LIVE REVIEW: Forbidden & Tortured Demon, Rebellion, Manchester 15/08/24

The Massacre of Manchester is the advertising line for tonight. Following on from playing the main stage at Bloodstock and doing a meet and greet at the Salisbury the night before the gig, Forbidden were ready to play their first headline show in the UK for 15 years. 

Opening the show, local thrashers Tortured Demon. Talk about a dream support slot!! They blast through an 8-song set with power and lots of enthusiasm. Rise Of the Lifeless is quickly followed by Virtual Death and Conflict of Interest. They then slow things down a little with Disfavour. This was only a brief respite before smashing into The Invasion and In Desperation’s Grip. A quick change of guitars and they are ripping the faces off the crowd with Global Threat. The set ends with A Knee to The Face. What a great well played set from these local youngsters. 

We have 40 minutes to wait and get out breath back before the headliner’s hit the stage. A dream set of pretty much everything from the first two albums followed. The crowd lap it all up!! It was always going to be challenge taking over from Russ Anderson, but Norman Skinner just nails it, even the high notes. Follow Me opens things up quickly followed by Off the Edge, bringing back memories from the 89 tour with Sacred Reich. Twisted into Form is next, quickly followed by March into Fire and Feel No Pain. 

There's a bit of confusion next as Craig notices Forbidden Evil isn't on the set list. They can't not play that can they!! As Good as Dead segues into Step by Step. This gets the pit going and a few stage divers take their chances, albeit a bit later than I expected. Craig and Dan then play Infinite, instead of just a playback through the PA. Flowing straight into Out of Body. Through Eyes of Glass, my favourite song of theirs is almost the end. Chalice Of Blood is the obvious finale but part way through they burst into Overkill by Motorhead. “Last chance to dance” screams Craig, as they blast back into Chalice. 

What an awesome old school night of thrash and I’m glad to say … I WAS THERE!!!

Review by Dez Coley.