The Ghost Inside - O2 Ritz Manchester
It’s a Saturday night, the week is done and it’s finally time to blow off steam. Tonight at the O2 Ritz in Manchester that’s equally what people are down to do. Tonight, all the way from Florida, The Ghost Inside are at the venue for a healthy dose of metalcore to set Saturday night off in a big way. Supports tonight are Boundaries and the mighty Gideon.
Taking to the stage first tonight is 5 piece metalcore band Boundaries. The band have been in the scene for a few years now but following a few difficult years and with the release of 2024 album, “Death is Little More”, the band are really starting to gain traction. Boundaries waste no time in getting some movement in the room, hitting the crowd with an onslaught of vicious vocals and pounding drums. By mid set the circle pit was wide open and moving, buts its not just off stage that there’s movement. On stage, the band are just as energetic, moving around the stage and making use of the risers. It’s a fast paced set which doesn’t slow down at any point making for an enjoyable opening set.
Second on tonight, coming all the way from Alabama, is Gideon. Don’t let their southern cowboy look fool you, these guys are metalcore through and through. Unlike the other bands playing tonight their music strays from the usual metalcore fit of mixing melodic vocals and screams and opts for aggressive punchy vocals throughout. Taking to the stage in snake skin boots they start as they mean to go on, hitting the crowd with bouncing bass and slick crunching riffs. Vocalist, Daniel McWhorter, makes it his mission to keep the energy high in the room, frequently interacting with the crowd asking for more crowd surfers and more circle pits; as he asks, the crowd provides. In terms of music, the best way to describe them would be the cowboy equivalent of Malevolence, sharing similar stage presence and sound. Stand out moments are ‘Take Off’ and ‘More Power. More Pain’ which both get a huge reaction from the crowd. Ending the set on a high the band leave to ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman’ playing loud over the speakers.
Tonight’s headliners are a band who’ve come a very long way since the beginning of their career, overcoming many obstacles including a tragic accident which only made the band stronger. Tonight The Ghost Inside are in Manchester in support of their latest album ‘Searching For Solace’. After delivering one of the best sets of the weekend at Slam Dunk back in May its great to see the band returning to the UK on a headline tour. Starting the set off with ‘Death Grip’ is a great choice, as soon as the vocals kick in the crowd are shouting them back. With such a strong back catalogue its an interesting choice to kick things off with a song from the new album, however, the pay off is worth the risk. By the third song the band are aiming to show the older fans they haven’t forgotten about them by taking things back to 2012 with a rip roaring play through of ‘The Great Unknown’; something that is more than well received by the crowd.
Something that stands out during tonights set is the contrast between the old and new songs. You can really tell the difference between the two and how the band have embraced a similar sound to the newer generation of metalcore, but thats not a bad thing. Its shows a band who have grown over the years and who are keen to move forward rather than playing it safe and sticking with their old sound. Its also great to see how the fans respond throughout the set, with songs both old and new getting equal measures of excitement and respect.
The Ghost Inside power through their set with confidence and intensity but underneath the brutal screams and thrashing riffs is a strong message of hope and perseverance remains strong throughout, delivered to the crowd through charismatic vocalist Jonathan Vigil. His vocal range is truly impressive and his delivery of the lyrics through powerful screams and melodic cleans is something many vocalists simply cannot compete with. As the set draws to an end the band finish strong with ‘Engine 45’ giving the room one final burst chance to blow off some steam and burn off that remaining energy. Tonights set proves The Ghost Inside are band not to be missed and after many years, are still at the top of their game.
