OF MICE AND MEN // ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER

CALIFORNIAN METALCORE OUTFIT HELD MANCHESTER IN THE PALM OF THEIR HANDS

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Manchester Academy 2 has been the venue for numerous notable performances; however, few have equalled the emotional intensity delivered by the Californian metalcore quartet Of Mice And Men. The band aimed to transform the city's atmosphere into a therapeutic experience, demonstrating their enduring relevance after fifteen years and distinguishing themselves within the metalcore genre.

Of Mice & Men wasted no time when they hit the stage, kicking off with their new single “Another Miracle.” It was so fresh that Manchester was hearing it live for the first time. Next came “Feels Like Forever” and “Would You Still Be There,” which quickly got the crowd singing and raising their phones in unison. “Wake Up” and “You Make Me Sick” followed in quick succession, each song sending more fans over the barrier. So much so that security barely had time to breathe or react to the wave! Aaron Pauley’s soaring cleans matched perfectly with Tino Arteaga’s powerful double-kicks, while Phil Manansala’s sharp riffs cut through the haze. From the start, it was clear this would be seventy minutes of nonstop intensity.

The middle segment of the evening was marked by brutality, as tracks such as “Obsolete,” “Another You,” and “Back to Me” unleashed further relentlessness. The debut UK performance of “Flowers” heightened the atmosphere, its live introduction adding excitement and novelty. Amid this intensity, “Troubled Water,” a rare deep cut that shifted the mood to nostalgic connection for dedicated fans who knew every verse. The drive soared with “O.G. Loko,” showing the Academy 2’s full capacity for movement, and when “Second & Sebring” appeared on the floor, expectation gave way to a profound emotional release in a united voice of grief and gratitude.

The night concluded with “Bones Exposed,” a prose that perpetually threatened to tear itself apart, where an encore was not needed. When the house lights illuminated the room, a deep sense of liberation was almost palpable, as if steam were emanating from the collective release of emotion just itching to be let out. Of Mice & Men continue to push boundaries by blending timeless classics with their most innovative material while maintaining a distinct ferocity at a time when many legacy metalcore acts rely on nostalgia.