LIVE REVIEW: Siamese, Chaosbay, Cold Culture, Manchester Rebellion, 05/02/2025
For many eager fans, their first concert of 2025 took place at Manchester’s Rebellion, setting the scene for an electrifying night of live music. The line-up featured Denmark’s Cold Culture, Berlin’s Chaosbay, and the much-anticipated headliners, Siamese. The crowd was excited, ready to experience the mix of progressive metalcore, electronic influences, and hard-hitting breakdowns.
Opening the night was Cold Culture, blending hardcore, hard rock, and electronic elements into their self-described “pop metal” sound. Stepping in at the last minute to replace Blackgold, Cold Culture proved they were more than up for the challenge. Surprisingly, their live performance was levelled up compared to their recorded music, highlighting their raw energy and stage presence. As the band took the stage, an unexpected voice filled the venue. Poppy’s eerie vocals played over the speakers, adding an element of intrigue before the set began. Kicking off with Deep End, the track delivered a dynamic mix of clean screams, heavy riffs, and electronic undertones, instantly captivating the audience.
Downfall from their 2023 EP Afterthoughts followed. It created an immersive experience with atmospheric soundscapes and keyboardist Michael Mentz’s commanding drum presence. The anthemic chorus kept the energy high, engaging the crowd in full force. The moody lighting throughout their set, blue, purple, and red, intensified the emotional depth of their music. Heartache introduced a rap-infused intro paired with powerful drumming, ending with raw, gritty screams that left a lasting impact. Closing with Faded, Cold Culture perfectly encapsulated their essence: a fusion of heavy yet melodic, emotional yet aggressive sounds. Considering they are still students, this band will be one to watch closely in the coming years.
Next up was Chaosbay, a Berlin-based progressive metalcore band known for intricate riffs, emotionally charged lyrics, and a seamless blend of harsh and clean vocals. Their influences span djent, progressive rock, and metalcore, crafting a technical and engaging sound. The set kicked off explosively with ARE YOU AFRAID?, an electronic-backed track featuring a catchy chorus and a crushing breakdown punctuated by Jan Listing’s signature “bleghs”. The accompanying flashing lights intensified the track’s impact, pulling the audience further into the chaos.
Building upon the momentum, ECSTASY introduced a groovier tone, featuring a chant-like intro that instantly hooked the crowd. As the song progressed, the rhythm section took centre stage, culminating in crushing screams that added depth to the dynamic instrumentation. Listing reinforced the band and audience bond, declaring, “You’re part of the Chaos family now.“. MANIAC IN THE MIRROR perfectly highlighted their progressive tendencies, featuring unconventional rhythms, dramatic vocal deliveries, and hard-hitting instrumentation. The crowd enthusiastically joined in singing the chorus, while red lighting amplified the song’s introspective themes. In contrast, THE WAY TO HELL took a more melodic turn, opening with soft vocals and synth backdrops before erupting into a darker, rhythm-heavy soundscape.
Midway through, the band teased the audience, jokingly describing themselves as a “hip-hop band” before launching into MONEY, a fast-paced track showcasing Listing’s rapping skills, interwoven with breakdowns and more signature “bleghs”. Their cover of Message in a Bottle by The Police provided a refreshing progressive metalcore twist to the classic, maintaining its melancholic essence while injecting heavier and more atmospheric elements. Closing their set with Passenger, the band invited the crowd to jump along, igniting a final surge of energy.
Finally, Denmark’s Siamese took the stage, fresh off the release of their 2024’s Elements, a genre-blending album of electronic, metalcore, and pop influences. The crowd erupted as Siamese’s set began. Their opener, Home (featuring Drew York of Stray From The Path), set the tone with an anthemic explosion of melody and intensity. Mirza Radonjica’s passionate delivery, particularly on the line “wherever I go, I’ll be forever yours,” resonated deeply, mirroring the themes of longing and self-discovery.
Chemistry brought djent-infused guitar work and pulsing electronic beats to the forefront, accompanied by atmospheric purple lighting. The fusion of an infectious chorus with crushing breakdowns made it an instant crowd favourite. Radonjica’s engaging stage presence shone as he humorously remarked, “I don’t have to open and play for snotty American bands to get a filled room,” before rallying the crowd, “Do you want to jump around with us, Manchester? I want you to bounce!”. Predator introduced a drum and bass-infused sound, proving Siamese’s refusal to be confined to a single genre. The track demonstrated how the band experiments with different elements to create their distinctive sound, a fitting reflection of their album Elements.
On Fire was filled with groove-heavy instrumentals and a drum solo that created the perfect backdrop for a mosh pit. Radonjica grinned, exclaiming, “You Brits, I love it, the entertainment!“. Meanwhile, the stripped-down acoustic rendition of Rather Be Lonely, performed in the middle of the crowd by Radonjica and guitarist Andreas Krüger, created a special moment and furthered the powerful themes of heartbreak and self-preservation.
Siamese’s signature left-field cover came in the form of Party Monster by The Weekend. Their rendition infused funky electronic tones and a metalcore punch, demonstrating their knack for transforming original songs into heavy-hitting anthems. Returning for their encore, they played This Is Not A Song, a rebellious, energetic track and as the final breakdown of Sloboda thundered through the venue, the performance culminated in Ocean Bed, their closing track that left fans giving their all until the very last note.
The night at Manchester Rebellion was a thrilling showcase of metal’s evolving landscape. Cold Culture proved their potential as a rising act, delivering a last-minute performance that solidified them as a band to watch. Chaosbay captivated the audience with their intricate blend of progressive metalcore, seamlessly shifting between brutality and melody. Finally, Siamese demonstrated why they’ve earned their place as a headline act, blending metalcore, electronic, and pop elements into an unforgettable performance. After fifteen years of perseverance, Siamese are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. Despite Rebellion being a smaller venue, the fans made sure to make every moment count.
Written By: Zena Morris
