Live Review: Breed 77 - Corporation, Sheffield
16th November 2024
Support: Red Method, Until 9
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
A chilly Saturday night sees Breed77 bring their unique blend of Gibraltarian flamenco rock to the stage at Sheffield Corporation, supported by Until 9 and Red Method.
First up is local Yorkshire band Until 9, who hit the stage just fifteen minutes after the doors open. They play to a steadily growing crowd as more punters arrive for an exciting night of rock and roll. The band sets the tone with their hard-hitting, System of a Down-influenced metal. Having followed Until 9 since discovering them through Bloodstock’s Metal 2 the Masses shows, I know what to expect: a powerful, energetic performance. Tracks like their recent release Adam and Eve, with its catchy, singalong chorus, showcase why it has garnered over 100,000 streams on the band’s social accounts. “Pretty good for a little band from Yorkshire” quips the lead singer.
Despite the logistical challenge of both the lead vocalist and drummer requiring a microphone on a very small stage, the band maintains high energy throughout their set. Thumping bass lines and a dynamic guitarist keep the crowd fully engaged, delivering a solid opening act for the evening.
By the time Red Method take the stage, the venue is packed, and those watching are certainly ready to go in heavy. Having never seen them live before, I don’t know what to expect. Their striking look - complete with black war paint and red leather outfits - immediately sets the tone for what turns out to be an intense, chaotic, and thoroughly entertaining set.
With six members filling the tiny space, the energy is reminiscent of an old-school Slipknot show. Opening with their 2020 release City of Violence, the band blends heavy early-2000s riffs with rap-style lyrics from frontman Jeremy Gomez, which sees wall-to-wall mosh pits take over the room.
Members dive into the crowd, expand the pit, and even climb on speakers like mosh pit guardians as they tear into tracks including Messiah and Counting Corpses. The energy pauses briefly as the band thank their fans—many wearing Red Method merch—for helping make their latest release, All For One, None For All (featuring the guys from the brilliant Indian folk metal group Bloodywood), the number one song in Metal Hammer this week.
Up next, the headliners for the night Breed77. Despite having taken a significant break for personal reasons, the band clearly retains a loyal fanbase, and tonight’s near sell-out crowd proves it. “Did you bring your dancing shoes?” asks frontman Paul Isola as the band begin their set.
Opening with Individuo from their 2004 album Cultura, Breed77 make it clear they’re here to reconnect with fans and make up for lost time. Much of the set draws from this album, a favourite for both the band and the audience. Though the mosh pits are smaller now, the crowd’s enthusiasm doesn’t drop. Fans sing along passionately to tracks like River and Worlds on Fire, thrilled to hear songs that you can tell they thought they might never experience live again. Throughout the set, the band repeatedly express their gratitude to the crowd, with fans shouting back their love and support. A brief technical hiccup, when Isola accidentally unplugs the microphone doesn’t faze the crowd, who seamlessly fill in the vocals until it’s fixed.
“I can see a few of you shaking off the cobwebs. That’s going to hurt in the morning” Isola jokes before diving into Insects, prompting the audience to let loose one last time. The highlight of the night, though, is undoubtedly their flamenco-infused cover of The Cranberries’ Zombie. The crowd creates a wave from front to back, jumping along to the chorus in unison.
The set closes with La Última Hora, starting with haunting, classical-style vocals before erupting into heavy riffs. It’s a perfect blend of Breed77’s signature flamenco-metal-rock fusion and a fitting end to the night.
For me, the standout of Breed77’s performance tonight is how well they work together as a band and the connection they build with the audience. Effortlessly transitioning between metal riffs and Spanish flamenco tunes, they showcase their cultural heritage in the fabric of their music. Change and evolution are recurring themes throughout the evening, and it’s evident that Breed77 are looking forward to what lies ahead.
I, for one, can’t wait to catch these guys again at Bloodstock Festival next August.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley
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