Live Review: Madball – Manchester

New York Hardcore legends – a term Freddy does not care for - Madball, return to Manchester for the second time in 2023, following their show with Life of Agony back in early February, to lay waste to the city’s Rebellion Rock Bar. It’s a meeting of the right band and the right venue, for Hardcore needs to be in small, sweaty clubs, packed to the rafters and bristling with energy.

Without a new record to punt – a new one is due in 2024, fingers-crossed – Madball arrive in Manchester with a view to levelling the town and reminding us of their rich history. As such, we get Colossal Man from the debut EP Balls of Destruction, dating back to 1989 and the trio of Across Your Face, Smell the Bacon and Get Out from the sophomore release, Droppin’ Many Suckers.

Those early tunes are sprinkled throughout the show; Smell… and Get Out coming straight after fan favourite and opener Set It Off lays down the marker for the rest of the show. Its pounding Hardcore and gang vocals take the energy in the room to maximum, with Freddy starting his evening of perpetual movement. The frontman is like a dervish throughout the entire show, belying the fact that, sorry to remind you, mate, but the big five-0 is barrelling down the tracks.

Whether Mr Cricien is in denial about his band’s status is a moot point, as Maball have earned their placed in the pantheon of Hardcore legends, alongside the likes of Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags and more; and you don’t reach such pinnacles without having a variety of strings to your bow.

Although on the surface, it could be considered a narrow remit in which to work, Madball’s approach to Hardcore is one of bending the music’s will and blending in all manner of other ideas. Hardcore Lives might well be a calling card for the band and a statement of intent, but it isn’t without some Metallic guitar runs form Mike Justain to supplement the fat bass.

Nuestra Familia pulls the Latino vibes and is massive on the inherent groove, For My Enemies is an anthem of positivity and self-belief and Infiltrate the System rages as Mike J orchestrate a massive beatdown.

Rhythm section of long-time drummer Mike Gurnari and live bassist, Pete Goerlitx, hold it all together with an apparently effortlessness that is questionable when looking at the sweat pouring from Freddy. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Hold It Down and Streets of Hate are brimming with punk attitude and the cover of The Animal’s It’s My Life is greeted like an old friend.

Although Rev Up is one of the night’s newer tunes, coming from band’s 2018 For the Cause record, it still hits with the same intensity as those songs from deep in history. Infused with the spirit of true Punk and Oi! [©Resistance ‘77] this call for a revolution is still loaded with danceable moments.

As Madball’s hour upon the stage draws to a close, they wring out the last amount of energy they have collectively for Born Strong, Pride (Times Are Changing) and the closing anthem, Doc Marten Stomp. About two dozen songs got aired tonight and the power generated could illuminate Manchester all the way through to the new year.

These New York Hardcore legends – let’s say it like it is – seem incapable of anything close to mediocrity. Hard-hitting riffs and pummelling rhythms lay a platform for the maniacal movement of Freddy. The perfect meeting of venue and artist.