LIVE: Kerrang! Tour 2016 - Albert Hall, Manchester 18.02.16

Like NME, Kerrang! have organised a tour to showcase the best music they have to offer. Instead of the indie previews that NME offered, Kerrang! likes to depict the best they have to offer from the world of rock and metal music. Here, they have choses to place: Biters, Roam, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Sum 41 in front of their hardcore fanbase. Kerrang! itself has become the UK’s biggest selling weekly music magazine, beating the likes of NME and Q.

Sum 41 return to the headline slot after having to cancel their original plans to headline in 2012, due to an injury to Deryck Whibley. Sum 41 suffer from the disease of only being known for that one song, ‘Fat Lip.’ Yes, that is their most famous song and is played in clubs and parties across the world, but they are so much better than that. They have collaborated with the likes of Iggy Pop and Tenacious D over their 20 year stint and have sold over 12 million records. 2016 sees the band celebrating their 20th year in existence. They also want to showcase their newer material, mixed in with their well known classics ‘In Too Deep’, ‘Still Waiting’ and ‘Fat Lip’.

Biters are first up. The rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, entertained the crowd well. Although many had not arrived yet, those who were there sure enjoyed what was showcased. Comprised of Tuk Smth, Joey O’Brien, Philip Anthony and Matt Gabs, the group have received praise from the likes of Nikki Sixx and Motley Crue and have also been described by Classic Rock Magazine as a, “Bite – sized slice of retro rock’ n’ roll debauchery.” They certainly have the flamboyance of their predecessors, but that is not a negative at all.

ROAM take to the stage next. They were energetic to say the least. Their most notable songs: Warning Sign and Deadweight, pleased the ever growing crowd. They seem to be more comfortable playing on this slightly raised stage, the energy on display is admirable and they performed like they were the headline slot, which is good to see as many bands can be disgruntled and held back when they are placed as a support band.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes now. Frank Carter is genuinely one of the nicest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, he completely changes on stage though. He’s energetic and animalistic; at one point he jumped from the stage and parted the crowd like a rock ‘n’ roll Moses, performing some of his song from the middle of a self made mosh pit. He smirks and announces, “We are Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and we are your new favourite band.” Their performance can certainly back up this claim, it is fairly often that bands make this claim, then perform in a way that cannot justify it, but Frank knows he has the ability to stick to his claim.

Sum 41 time. The crowd are at a fever pitch, it is noted that Manchester has had the record number of crowd surfers of the whole tour and the band are revelling in this. It is like they have boarded a time machine back to 2001 and ‘Fat Lip’ has just been released. The crowd are in awe of the band and sing a long to classics such as ‘Motivation’, ‘Summer’, ‘In Too Deep’ and, of course, ‘Fat Lip’. Even the newer songs go over well, it is risky to play newer songs on a tour like this, but like Bloc Party on the NME tour, the newer material is displayed well and the crowd are loving seeing the band they love so much back. 20 years have not aged the band at all, the sound is still fresh and pop-punk is still alive and well. The crowd leave the Albert Hall on a high and cannot wait to hear more from them in the future.