SKYND (w/ Zetra) Invite Fans at Manchester Academy 2 into Their Macabre World [Photos]

It would have been a far easier task to hand deliver a ring to the fiery depths of Mordor on foot than it was to get to and from Manchester for the Skynd show with all the road closures and traffic congestion – but it wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable or worthwhile.

Traffic woes aside, getting to the Academy with moments to spare to catch openers Zetra was perfect timing. They are a duo from London who, in black robes and corpse paint, look like a gothic Pet Shop Boys. Their sound is heavy, fuzzy and with soaring hypnotic vocals and an eighties synthesizer, creates an alluring soundscape that makes you lose track of time and get lost in the music.

Headliners SKYND have been on the radar for a while now, with absolutely nobody having a bad word to say about them, and they have garnered a rabidly faithful group of fans who were out in force. Having missed Bloodstock this year (read our review here), and a chance to see them on a big stage it wasn’t until now the chance to catch them had arisen.

With an eerie intro, they took the stage to begin their crime-infused storytelling set. Covering mass shootings, serial killers and their victims, the subject material is inherently dark, and Skynd’s voice, the kind gifted by the Devil in exchange for a soul, is incredible. With an unbelievable range and immaculate delivery, mixed with manipulations and recorded audio from the vaults of the cases they cover, the whole vibe is disturbing and powerful.

With only simple and polite thankyous in between songs, there’s not much in the way of interaction with the crowd, yet Skynd truly is the most captivating band I’ve seen all year.

“Jim Jones” was a powerful industrial bodyslam of a track, and “Columbine,” with its Die Antwoord-esque vocals, is another highlight, amongst many. Every single song/story was engaging, putting the grim and gory details into catchy, memorable soundbites, leaving you wanting to descend down the serial killer rabbit hole and discover more about each of them.

Skynd is the perfect band for anyone with a penchant for the dark and macabre.

Skynd (w/ Zetra) @ Academy 2 (Manchester, UK) on November 30th, 2023

43 photos