LIVE REVIEW: The Devil Wears Prada, Kingdom Of Giants, Ocean Grove, SENNA, Manchester Club Academy, 18/02/2025
On a bitterly cold night, fans braved the elements and headed into the basement of Manchester’s Student Union, where the Club Academy offered an intimate setting for an unforgettable evening of heavy music. The twelfth stop of the tour featured performances from German progressive metalcore band SENNA, Australia’s nu-metalcore experimentalists Ocean Grove, the relentless Kingdom Of Giants, and headliners, The Devil Wears Prada.
German Prog-metal band SENNA, take their name from the Arabic word for brightness. Their music blends post-hardcore and hard-rock elements with playful yet technical instrumentation. They opened their set with Lavender, immediately setting the mood with its atmospheric yet powerful instrumentals. The track featured reverb-heavy guitar tones, and emotionally charged vocals, especially with lyrics such as, “These remedies inside of my heart / They are – they’re falling apart.” The song explored themes of internal conflict and emotional struggle, perfectly enhanced by red and white lighting that illuminated the stage.
As the band transitioned into their next song, Rain the heavy thumping of drums signalled the change, with blue lighting enhancing the rain effect. This track featured melodic hooks that highlighting the musicianship of Marcel Dürr, whose intricate guitar picking blended intensity with catchiness. The groovy breakdown in the middle was particularly well-received, showcasing the band’s ability to mix complexity with accessibility. Their next song, Blackout, released earlier this year, opened with a softer melodic intro before rough vocals kicked in.
High Note began with a drum solo from drummer Leon Dorn, showcasing the band’s pop-infused influences. The track offered a lighter yet still high-energy moment in the set. The band closed their set with one of their earlier and most well-known songs, Rosehip. The song’s infectious energy made the crowd move in unison, creating a memorable moment showcasing the band’s signature sound. The performance left fans with a lasting impression of SENNA’s dynamic and powerful music.
Next was Ocean Grove, a nu-metalcore band from Australia known for their eclectic mix of nu-metal, alternative rock, and experimental sounds. The band prides itself on breaking free from the traditional norms of what a band should sound like, often describing their music as “oddworld music.” Their sound blends elements of grunge, hardcore, and electronic influences, which is reflected in the title of their latest album, ODDWORLD (2024).
Despite having only two weeks’ notice after stepping in for SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Ocean Grove had vibrant energy and groove within their performance. Their first song, FLYAWAY, was an anthemic opener that set the tone with its high, uplifting energy and dreamy alt-rock feel. The song showcased a clear blend of catchy hooks with an undertone of Britpop-inspired vibes, but with a “hard and heavy edge” that kept things grounded in their unique sound.
The next track, CELL DIVISION, combined elements of nu-metal and punk with groove-driven riffs and bouncy rhythms, maintaining the band’s signature energy. Stratosphere Love followed continuing the nostalgic yet modern alt-rock sound the band is known for, blending 90s alt influences with hypnotic melodies and dreamy instrumentals. This track featured a rap and drum solo, with Dale Tanner leading the crowd in synchronised headbanging as he repeated the lyrics, “It’s so cold, it’s so cold”.
RAINDROP marked a standout moment in the set, shifting the energy to a darker and more shadowy tone. The track, which stood out on the ODDWORLD album and the setlist, offered a grungy, layered aesthetic with introspective lyrics,“Drown myself again, all I wanna do is cry / Oh, all alone, I’m all alone again”. The song’s juxtaposition of dark lyrical undertones and upbeat sound made it a moment of intense emotion. This track also allowed Tanner to step back from the vocals and play bass, allowing bassist Twiggy Hunter to take over vocal duties.
LAST DANCE shifted the tone again, with Tanner asking the audience to shine their flashlights for the band, creating an intimate moment between them and the crowd. The song’s lyrics explore themes of finding solace and the last chance to experience a loving embrace when confronting the realities of loss, whether it’s the death of a loved one or the planet itself. The set concluded with Junkie$, combining rap-rock, punk, and alternative groove, the song was a wild, explosive way to finish the show. Tanner’s parting words, “Open that pit up Manchester… Show us what you’ve got,” were met with fans going wild as he joined the crowd, high-fiving people during the song’s last notes. The performance ended on a high note, leaving the audience with an unforgettable experience of Ocean Grove’s rebellious, high-energy sound.
Kingdom Of Giants, a California metalcore band, made a powerful impression as the heaviest opening act on the line-up, maintaining intensity from start to finish. Known for blending crushing riffs, melodic atmospheres, and emotionally charged lyrics, they showcased their mastery of heavy breakdowns, intricate guitar work, and a dynamic interplay of clean and harsh vocals throughout their performance. The band’s energy and musical precision made them a standout on the night.
As the band made their way onto the stage, red flashing lights illuminated the venue, signalling the fierce performance the audience was about to experience. The atmospheric intro set the stage for vocalist Dana Willax, who passionately declared, “Manchester, we’ve got you for forty minutes, and we are not wasting a second.” The intensity kicked off with their first song, Asphalt, filled with heightened energy and chaos. Willax’s rough screams and distorted vocals, combined with guitarist Red Martin’s aggressive riffs, created a powerful chorus that urged the crowd with the question, “Who’s going to set this place off?” The audience responded immediately by opening a pit.
During Wasted Space, Willax encouraged the crowd to get on each other’s shoulders as loud, heavy guitar riffs played in the background. The breakdown in this song was particularly nasty, serving as a key moshing moment in the set. Willax’s visceral screams grew louder, intensifying the energy in the venue. At the song’s end, he expressed his appreciation for the crowd’s commitment with a simple “hell yeah.” The band dedicated Scorpion to Ocean Grove, calling it one of their hardest-hitting tracks. Willax energised the crowd further by calling for a circle pit, spinning his finger to signal for one, quickly igniting a wave of movement throughout the venue.
The band closed their set on an epic note with Wayfinder, a track that tied together struggle, resilience, and introspection themes. The song featured soaring melodies and crushing breakdowns, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. To cap off their performance, Willax asked, “How many crowd surfers can we get in here?” inviting the crowd to join in one final act of chaotic energy before they left the stage, ensuring that the audience wanted more.
Finally, the moment everyone in the basement eagerly awaited arrived, the headliners, The Devil Wears Prada, an American metalcore band from Ohio. Known for their blend of aggressive riffs, melodic elements, and deeply introspective lyrics, the band has been a staple in the metalcore scene for nearly twenty years. They have continuously evolved their sound while staying true to their core intensity, allowing them to remain highly respected in the genre. Their live performances are particularly revered, known for their passion, thought-provoking lyrics, and willingness to push boundaries.
Their opening track, Mammoth, was a ferocious start to the set, kicking off with crushing riffs, blast beats, and the dynamic contrast between clean vocals from Jeremy DePoyster and the signature screams from vocalist Mike Hranica. The song, which delves into internal struggle and perseverance themes, showcased relentless breakdowns that energised the crowd right from the start. It also transitioned seamlessly into Watchtower, a standout track that highlighted The Devil Wears Prada’s more modern sound, featuring eerie atmospherics, layered guitar work, and a blend of harsh and clean vocals. The chorus was hauntingly melodic, providing a sharp contrast to the chaotic verses, with lyrics like “Took away all of my power / Kept in the dark with everything to lose”, dealing with themes of anxiety and feeling trapped.
As the set progressed, DePoyster announced, “We are going back now,” introducing Danger: Wildman, a fan favourite that takes the audience back to 2009. The song was an intense burst of energy, with its erratic pacing, breakdown-heavy structure, and anthemic gang vocals. Hranica’s guttural screams filled the venue, while the band matched his energy, working overtime to keep the crowd engaged.
Salt became another personal highlight, with the crowd passionately singing along to its catchy chorus, showcasing DePoyster’s clean vocals. The track balanced raw emotion with heavy instrumentals and explored themes of emotional numbness and feeling stuck. The lyrics, “If everything I said was true / Then why am I, why am I still paralysed?” resonated deeply, reflecting the frustration of trying but feeling like nothing changes.
Before Ritual, the band took a moment to thank the crowd for selling out the show, acknowledging their excitement to return after playing last year at the LANDMVRKS concert, but noting that their last headline performance was in 2014. The anticipation was high as they dove into Ritual, which brought the party atmosphere to the setlist. The crowd started chanting “Aye aye” as the track, which combines eerie electronics with slow-building intensity, culminated in an explosive chorus. During Noise, the band played the wrong intro, which created a comedic moment. DePoyster teased the band about the mistake, but it only added to the fun. He made the most of it by making his way around the crowd while Hranica took centre stage for the song’s pivotal breakdown, intensifying his harsh screams.
The set slowed down with Chemical and Sacrifice, which were more emotionally driven songs about personal struggles and depression. Chemical allowed DePoyster’s clean vocals to shine through, evoking a deeply emotional response from the crowd. With these songs, the band expressed their ability to balance intensity with vulnerability. The band closed the night with a classic, Hey John, What’s Your Name Again? The final moments were a whirlwind of unrelenting screams, drilling guitar tones, pounding drums, and a frantic pace. The Devil Wears Prada went all out, giving everything they had in their last song, leaving the audience with an explosive and unforgettable conclusion to their set.
The Devil Wears Prada and their supporting acts delivered a night of unforgettable performances, proving why they continue to dominate the metalcore scene. From SENNA’s atmospheric melodies to Ocean Grove’s genre-defying chaos, Kingdom Of Giants’ crushing breakdowns, and The Devil Wears Prada’s electrifying presence, Manchester Club Academy was transformed into a battleground of sound and emotion.
