Live Review: Wolfbastard - Star & Garter, Manchester
14th March 2026
Support: Devastator, Skabs, Bloodsaw
Words: Matthew Williams
Photos: Rich Price
The day after releasing their turbo charged, belligerent new album “Satanic Scum Punks”, Dez, Si and Dave, collectively known as Wolfbastard, celebrated with an album release party at one of Manchester’s most iconic venues, The Star & Garter, and with sold out notices all over social media, it promised to be a raucous affair.
Leading off were another Manchester band who are building up quite a reputation. I’ve seen Bloodsaw a few times now, and each time, they get better live, as they have that youthful thrash energy both on and off stage. They keep the crowd engaged throughout, but what impresses me most is how composed and assured the foursome look on stage. However, it’s their songwriting and composition which is constantly improving, demonstrated by their last two songs, “Circle of Hatred” which was dedicated to Phil Campbell, and “Die by The Gun” as they are full of great solos and get the pit moving nicely.
I knew nothing about Skabs, except that they played blackened punk and hail from Bury. The four piece have a lot of feedback, and the guitarist plays a lot with a mixing board, to aid their cacophonous sound. The most impressive part was their bassist, as he has a big sound, demonstrated superbly on the slowed down sections. The drummer is rapid, and in sections they are fast and furious, but the vocals were barely audible. At one point the singer pulls the set list out of his back pocket, and they thank the new drummer who “only had two days to prepare” for the gig, before their short set, full of noisy mayhem came to an end.
I last saw Devastator across the city at Rebellion in November, a week after I’d seen them play at Damnation Festival, so was looking forward to seeing them again. They bring energy and oomph to their shows, and with scythe in hand, they are treated like returning heroes. When the brilliant “Black Witchery” kicks in, we get the first stage diver of the evening and they prove to be a slick outfit, with more chaos ensuing during “Worship the Goat” and “Spiritual Worship”.
With cries of “Devastator” ringing in their ear, they talk about their favourite band in the world, Motorhead, and how they and Phil Camplbell meant so much to them. “Liar in Wait” sees more melody and they ask for more “motherfuckers” to get on stage. With their heaviness unrelenting, it’s fast and furious, with intense solos on “Send Them to Hell” as they get a brilliant wall of death going. They dedicate “Death Forever” to their soon to be touring buddies Hellripper and end with an insanely fast cover of “Iron Fist” a suitable way to finish off.
Tonight was all about Manchester’s finest scum punks Wolfbastard, and with a sold-out crowd willing them on, the trio don’t mess about and head straight into opener “It’s Fucking Dark”. One thing it clear from the off, both Dez and Si have had a few drinks, obviously to calm their nerves, (ha, ha) as a bottle of Buckfast gets handed out to the crowds to share.
“We’ve got a new album out, so here’s a few songs off it” says Si as they treat us to the album title track “Satanic Scum Punks” and it’s even better live than on record. The crowd are loving it as the dual vocals bounce off each other, before there’s a huge scream from Dez, and they play the filthy “Can’t Escape The Grave”. The tempo is ramped up further with the frenzied “Hail Satan Kurwa” ahead of the thrashing speed of “Fear the Exxxekutioner” which ushers more stage divers.
Throughout their time on stage, I think Dez and Si must be having a contest to see who can say the most swear words as every song begins and ends with the words “fuck off” and “how the fuck are we Manchester” but they are entertaining to watch live. Dez informs us that this is being recorded, so “we can swear as much as we want” before introducing “a song we’ve never played live before called Let the Bastard’s Burn” and it hails vocal support from the crowd who, amongst the chaos, shout the words back at the trio.
“Manic Street Creatures” is dedicated to anyone from Wales, and after a slight bass issue, the monstrous “B.I.F.F.O” is dedicated to anyone from Oldham. Another bottle of Buckfast gets handed to the crowd ahead of the wonderfully titled “Buckfast Blasphemies” which is damn good, displaying more fast and heavy musicianship, and leads into the boisterous “Drink For Hell”.
“We recorded a video here a few weeks ago, some of you might be in it” as the anthemic “F.O.T.D.” gets an airing. It’s a short and sweet battering ram, laced with fire and fury and as Dez pulls his last can out a carrier bag they end on a high, with the merciless and monstrous “Graveyard Slag” which sees a wild pit and heads banging all over the place. What. A. Night.
