Nu-Metal Resurrection: Drowning Pool, Spineshank & (hed) P.E. Take Over Manchester.

Taking to the stage first with their self-proclaimed “G-Punk” sound (hed) P.E. Known for high-energy, chaotic shows tonight was no exception. Jared Gomes performance was as powerful and energetic as back in the day when he was younger, the energy throughout the set was relentless and remained solid from start to finish. It was noted a few of the songs were ordered to be restarted due to the "lack of energy" from the Manchester crowds (come on Manchester, why are you doing this! Bring the energy people... god damn) however when the band got going the energy hit an all time high. The crowd became fully charged and were eating up everything (hed) P.E threw out on that stage. With seamless transitions between the blended genres of their sound - I can't recall one moment where there was down-time or any break, with the unique use of a melodica on stage from Jared Gomes it was not just an audio experience it was a very interesting visual display from the guys. 

Keeping the momentum of the evening flowing after (Hed) P.E, Spineshank took to the stage.

Due to a last-minute passport issue, unfortunately Jonny Santos was unable to perform this evening however James Mills, frontman of UK metal outfit Hostage, stepped in as a temporary vocalist for Spineshank. Although this was a last minute arrangement James Mills fully committed to stepping up to the plate in absence of Jonny Santos. He dominated the stage with confidence and what you would have expected from a long-time standing member from the band with his performance, you would have hardly thought that this guy on vocals was not an original part of the band. I applaud the level of professionalism shown throughout the evening and for how such notice this was, what a show. I would like to note and give a shout out to Jason Hager, also known for his work in Chimaira, was an absolute dream to watch in his element. There's just something about him on stage which draws your eyes directly to him, it's seriously captivating. 

Now, the only negative I can comment about their set was that it was hard not to feel for Spineshank as they battled a string of technical issues during their set—especially the relentless feedback and in the opener having no mic working for poor James Mills. Despite this the resilience shown by the band was admirable as they continued to power through delivering a most impressive set. This is my first time seeing Spineshank live and I would have to say in the future I wouldn’t hesitate to catch them at a future show.

The atmosphere shifted as I witnessed people pushing forward to get to the barrier. This is what people were here for... headlining act Drowning Pool. The room erupted in cheering as the band took to the stage. At this point the venue was an absolute sweat fest that could only be compared to the likes of ya nan's front room in summer, it was roasting and you could see on the walls sweat dripping. Just a FYI I'm not saying my nans front room has wall sweat, not that anyone cares but I would just like to clear that up. It was grim but hey, this is what we live for. This is what live music is about.

Their songs hit hard, pairing with some melodic riffs with aggressive vocal power which left fans shouting back with crowd participation in full swing it was hard not to be drawn into what was happening. 

Drowning Pool have had various vocalist in their line up since the sad passing of Dave Williams back in 2002 but Ryan McCombs brought a fire to the stage which paid perfect homage to Williams legacy. 

Finishing their set off with “Bodies” the crowd went wild. It was the ultimate end to a sold out trip down memory lane with the bands that were on this evenings line up.  

Drowning Pools overall performance was a reminder of why they became a staple of the nu-metal era—and why their music still hits hard today. It was fierce, it was aggressive and once again, I'll say it... It shows why they not just good but GREAT at what they do. 

If you would like to catch this tour in full swing, the tour is stopping off at the following dates and venues throughout the UK and Ireland:
• Thu 6 Nov – Manchester, Academy 2
• Fri 7 Nov – Northampton, Roadmender
• Sat 8 Nov – Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR
• Sun 9 Nov – Newcastle, Boiler Shop
• Mon 10 Nov – Glasgow, The Garage
• Wed 12 Nov – Belfast, Limelight 1
• Thu 13 Nov – Dublin, The Academy
• Fri 14 Nov – Bradford, Nightrain
• Sat 15 Nov – Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
• Sun 16 Nov – Bristol, Electric
• Tue 18 Nov – Torquay, The Foundry
• Wed 19 Nov – Nottingham, Rock City
• Thu 20 Nov – London, O2 Academy Islington
• Fri 21 Nov – Canterbury, The Ballroom
• Sat 22 Nov – Brighton, Concorde 2

After what I experienced tonight I would say don't miss your chance to catch this show near you - it's absolutely 100% worth it. Do yourself a favour and be there to enjoy the nostalgic experience of seeing some bands that you likely loved when life was simpler (ya know maybe the days where the hardest decision was what chain you'd pair with your baggy jeans and generic band merch). 

We extend our sincere thanks to Tapestry Promotions for hosting the event. Tapestry Promotions are known for supporting alternative and metal acts across the UK and do a fabulous job in this. For upcoming shows visit their website for details. Tapestry Promotions

Photography Credit: All images featured in this article are courtesy of Laura Jane Photography and are used exclusively for Get Heavy UK. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of these photographs is strictly prohibited.