and a modified Epiphone duel guitar attack. The possessed front man entertains the crowd in-between songs, a set that is a mix mainly of the last album and a couple of new ones. Both of which the band fear to play because of their speed and intricacy. The new songs seem to have a more frantic, slightly less stoner sound,
The whole band seem to enjoy the experience, the Bred Shed seems to enjoy the experience, all is good with the world.... I’d better get another t shirt then.
The Bred Shed takes a replenishing breath then it's over to the second stage again and Son of Boar bring their crunch to proceedings. Vocally powerful Son of Boar bring a spice of aggression to the festival. The aggression is tempered with a doom balm that makes the heads in the room bob. Each component of this band’s music is measured and controlled. The vocals are the backbone of the tunes and Luke Oliver delivers on this front very well; yes these Yorkshire guys know how to make a noise and thrill crowd.
As Desert Storm arrive on the main stage you notice that Mr Matthew Dennett has picked up the bass guitar, you then begin to hear Mr Dennett on the bass guitar. This man is a monster on this instrument, he has since been confirmed as a permanent member of Desert Storm while carrying on his duties in Battalions too. (Phew!)
Matt Ryan yells “Fucking Yes Manchester” and the goose bumps begin to appear. This set is based mainly around the current album 'Omens' showing the power of Matt’s vocals perfectly. You can get in a hypnotic grove with these gentleman and then the music suddenly throws you a curve ball, keeping proceedings fresh and high octane. 'Enslaved in The Icy Tundra' from 2013 is blasted towards the crowd, this is a dark distorted punch to the head, made all the more ballsy with the addition of the afore mentioned bass player. Dennett is a brilliant fit for this band, his entertaining stage craft as well as his bass pounding mastery adds yet another high point to this already incredible band.
Another band who have made the long trip up North is OHHMS, and after a short technical error, blamed on bass player Chainy, the band kick into their set. We are informed that this is the seventh time OHHMS have played in Manchester, and although I am very familiar with their alternative post metal music, this is my first live experience of them, and man does Paul Waller give every thing to his craft. This guy is gone, lost in the moment and the music, and it’s special to see. He has his eyes closed for most of the set clicking his finger like a bewitched jazz singer. The rest of the band run frantically around the stage in the frantic sections of the intentionally feedback soaked music. Waller’s voice is perfect and the mainly metal crowd happy accept this art tinged music almost as much as their singer seem to bury himself in it.
For the last time at this festival we turn our attention to the second stage. We see the two man power house of Tuskar ready to sludge it up. Tom Dimmock and Tyler Hodges make an awesome sound. This amount of power should not be possible with just a guitar and drums, but Tuskar seem to make it seem easy. Delicate sections are soon joined by huge doom sections that have the ability to be able to pick up the crowd and drop them at any point they wish. With singing drummer the sound and intensity never lets up with this duo. Their new material is greeted with the same fervour as the old songs, with heads banging both in stage and off. On record you only get an idea of the sheer visceral strength of a Tuskar show, something that needs to be seen to be believed.
The headline act of Riffolution Festival 2021 takes to the main stage. Conan do not so much attack a stage, rather than drop a concrete wall on top of it. Gratitude, distortion and feedback flow from the stage to the massive crowd. Jon Davis’ vocals pierce the air of the venue giving the sludge doom music a taint of the extreme. The Liverpool lads are a perfect headline for this weekend’s proceedings as they have managed to establish themselves as figure heads of this type of oppressive music. They are well respected and it shows tonight with songs being sung by fans in the crowd. The misanthropic tone of the music makes people dance, pit and head bang, and when 'Foehammer' strikes the expectant crowd, all hell breaks loose. The absolute force in the music that Conan deliver is exceptional. When the concrete wall of sludge concludes the band leave the stage leaving the audience to take a moment and reflect upon what they have just witnessed.
I too am left to reflect and compliment Riffolution Productions for assembling such a deep and stellar line up; the Bread Shed and its staff for another warm and friendly reception of a multi gendered, multi racial crowd who wish to drink and worship at the alter of the riff. Also a shout out to the convivial door staff and merch stall.
Thank you Riffolution, until next time!
