Body Count roll mercilessly through Manchester and leave nothing in their wake. Should we have expected anything less from the LA mob?
SLOPE
A quick intro and Slope fly into WHY SO SAD. It is clear that the band are a tight unit. The bass and drums merge superbly as they roll around the Ritz.
Rage Against The Machine is a clear reference point for the German outfit. There are flecks of thrash and punk that punctuate the grooves.
It’s Tickin’ is a set highlight – there is definitely an early Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe going on. With the crowd already close to capacity, Slope have a real chance to showcase their musical wares.
They rattle through plenty of their punchy tracks in their thirty minute slot. Thanks is offered to the audience who gradually grow into the set.
Talk Big goes heavy on the wah-wah and is the most in your face funk groove the band lay down. It is a sound straight out of the early 90’s. The terrace style chorus is delivered by all the band and Manchester is starting to move.
A quick for the bands show in London is October is given as the band twist and turn through tempo changes and light and dark colours. You can imagine that Slope, with their own crowd, would go off. They are a great warm up for Body Count and finish their job well.
BODY COUNT
There is a palpable excitement in the air as Rage Against The Machine blares out of the PA. Body Count and Ice T have earned their legendary status over the years and Manchester can’t wait for the drop.
Blue and red lights swirl as the band make their entrance. Ernie C is in all red and ready to shred. Body Count’s In The House killer opening riff lights the touch paper and Ice T makes his entrance introducing the band.
This band have always paid homage and had great respect for metal music. Raining Blood gets the pulse level up. Whilst Ernie C is nailing the solo, pint pots fly as the crowd get busy. Ice T throws water over crowd during the solo – it’s gonna be one of those nights.
A one-two from the debut record in Bowels Of The Devil and There Goes The Neighbourhood close an opening quartet of songs in blistering fashion. The crowd chant along with the ‘Back Door’ chants in the latter whilst the guitars duel together.
MERCILESS
“Manchester came to play!” announces Ice T. “It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you motherfuckers’ – these are the last two shows of the tour. We’ve saved the UK for the end ‘cos you guys always get busy.”
Body Count are touring and road testing new material from their forthcoming album, Merciless. We’ve already been given Psychopath which features Joe Bad from Fit For An Autopsy. Ice T dons a head covering giving him the look of a psycho killer. The mock murder of band members is comical but the song is not. It cuts like a knife.
Another new cut is The Purge; inspired by the film of the same name. It is a tuned down monster of a song. There are all the signature sounds of Body Count as thrashy sections break down into hard and horrifying verses. Vincent Price, Body Count’s bassist, offers vocals on the track. It certainly whips up the appetite for new Body Count material.
The collective are active and energetic all over the stage and in the crowd. There are heavy pits and multiple stage divers and crowd surfers. A dangerous and, ‘off the hook,’ feeling fills the air.
POINT THE FINGER
Point The Finger goes out to Riley Gale; the sadly departed Power Trip singer. Ice T comments that it might have been the last song he recorded before his untimely death. Horns are pointed at the sky in memory of the brilliant singer.
“One of my biggest messages over the last 35 years has always been, ‘Fuck racism,’” announces the enigmatic Ice T. It tees up No Lives Matter from 2017’s Bloodlust record. The message is pertinent and one that is, has, and always will be vital. The crowd clap along with bass solo and the atmosphere jumps up a notch.
Paying homage once more. Body Count rip through an Exploited medley that gets the OG punks moving. Drive By sees heightened and unrelenting action in the mosh pit. Manchester is bringing the heat tonight.
Another cautionary tale comes as Ice T invites a young punter on stage to offer anti-bullying advice. “You got an Uncle Ice, now!” Talk Shit, Get Shot sees said punter parading around the stage and eventually launching himself into the crowd. Manchester is more than happy to respond to the ‘Talk Shit…GET SHOT,’ chant.
To round off a main set before the encore, we get the infamous Cop Killer. It’s the song that put Body Count on the map back in the day, such was the controversy. It is still hard as nails and sees the crowd going wild. The sweaty mess of Mancunians is lit up as the song ends and the band throw out some merch.
THIS IS WHY WE RIDE
A ‘virtual’ encore ensues. Ice T explains that they’ll put the lights down, the crowd will cheer, and they’ll carry on!
Born Dead opens up the encore. It is another poignant track that bludgeons the senses. It laments the injustice of the world then; but it is once again, a message that is still so vital. Ice T asks for a worldwide ceasefire and the crowd agree. Fists and horns are once again raised as Body Count hit the home straight.
It’s a home straight that sees the band airing This Is Why We Ride. Ernie C gets to channel his inner Eddie Hazel / Maggot Brain as he wails on the six string. It might be a tad more downtempo but it is no less impactful. It is more reflective.
Body Count is very much alive in 2024; over thirty years since their inception. Ice T is 66 years old; he still goes hard. We will wait for Merciless with bated breath. The pits are tough, the energy is charged, the riffs are hard, the messages are vital, the perception is real; Body Count are an awesome band.
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