Live Review: Ward XVI – Manchester

Having reviewed Ward XVI latest album “ID3NTITY” a few weeks, I thought it would be incumbent upon me to witness their new stage production in Manchester at their album launch show.

The decision had been made earlier in the week that the venue was changed from Academy 2 to 3, but with members from Ward XVI walking up and down smiling they were clearly happy to see people waiting and greeted friends with beaming smiles, as this was their night and boded well for what they had in store.

The only downside to the mass of people, was that I missed a few songs from London’s death metallers, Red Method. With singer Jeremy Gomez, stood off the stage due to it being packed with stage props, it wasn't until "Adriel" that I made out the 6th member of the band, as one of the guitarists was hidden in front of the speaker on my stage left. We get the usual, “come on Manchester you can do better than that” from Gomez, quickly followed by “I know most of you are over 30, but we need more energy”. When "Messiah" is played, the crowd finally gets going, albeit rather meekly. “Everything has been fucked up recently and it's tough to survive as a band, so help us out with some merch at the back”.

"The Absent" sees a few more head banging along and the grooves and hooks are there to go alongside the melodies. They signal for a circle pit, and it happens, well, sort of. They thank Dan the sound man, before playing an older, slower song, which has a different feeling. Stefan Cass on keys, admits that he has a "crippling Warhammer addiction" hence the encouragement to buy merch but the last two songs, an unreleased track called “Counting Corpses” and the frenetic “Ideology of the Sick” (thanks to the guy downstairs by the exit who I mistook as a band member for those song titles, which as he’s seen Red Method 16 times, I’m taking his word) sees the pace picked up and the crowd fully engaged. So much so, that when Gomez asks them to get down if they can, they do and explode into action when asked. A good way to end the set.

With an iron cage sitting front and centre, Bam Bam Bedlam settles down behind his drum kit as the crowd wait with bated breath. With Ward XVI's latest album “ID3NTITY” they have told the tale of serial killer Psychoberrie and her release from the asylum. She starts from inside the cage, staring out at the crowd, as they open with “Regeneration” and the crowd are bouncing. They’ve come to be entertained and for a night of frivolity, and we are about to get it in abundance.

“It’s good to be released from the shackles” announces Psychoberrie (PB), as two hooded ghouls stand either side holding lanterns, as she announces the next song is going to be their next video, and “Into the Wilderness” is blasted out. The best part of watching Ward XVI, is that they make people smile, and their fans are fully invested from the off. “What’s in the Box?” sees PB parading on stage holding a small box in her hand, singing towards it, as a small train appears. You never know what’s coming next, but as a slow side to side wave starts from the crowd, a coffin appears on stage so we can see who is in the box…

Psychoberrie is a bundle of energy, playing the part exceptionally well. She teases and excites the crowd with costume changes galore, and we are asked to “raise your glasses and toast the grand opening of Macabaret” by bassist Wolfy Huntsman, as she appears in her black and white striped fur coat. With Rico Rameres playing his full part, they feed off each other’s energy and then midway there’s a full stage dive from PB, and she’s held aloft by an adoring crowd, before finding her way back to the stage. It all adds to the drama and theatrics of the performance.

The wonderful “Blood is the new Black” is next in line, as they are in and out the cage, powerful dual vocals, add to the excellent rhythm, and they are in full flow. The energy in the room is palpable, and everyone is enjoying themselves. Predictably, they bring on a made-up window frame for “At the Window”, but less predictably, a hooded PB goes behind Doktor Von Stottenstein, and with chloroform in hand, drags him down to his knees and stabs him, as he continues his epic solo. It really is good fun to watch.

With Stottenstein now chained by his neck to the top of the cage, “I Spit on your Grave” sees Nurse Betty wheel a hooded figure onto stage, and right on que, PB sets about it with a saw, licking the blood of its face as she rips the head off. All this is happening, whilst the music reverberates around the room and the narrative of the album is being performed superbly.

A more seductive PB arrives on stage now, after Huntsman has introduced the band, and we are welcomed to “the cabaret after dark” as they play “Darkest Desire”. This is an excellent song live, as someone’s fantasies are becoming reality. A red screen is revealed to us and inside a helpless figure is chained as PB stabs him and rips out his entrails, before PB dedicates a song to the recently departed Ozzy Osbourne.

The performance gets darker and more sinister with “Amoeba of Darkness”, as PB seems trapped in a battle to stay alive with the hooded figure masking her every move, they music has lived to tell the tale. We then get a touching moment from the Doktor who “almost cried someone else’s tears” when he saw the crowd up the stairs and seeing people wearing their t shirts, and he wants to thank all of us “for making this happen”.

PB then re-enters the stage with “did he mention we were in the charts?” which gets loud cheers, “it’s all down to you, so thank you very much”. Now, I’m not sure what the legal battle is but PB mentioned that “we are not allowed to play this song due to an ex-band member and their solicitor, but they can fuck off, and we’ll do what we want” as they play the excellent “Toy Box”.

Ward XVI have brought a good feel factor back to the room and when they play “Shadows” with PB looking fabulous in her white straitjacket, they have the crowd captivated and mesmerised by their superb theatrical performance. They finish with the epic final track from their latest album, “We are Legion” which sees the crowd singing back at them. It’s a huge song, with a big sound and even bigger reaction. If you want a night out watching 6 people give their all and produce a theatrical performance that will leave you smiling, then get along to see Ward XVI on their UK tour in October, you won’t be disappointed, as it’s brilliantly bonkers.