Live Review: Orbit Culture - Rebellion, Manchester
8th March 2023
Support: Defects
Words: Matthew Williams
Photos: Bill Mawdsley
A Friday night gig at Manchester’s Rebellion, is always a fun experience, and you could sense the excitement in the air from the sold out crowd inside the venue. Orbit Culture are a band with a growing reputation, and with this being their first headline tour, it was great to see all their UK shows sold out, and the anticipation was bubbling.
Their support act, Defects, are also earning quite a reputation for themselves. Despite taking the stage at 7pm, the audience is fairly packed in at the front and the energy coming from lead singer Tony Maue, as he bounces and marauds across the stage, is transmitted well to the crowd. “Scapegoat” sounds really good, nice and heavy, with the repetitive screaming getting a superb response from the crowd.
They are clearly happy to be on tour with Orbit Culture, as “it’s a pleasure to be opening for the mighty OC” but also taken aback when they get a huge roar when asking the crowd “whose heard of us before?” The lighters and phone torches are out in force for the soft, melodic “Dream Awake”, which has a great solo and they ramp up the tempo with the next few songs.
With their new album “Modern Error” coming out in May, they have songs with great drumming, some hardcore breaks and are full of energy, plus they have the bonus of having a frontman who looks so comfortable on stage, and by the time they get to “Broken Bloodlines” they are in full flow with the mosh pit and Maue even takes the time to join the crowd for a wall of death. They leave to loud applause.
With the stage pitch black, gothic haunting music being played over the PA. It’s ominous and chilling, but sets the tone for what we are about to receive. As drummer Christopher Wallerstadt climbs on stage to wave from behind his kit, a huge round of applause begins as the others join him and the chaos begins with the mightily impressive “Black Mountain”. A smoke filled stage ensues, the rapid rat a tat tat drumming is inspiring as the temperature rises in the crowd. The sound doesn’t seem too good at the start, with the drums high in the mix, but this doesn’t deter from a stunning opening track.
“We are Orbit Culture from Sweden and you only need to know two words for this next song” bellows guitarist and vocalist Niklas Karlsson, as “Strangler” kicks off with the pit going crazy screaming “Get Out, Get Out” at he commanded. “Are you ready to get the party started Manchester?” Karlsson asks as they rip into “North Star of Nija” which is out of this world, head’s going off all over the venue, as the angry and aggressive nature of the song beckons more madness before my song of the night, “Nensha” triumphantly screams across the PA. Immense drumming, high fast tempo is maintained with guitarist Richard Hansson and bassist Fredrik Lennartson, relentlessly crisscrossing the stage and just being... well… brilliant!
“The Shadowing” finally sees the first stage diver and crowd surfers start to emerge, having been encouraged by Karlsson, even their own cameraman joins in the fun, taking some pics after he jumps off the stage, but the slow, melodic side of the band comes out in the outstanding “See Through Me”, it almost gives the crowd a chance to take a breath before the stage in smothered in red lights and the heavy “Redfog” is summoned.
“I wanna see more energy, show me the biggest circle pit so far on the tour” screams Karlsson as the crowd pushes back to make space as “Alienated” begins with the super-fast intro, the drums set the pace, dry ice all over the stage, the passion from the fans is matched by the intensity of the band on stage, they really are an impressive outfit, and with the anthemic “From The Inside” coming next, there is no let up at all. Karlsson commands the floor exceptionally well, and makes sure he sings from all three mics on the stage.
Heads are almost falling off throughout “Saw” with clap alongs, crazy pit action, crowd surfers galore, it really is utter chaos tonight. “You lot in Manchester always drink, you are my kind of people” says Karlsson before introducing “While We Serve” off their latest EP, but not before the crowd has to give a viking roar to encourage the band to continue. The stage is invaded, walls of death begin to start again, mayhem has arrived.
“You’ve been the best crowd so far” before they dryly remind us that they’ve only played 2 dates on tour so far, but they are humble and thank the sell-out crowd for coming along to see their first headline tour and they end with the utterly sublime “Vultures of North” and it’s a perfect way to end a mind blowing gig.
Orbit Culture are a band with a growing reputation, and on this evidence, it’s easy to see why, as they are extremely impressive, with a range of stunning melodic death metal tracks, don’t miss them!!!
Photo credits: Bill Mawdsley
