LIVE REVIEW: Profiler, Black Coast, Ómoia, The Star and Garter, Manchester 19/02/2026
Photo Credit: Tom Forrester
The nu-metal boom shows no signs of slowing down. Arguably more popular now than the first-time round, it is this time critically revered and loved non-ironically by the generation who’ve breathed new life into it. You just have to look at Deftones’ latest critically acclaimed (and very much sold out!) tour to see that this is more than just a fad. But it’s not just legacy acts flying the flag for this genre. Profiler, Black Coast, and Ómoia are just three acts of the new wave of baggy-jorted bands, unleashing their own brand of groovy mayhem.
Ómoia get things underway with their self-described ‘queer emo’. The emo half of that descriptor doesn’t entirely do the band justice, as their sound incorporates everything from deathcore to pop-punk to straight-up metal. Vocalist Cerys Simmons is a captivating presence; whether railing against abusers in Why Am I Like This?, for consent in Preying Men, or expressing solidarity for the trans community between tracks, the band’s passion is as evident as it is infectious. Given their sound, skill, and passion, expect to hear a lot more of this lot in the future.
Black Coast lean into the hardcore aesthetic and ethos in their willingness to circle pit with the crowd, but bring brutal riffs, dark lyrics, and harmonic squeals, showing their nu-metal influences and roots. Playing a set featuring mostly tracks from their debut album Outworld, they get the crowd amped up by getting into the trenches with them. Tracks such as Ache and Strangers Skin arguably have some of the hooks of the night and generate the first real sing-alongs. As main support, there couldn’t have been a better choice for this show.
Profiler – tonight’s headliners – aren’t afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. Hitting the stage in baggy trousers and a backwards baseball cap, frontman Mike Evans looks every inch the nu metal lifer. Joined onstage by Jay Remnants, Joe Johnson, and Jacob Andrews, what follows is an hour of unrelenting nu-metal punishment.
Having once stated that Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water is the album he wished he’d written, Evans could pass for a Fred Durst double, at least in the energy and crowd interaction he brings to the stage. In this tiny room, the sound is thick and heavy, but the crowd manage to sing along, mosh, and create an atmosphere that could easily scale up to the festival circuit.
Throwing crowd favourites Animo and To Utopia into the mix, it’s clear that the old tracks are just as popular as the newer ones.
Having recruited Remnants as guitarist between the recording of Digital Nowhere and the Illusion EP, it’s clear that Evans‘ calling is to be a frontman rather than a singer-guitarist. This is occasionally a catch-22, as the songs do have a fuller sound with both Evans and Remnants sharing rhythm and lead duties; however, the energy noticeably increases when Evans is free to focus on singing, waving his arms, and flying about the stage to get the crowd excited. As problems for a live band go, this is a welcome one to have.
The rhythm section is also excellent. Long-serving bassist Johnson underpins everything with an assured groove and provides backing vocals throughout. Similarly, drummer Andrews provides a heavy heartbeat, bringing it all together. If this line-up persists – and all signs are that it will – the future of this band is very bright indeed.
Closing a triumphant set with Zero, Profiler once again prove that they’re a force to be reckoned with in the metal scene. What’s old is very much nu again.
Words and photos: Tom Forrester
