Live Review: Uprising 6
29th April 2023
Headliner: Paradise Lost
Words & Photos: Rich Price Photography
I’d been meaning to check out Uprising for a number of years, an all-dayer in the heart of Leicester that incorporated the Leicester Metal to the Masses competition. Logistics conspired, and it wasn't until the sixth iteration that I managed to make the long drive down from Manchester with my cameras in tow.
Metal 2 The Masses
As most readers will know, Metal 2 the Masses (M2tM) is an annual music competition that takes place in the UK and surrounding countries to give unsigned metal bands a chance to play at Bloodstock Open Air festival, many metalheads' spiritual home. The format for today was that four competing bands got the chance to showcase their talents, and a winner was declared by M2tM head honcho Simon Hall, who, it must be noted, was sporting a rather spiffing 0161 Manchester Underground Metal Community Hoodie, Get in!
Taking the dreaded opening slot on the second stage, Academy 2, was the first competing band of the day, Void Walker, who played technical deathcore. They put on a solid performance, albeit to a smallish crowd as the venue was still filling up. I wasn’t overly sold on their performance today, but I have seen and heard things aplenty about this group.
The second competing band, Loatch, brought the energy up for the swelling crowd. A whirl of dreadlocks and bristling with grungy vocals to a big, bouncy crowd. A very young and relatively inexperienced band, bristling with teenage angst, at times reminded me of a heavier Silverchair. With their charismatic performance, I thought they had a strong chance and hints at a bigger future ahead of them.
The third competing band, Inflictions, took to the stage, resplendent with spiky masks and a DJ channelling that nu-metal/metalcore/slipknot vibe that seemed to make them the quintessential New Blood band. Taking advantage of the increasing crowd energy, they had the crowd singing along with their bigger choruses. I quite enjoyed them, to be honest. They were very shouty, and although I wasn’t massively keen on the clean vocals, I thought they put on a decent enough show for the audience.
The last competing band were Running with Knives, with solid riffs and some excellent solos, although the sound seemed to not be in their favour at times, which was a shame. I felt certain that these would take the new blood slot.
Skipping ahead a little bit, the winner of the competition was announced later in the day after Blood Oath’s set on the same stage. Chosen by a panel of judges, including Simon Hall, the winner of Leicester M2tM 2023 was Void Walker. It was wonderful to see the same love and support in the M2tM Leicester scene, the competition may be strong, but so is the camaraderie.
Uprising 6
Moving on to Uprising proper despite overzealous, to say the least, security trying to ruin the photographers' day in every way they could imagine, it was a great success. Starting off with the opening act on the main stage in Academy 1, local metalcore act Internal Conflict, who had bags of energy, good clean vocals, and excellent guitar work, played a very enjoyable set even if the light show might charitably be described as an epileptic's nightmare.
Back on stage 2, we had another local legend with Blood Oath, a solid performance, that channelled all the grim and dark imagery you could ask for, combined with a tasty mix of meaty riffs, blast beats, and harsh, dry barked vocals, with vocalist Thrax prowling the stage in imposing fashion. Blood Oath are a force of nature!
Muddibrooke on the third stage, which seemed not much more than a repurposed corridor, was rather good, having an alt-rock grungy sound to them, some excellent lead vocals and a nice atmosphere all around.
I head back to the 2nd stage for Lowen, and all I can say is wow! Absolutely blown away, with a brilliant set of titanic doom riff worship utilising a Middle Eastern scale, as you might expect at the likes of Damnation festival. Lowen were as heavy as anything, with a powerful vocal performance. It was powerful and hypnotic stuff, and Lowen are definitely ones to check out ASAP!
Back to the main stage for Skarlett Riot playing their first gig of 2023, and they have lost none of their edge. Great anthemic songs showcase an amazing voice. Despite a lighting scheme that might have been strategically designed to camouflage Kermit the Frog, they got the crowd going and indeed the room shaking. Whilst the vocals might have been a little low in the mix, this seemed to emphasise the voice just a bit more, which is, to be honest, not a bad thing. Damn, she can sing.
Back to the small stage, for Damim, a band who’ve been around for a while, previously just known as DAM, but probably most known in recent times owing to singer Nathaniel being a member of Akercocke for a time. They were, as they have always been, excellent, ferocious blackened death, with no shortage of technical proficiency. Clean vocals for the most part, it’s difficult not to make comparisons to Akercocke, but that is a plus in my book. It was definitely a big hit with the crowd.
Although clashes were rife throughout the day, I managed to catch some of Master Chargers set on the third stage, Heavy slabs of Sabbath-infused greatness are what Master Charger do, and they do it well. You should always catch Master Charger live if you get the chance!
Cutting my way over to queue up for Palm Reader who were excellent, vocals soar over a punishing atmospheric shoegaze soundscape mixed with post-hardcore labyrinthine complexity. This was a powerful set that swept the audience away and was definitely not one to be missed.
The magnificent Boss Keloid on the second stage are in fine form, playing a selection of songs from their albums, their potent stoner doom, always managing to hit that part deep in the psyche that just makes you almost instantly relax. With the sun outside and a drink in hand, it was lovely.
Back to the third stage for Pretty Addicted who’d started to generate a bit of a buzz about themselves in the press area. A two-piece of singer and drummer, they were a strange act, trashy macabre, almost disco-infused electronica, which is what I think my hastily scribbled notes translate to. They were lots of fun, in a very gothic set which focused a lot on imagery, that sometimes clashed with the ambience of the surroundings.
Saor on the main stage were simply majestic, a titanic sound, imposing yet juxtaposed with delicate and beautiful folk arrangements, only let down by the fact they were almost entirely invisible to the eye with the lighting arrangement. I definitely need to see them again, as they got a huge crowd reaction.
In a transition that could probably not have been more contrasting, I made my way over to the set I was most looking forward to. Combichrist doing an old-school electronica set. The venue was rammed, I think everyone was in there, crammed in like sardines, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife and probably gotten yourself electrocuted for your troubles too. This was off the charts, with a real old-school rave vibe to it, everyone was bouncing like crazy.
Unfortunately, this was the biggest clash of the night for me, so I made my way halfway through to go and watch the fantastic Recall the Remains, who played a brilliant set to far too many people. Always amazing live, I’m glad I got to see both, although I’m slightly salty I had to choose.
Closing out the evening shrouded in fog and darkness, owing in part to Nick Holmes having ‘eyes as sensitive as a new-born rabbit’ were Halifax’s Paradise Lost, who packed out the room, although thankfully not to quite the same claustrophobic levels as Combichrist. A nice heavy set featuring some classics including ‘As I Die’, ‘say just words’ and my personal favourite ‘True Belief’.
All in all, it was a brilliant day out and well worth the trip down the motorway, the organisation from Simon Yarwood and Matt Kirk was excellent, and everything ran like clockwork. It’s nice to see the organisers out and about with the crowd, making sure everyone is having a good time.
Can’t wait for Uprising 7 now
All photo credits: Rich Price Photography
