LIVE FROM THE PIT: Paledusk, Knosis, Greyhaven and Headwreck

If there were a competition for the most outlandish act on tonight’s roster, every band would be a strong contender. In the high rafters of Manchester Academy 3, a quartet of genre-defying acts fronted by Japanese metal headbangers PALEDUSK promise an electrifying evening set to shock and stun. As maestros of chaos, they set the standard tour with Japanese metalcore titans KNOSIS, mathrock heavyweights GREYHAVEN and Australian newblood openers HEADWRECK. Together, they effortlessly champion the future of alternative music, a stellar showcase with most of the acts from the other side of the world - one that Europe is only just waking up to. 

HEADWRECK have only a month in Europe to make a name for themselves.  They’ve picked an impressive schedule, picking up supporting shows with THROWN before making a damaging final statement at Download. Still, people came down early to see the metalcore outfit for their second show outside of Australia. Announcing their signing to Empire (the same label that launched the careers of KENDRICK LAMAR and ANDERSON PAAK) earlier that day, the band swaggered through their hits in an attitude-era style fashion. A respectable mosh pit opened up during the course of their metalcore-infused set, resulting in plenty more fans and OOR’s undivided attention. 

GREYHAVEN arrived shortly after with full-frontal screams and no-nonsense guitar riffs, the same kind that dazzled in their latest release, 2025’s Keep It Quiet. Out of the lineup, they felt the most out of place, grounded within the band's post-hardcore edge. Amongst the electronica-heavy statement pieces from the other artists that evening, GREYHAVEN’s set focused on their fast and emotive sentiment, but lost its meaning through how the sound carried in the venue, as all the tracks seemed to blur into one. This did not tamper with the emotion from the band, which was clearly felt by the band it was playing to. This set was made possible by the people who came for them, rather than the new fans who came to see PALEDUSK.

KNOSIS vocalist Ryo Kinoshita is brutal, throwing punches into the air as he swings the final blow on an impressive breakdown. The ferocity brought on their debut record, Genknosis, was not just a point of reinvention for the ex-CRYSTAL LAKE frontman, but a demonstration of a creative force on the rise. His legacy, brought with this touring crew, seemed to decimate the crowded stage, launching himself headfirst into the pit to get acquainted with the fast-moving horde of sweaty pitters. He certainly has lost the new band awkwardness that came with his first European supporting slot with STRAY FROM THE PATH, over two years ago. This set came with a wild and insatiated hunger for more trips to the UK, as a hidden gem of the Japanese heavy scene. 

PALEDUSK are the rising voice in Japanese metalcore. Reaching beyond the scene’s heavy conventions, they strive for constant experimentation to create a full, maximalist sound. When it came to releasing their latest self-titled record, this uncompromising sound has sent them stratospheric, a far cry from their 2024 opening slot with POLARIS, the last time the band were in the UK. Whilst the band fully stands on its own, success could also be seen in guitarist DaiDai’s producing credits, including assisting BRING ME THE HORIZON with a hefty chunk of Post Human: Next Gen.

In Manchester, DaiDai pushes himself to the front of the stage to perform a gravity-defying guitar solo. Pushing the neck of the guitar to the base of his spiky, bleached hair, he feels the full emotion of the moment as he works his way around the tight note progressions he’s created. Guitarist Tsubasa, or “Two”, helps him find the rhythm, pacing energetically around the back of the stage. Bob, the drummer, assists as he pushes back into a rather complicated drum fill, as vocalist Kaito looks enthusiastically at the large crowd in front of him, ready to pick up the pace as the chorus of No Way.

The set focussed itself on their most recent self-titled record, opting for a lighter first act and then plunging into the heavier second half. Spoilt for choice with material, the band throws in fan favourites Slay and Palehell to keep up the energy. Whilst there was not much of a pit, the band’s impressive skills on stage were highly enjoyable; it was a set to lose yourself in the intricacies of the band’s complex performance style. Centring the finale on an epic Black Parade-esque moment with I’m Sorry, the lights dip to wait for a two-song encore. PALEDUSK don’t just know how to play; they come with composition, which makes them one of the most understated bands in metal. On their UK three-date tour, they don’t just prove this; they make a statement with style. 

Words: Amber Brooks

Photos: Izzy Sheldon