LIVE FROM THE PIT: Faetooth and Cwfen

Manchester’s Star and Garter always finds a way to feel like the center of the universe, and Wednesday was no different. The venue played host to a night of unmistakable sonic alchemy finding room for Cwfen, a four piece occult metal outfit from Glasgow and LA’s fairy doom juggernauts Faetooth who entered the UK with a raw, eerie vengeance that, of course, could be felt throughout Manchester. With their sound being a dark mix artists like King Woman, Frayle and SubRosa, everyone could understand why the huge line of fans span out the door and spilled out into the street.

It wasn’t just another run of the mill metal gig though. It marked itself as Cwfen’s first ever Manchester performance and Faetooth’s long-overdue arrival to northern UK stages, especially fresh off their new single ‘White Noise’. For metal lovers, it felt like a ritualistic merging, one band stepping into the ring with everything to prove, the other already swinging from the rafters having shared stages with artists like Skloss, Troy The Band and even Sunrot.

Cwfen (pronounced “Covern”) opened for the night with a set of twisted occult metal emphasising that dirty gothic grime. Their name might evoke a bit of secrecy and ritual, but there was nothing at all subtle about their entrance as they clearly climbed on stage with the intent to make ears bleed and bodies fall through the floor. Armed with their brand new album ‘Sorrows’, they came out of the gate swinging and laid down the thunderous first verse of ‘Rite’. The crowd began swelling with latecomers rushing up the stairs, pints in tow. Ribcages rattled beneath denim in the crowd, pints started to spill and the band followed with hallowing and deadly screeches.

Frenzies of applause rang out as they slipped into the next track ‘Reliks’. It clocked in at 82bpm, but definitely held that intensity they’re known for. Grounded, gravel-like tones poured from the speakers, speaking a language the crowd couldn’t get enough of. Bouncing low ends, each chord tight enough to create a glue the crowd couldn’t unstick from their eyes. 

The rest of their set consisted of steady snares ringing out like gunshots burning up the air around them. ‘Whispers’, ‘Penance’ and ‘Embers’ caused mixed vibrations from the high and low ends that could untie your shoelaces only for you to trip over head and heels for this band’s dirty death defying soul chewing metal progressions. When asked what they thought about their performance, all they had was 3 simple words. “Sweaty, Beautiful, MESS!”. It was hard to get enough, but people knew what was coming. 

Hailing from Los Angeles, formed in 2019, Faetooth. Definitely not your typical doom metal band. Walking the line between ethereal and brutal, combining true sludge and shoegaze into something others refer to as ‘fairy doom’. With their latest release ‘White Noise’ in tow, the treacherous trio finally brought their mystical wrath to Manchester. 

The venue space had become overrun with cheer, whistles and boozed up die-hard fans. Opening up with a long, deep bass swell to introduce ‘White Noise’ twisting the room’s atmosphere before ramping up into a glacial, face melting chorus of chaos. Look over and Rah’s punishing cymbal work had hair flying and heads rolling, blowing wigs and newcomers to Faetooth up, up, up and away. 

By ‘Remains’, Faetooth’s sonic fog had everyone by the throats. Teeth rattling, subterranean rumbles echoed from each corner of the room as Jenna shouted “How we doing Salford?”. A boom of fans bellowing out, before the band kicking it into gear, adding to their already monstrous aura, dropping to their knees and executing every note and even smoothly transitioning into their next track.

The crowd didn’t even have a chance to pick up their slacked jaws before being thrust into another Faetooth classic. Only their most played track ‘Echolalia’ causing necks to stretch and strain to the devastating beat those three were supplying. Verses melodic, almost a calm before the storm that is this track’s chorus. Floors literally shook, ear drums leaving the venue and just when you thought they peaked, one final floor shattering scream to round things off. Only to be met by some obsessed fan screaming “WE, LOVE YOU” as the song faded to silence. 

Faetooth’s performance was nothing short of awakening. Not just another stop on a tour, but a full blown sonic seance. Their connection to the audience was magnetic, spiritual, and punishingly loud. Comparisons to acts like Windhand or My Bloody Valentine feel warranted, but not quite complete. Faetooth are truly carving a space of their own.

Words: James Smith

Photos: Jack Walsh