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Metz at Sound Control in Manchester review

Tyler Marriott still may not have a hoverboard, but he did get to witness Metz raise abrasive and rhythmic chaos in Manchester.

Ben Smith

Date published: 9th Nov 2015

Image: Metz 

October saw the world go mental as we revisited Back To The Future, however the future, in comparison to Marty Mcfly's world, isn't that pretty.

After all where is my hoverboard? To detract from any gloom, one guarantee the past has promised us is Seattle's Label Sub Pop, sticking by their visionary mission statement of countlessly churning and unearthing, at times, the most indifferent bands in music. Toronto's Metz are no exception from that. 

Stripping to the bare bones of innate raw punk, the north American band come baring the experience of touring with grunge fathers Mudhoney and two extensive records. 

Now entering the latter stages of their brief stint in the UK, Metz took over Manchester's Sound Control where it took the band one song, 'Headache', to stamp their authority: "Can we have these lights off? They're such a vibe killer" the bassist pleads before the band regather. 

Fully blossoming with no distractions, Metz tore away at their instruments, leaving nothing to the imagination. For any individual attending who has never listened to Metz, the extent of Alex Edkins vocals that urgently kick and scream through the hostile sound of fuzz and distortion, could well be overwhelming.

Conversely, to fans it is music to their ears as the crowd oversee exactly what they paid for. Crowd pleasers frequent the set: 'Wasted', 'Wet blanket' and 'Get Off', to name a few, received a sea of head bangs.

New material such as 'Eraser', to be released January via 7inch, and leading single from their second record II, 'Acetate' encouraged the brewing of what looks to be a small but effective mosh pit. An assured sign of well deserved respect for the tail end of Metz's time in Manchester.

As Metz looked to close a set built on energetic, abrasive and rhythmic chaos, the outfit's frantic stage presence provided a bath of sweat dripping from each members forehead as they left an hour set behind.

No encore to come, no bullshit to stir, and no ego to boost, Metz came and left but nevertheless yielded a settlement of wonder upon the crowd that will not cease for some time to come. There's no sign of hover boards in the near future, but there's plenty of promising signs of Metz.

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