All Hail The Yeti, Manchester Academy 3, 12/02/15
Connor Garritty says the highlight of this current tour is simply the tour itself. 'We've never been here before', he tells me. 'Every day it's something new. It's surreal.'
Connor is the frontman for Hollywood metal outfit All Hail The Yeti, who are in the UK for the first time on tour with 36 Crazyfists, and, it seems, are loving every second.
This is certainly reflected in their live performance. The band exude a monstrous presence onstage, Garritty coming out with mic in hand, standing on a wooden box with an upside down cross on it, arms raised to either side like some unholy Messiah as the crowd clamours and stands entranced by this band that, on questioning some of the crowd later, few had ever heard of before.
This seems set to change. AHTY has already seen comparisons to some huge names in metal, including Pantera and Lamb Of God, and it's not hard to see why. Garritty's guttural, tortured vocals and the violent, moody subject matter of his lyrics echoes and even trumps the darkest visions ever committed to tape by Phil Anselmo, and the way their show is put together is pitch perfect, complete with encroaching background recordings of what sounds like wind whistling, church bells and chanted mantras that all comes together to deliver something that sounds like it's fallen out of the most notorious of horror films.
Musically, AHTY does not disappoint. A heavy influence from Southern metal bands such as Down can be seen a mile off, the guitars menacing and tuned low, and the drumming... Let's talk about the drumming. Glendon Crain's fierce, relentless assault on his drum kit is a force to be reckoned with. The only drummer I've come across lately who does anything like what Crain does is Brad Fickeisen of Trap Them. Overall, it's a stunning display of all-out, unapologetic war and it's to be hoped the UK sees much, much more of this band. They're building a new church for the future of heavy metal. So bow down. Worship. All Hail The Yeti.