A move from Manchester Oxford Road’s Academy 2 to Club Academy is more than likely an indication of poor ticket sales, a shame for such a great line-up of bands.
However, those faithful enough to have bought tickets for the event were in for a treat as they were allowed to see Protest The Hero in a much more intimate venue than normal.
Palm Reader opened up the event, with an energetic and passionate performance.
A hardworking band, they may just be able to quit their day jobs if they keep up the momentum and carry on with support slots to such bands as our headliners.
Next up was The Contortionist, a new, unseen and unheard delight for myself.
The band range from the ambient and progressive natures of Dream Theater and Opeth to the new Djent invasion of so many more bands riding the new breed of tech metal.
There was a plethora of talent in the band and hopefully they’ll be back again after the welcome they’ve received.
The moment the opening riff of Sequoia Throne is blasted out to the crowd everything was as it should be at a Protest The Hero show; air guitars, headbanging and plenty of movement within the crowd.
It was a killer song to open with and the band carry on the momentum with Underbite and from here on in delving from album to album, laying out all of the progressive godlike goodies that the band have crafted with their own hands.
It was these songs in this environment that create a more memorable experience than we would have had in one of the larger rooms at Manchester Academy.
Protest The Hero are a band growing from strength to strength in live performances despite the recent line up changes. However, as the album cycle for ‘Volition’ drew to a close it is time for a new album to begin recording, and a new UK tour to boot.
It’s on that next tour that I hope to see the band knock it up a notch once again.
