Review by Pedro Felippe

After supporting big names across Europe such as Dark Tranquillity and Be’lakor, Hiraes were given the chance to headline outside of Germany — one they took well. They may have only been around for five years with two albums to their name, but their visit to Manchester was a strong indicator that the Hanover group have a bright future ahead of them.

Local thrashers Visitor kicked off the noisy evening with maximum aggression. They didn’t just travel across the city for a casual warm-up, blasting through a short but strong set. The contrast in their onstage aesthetics stood out, from glow-in-the-dark guitar picks and drumsticks to red shoes you’d expect to see in arcade centres back in the 90s or earlier. Jim Foster (rhythm guitar and vocals) made great use of his instrument and voice working together to project authority across the room. Drummer and backing vocalist Tim Marland added a nice melodic touch to the band’s sound with clean vocals, but when it came to playing, he nailed his part by executing rapid double kick and blast beats cleanly without going stiff.

Although Visitor sounded solid, the layout of the stage affected the overall vibe. It’s already tiny due to the small capacity of the venue (around 100), and having the drum kit pushed close to the edge meant Jim was stood a bit too far back on the right, which unfortunately diminished his presence slightly.

Bloodyard were up next and cranked it up a notch. Having not set foot in Manchester since 2022 when supporting Nervosa, they made it clear they weren’t to be forgotten in a hurry. Vocalist Donna Hurd’s death growls contained sheer potency, and she got fans moving exactly how they should be in the build-up to the headliners.

Mingling with the crowd and still wanting more despite the small turnout is an example of how to be a frontperson, and this is what intimate grassroots venues are made for. Interactions like these up-close make all the difference. Nick Adamson’s chugging riffs, reminiscent of Death and Obituary, hit hard, and when combined alongside Daisy Clemson’s drum grooves, it felt like a blast from the past when death metal was in its youth.

Nopreachers were the last support act who, like Hiraes, were making their Manchester debut. In no mood to leave the city hanging, they played in dim lighting and turned it up, seemingly shattering noise regulations to test the limits of how much Star and Garter could take before its windows smashed. Anton Dürr’s fine balance of clean and harsh vocals came across viciously, while drummer Flo flexed his muscles, showing why he’s the one for the job by pulling off relentless blast beats with ease.

At long last, it was time to see what Hiraes could bring to England. They’ve been to the country twice before, but never as headliners. With the weight of the world on their shoulders to make a first impression count, they brushed aside any sort of pressure and gave Manchester a trouncing.

They’re only five years young as a band, but their display felt like that of a group that’s been on the road for much longer. Singer Britta Görtz was the highlight of the show by a country mile. Tiny stage? No problem — she made it feel huge with a vicious presence. Her menacing guttural growls and death stares made it a photographer’s sweet spot for a front cover shot, not to mention the stunning vocal range she possesses. She can jump from fry screams to pig squeals and guttural growls seamlessly, which works perfectly with Hiraes’ abrupt tempo and structural changes.

It also marries well with their preferred use of B minor in most songs, a key that’s been a staple since the early days of melodic death metal. Oliver Kirchner and Lukas Klerk made a fantastic pair on guitars, and while they didn’t have much room to move around, their instruments did the talking and kept heads banging. As good as it sounded, it was sometimes hard to pick out solos or harmonies due to the excessive bass in the mix.

Mathias Blässe’s playing was on point, nailing everything expected of him with slick fills, blast beats, and consistent double kick work. In moments where breakdowns and tempo changes came out of nowhere, he stayed composed and never slipped out of time. 

The turnout may have been low, but the fans’ reactions said it all, and Hiraes can be very proud of themselves for smashing expectations in an unforgiving city. It’s a great start for them, and whenever they decide to return, rest assured it’ll be even more brutal.