Live Review: Soulfly - O2 Institute, Birmingham
Support: Cage Fight
31st August 2024
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
Metalheads queue for what seemed like an age for Soulfly’s sold out show at the O2 Institute in Birmingham and were not let down by the stunning show that followed. Soulfly, with support from the rising UK thrash/hardcore/crossover band Cage Fight, put on one of most memorable nights of the year so far in deepest, darkest Digbeth.
Opening the night, Cage Fight set the tone with their brutal energy. Their mix of hardcore punk and thrash was unrelenting. Their line up isn’t their normal one, with band mastermind James Monteith juggling duties with Tesseract, Will Centaur switches to guitar and Polar bassist Stefan Whiting steps in to fill the hole. The ever present Rachel Aspe on vocals and Nicholas Plews on drums complete the quartet.
They opened with ‘Shine Don't Fade’, setting the aggressive pace that continued through their set. Standouts included the scathing ‘Guillotine’ and the raw, emotion-fueled ‘Respect Ends’, where frontwoman Rachel Aspe’s ferocity was undeniable.
Cage Fight’s setlist showed their diversity, mixing fast-paced hardcore riffs with breakdowns heavy enough to rattle the bones. By the time they closed with ‘Hope Castrated’ the crowd was fully warmed up and hungry for more.
Max Cavalera and Soulfly wasted no time after hitting the stage. Opening with ‘Back to the Primitive’, the Brazilian metal titans immediately commanded the room, taking the audience back to their tribal metal roots. The set was a perfect blend of classic tracks and new material, with standouts like ‘No Hope = No Fear’ and ‘Prophecy’ generating huge singalongs, head banging mayhem, circle pits and much crowd surfing.
Newer songs like ‘Superstition’ and ‘Filth Upon Filth’ proved that Soulfly still know how to write crushing riffs that resonate with their audience, while the raw power of ‘Bumba’ and ‘Blood Fire War Hate’ were just as devastating live as ever.
Max Cavalera’s stage presence was a powerful rallying cry, whipping up the crowd with his signature gruff vocals and commanding energy. Soulfly’s set was unrelenting, with the pit a swirling storm of metal chaos. By the time they launched into ‘Jumpdafuckup’ and the closing anthem ‘Eye for an Eye’ during the encore, the entire room was in full frenzy mode, a perfect close to an unforgettable night.
Soulfly delivered a masterclass in metal, proving once again why they’re still one of the most vital forces in the scene. With Cage Fight providing an equally ferocious opening set, this was a night that showcased the strength of both new and veteran bands in metal.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
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