Born of Osiris Prove Their Staying Power in Manchester

Manchester was primed for absolute music carnage, as Born of Osiris brought their latest tour to the city, fronting a bill that read like a deathcore fan’s dream. With Within Destruction, Aversions Crown and Larcenia Roe stacked prior to their gig, this was less of a warm-up-and-headliner affair and more of a carefully curated ascent into controlled chaos, each band ratcheting the intensity up another notch. From the opening moment, the room crackled with anticipation, bodies packed tight and an understanding that this was going to be a physically demanding night.

Arriving a little late meant missing Larcenia Roe, making Aversions Crown the first band I caught. Sonically, they were tight and punishing, with Alex Teyen’s vocals cutting through the room with impressive control, every guttural landing clean and deliberate. There was a sense of appreciation coming from the stage too, with the band clearly taking in the sight of a packed Manchester crowd. Despite being an Australian outfit, Teyen drew laughs and a few knowing cheers when he joked about being “from the North of England, I’m just like you”, bringing a moment of levity in an otherwise crushing set. The pit did open up, as expected, but participation was surprisingly sparse. Still, Aversions Crown delivered a solid, no-frills performance that did exactly what an opening slot should: hit hard and set the tone.

Within Destruction were, for me, the clear standout of the night, with a set that felt fully realised and endlessly engaging. They had everything working in their favour: blistering heaviness balanced with melody, clean vocals delivered flawlessly by guitarist Howard Fang and the magnetic stage presence of frontman Rok Rupnik who commanded attention from the very start. The band brought a seamless back-and-forth between vocal styles as well as subtle rap-inflected rhythms and playful nods to J-pop and anime culture. Within Destruction delivered a set that proved why they’re a compelling and forward-thinking force in modern heavy music.

By the time Born of Osiris took the stage, the room felt fully primed for impact. Opening with ‘Bow Down’, they hit Manchester with immediate force, with the pit erupting almost on cue. It was clear that this was a band in complete control, and every technical flourish and crushing breakdown was executed with the confidence that only comes from years of refinement. Mid-set highlight Inverno showcased that balance perfectly, blending precision, atmosphere and heaviness in a way that kept eyes locked on the stage. What unfolded was less a standard headline set and more a masterclass in modern metalcore, delivered by a band with over two decades under their belt and nothing left to prove except that they can still level a room when it counts.

All in all, Born of Osiris’ Manchester date delivered exactly what a stacked bill like this promised – and then some. From the punishing precision of Aversions Crown, through the genre-blurring brilliance of Within Destruction, to a headlining set that felt like a veteran band flexing every ounce of their experience, the night was a showcase of just how broad and exciting modern heavy music can be.