VOLA with Charlotte Wessels and The Intersphere – The Club Academy Manchester – 26th November 2024
28th November 2024
The Intersphere Photo courtesy of McKenzie Jones Videography & Photography for All About The Rock
It’s been a while since I last got to see VOLA I think the last time was when they headlined Rebellion in 2022. But, with the release of their new album ‘Friend of A Phantom’, it was the perfect chance to go and see them again.
This time headlining Club Academy is supported by The Intersphere and Charlotte Wessels. Who are VOLA exactly? VOLA are a Danish progressive metal band that started in 2006 and currently comprises of Danish musicians Asger Mygind, Martin Werner, and Nicolai Mogensen playing guitar/vocals, keyboard, and bass respectively. Rounding off the lineup is Swedish drummer Adam Janzi.
This show comes not long after their previous show in Manchester when they performed at RADAR Festival but this is the first time they have played Manchester since the release of the new album which came out on the 1st of November. Before I got down to the show I bumped into a friend who I found out was also attending the show. He was going to see the first support band The Intersphere (who I must admit I had not heard of until this evening) and gave them high praise. I managed to catch the back end of their sound check and from just that I was already interested in how their set would go.
Charlotte Wessels Photo courtesy of McKenzie Jones Videography & Photography for All About The Rock
They opened the set up with ‘Wanderer’ showcasing lead singer Christoph Hessler’s vocals with a slower opening before kicking things in with a powerful chorus. I have to give mention to drummer Moritz Müller who stole the show in this set with some of the tightest live drumming I have seen in a while. The set had an intensity that did not want to stop once it started and continued throughout the six-song set and paired with a crowd that definitely started to get into it as the set went on. I wish we got to see a little bit more of their performance as the set for me ended just as everyone really started to get into it so I do believe that with a longer set, they could really deliver a stand-out show.
I do have to admit as much as I love VOLA I wish this could have been a co-headline tour. Charlotte Wessels is someone I was unfamiliar with however I knew of her work in Delain so had an idea of what to expect from her set. Opening up with a slow build and instrumental as the band took to the stage to open the set with ‘Chasing Sunsets’.
Charlotte Wessels Photo courtesy of McKenzie Jones Videography & Photography for All About The Rock
Charlotte delivered a stage presence that only she could bring that entire night. Whilst that might have been down to an incredibly well-placed wind machine (which led to some badass photos) it can’t be denied for a crowd that didn’t have the familiarity to her songs as they did for VOLA in the evening, she was able to get them behind her and led the 9 song set with everyone behind her.
The shout of one crowd member saying ‘Welcome Back Charlotte’ should be enough to show that she found a home in Manchester during this set. Manchester would be welcomed back with open arms for a headline tour of her own at some point down the line. I have to also mention the song that closed out the show ‘The Exorcism’. I’ve had this on loop since the show and that’s for nothing but good reasons. Her energy on the song was incredible especially in her screams to close out the track but the band can’t be ignored either. All of them played tight and elevated her vocals with some incredible instrumentals throughout the set and makes me truly wonder what a headline set would be like from her.
VOLA Photo courtesy of McKenzie Jones Videography & Photography for All About The Rock
Closing out the night was of course the mighty VOLA. I remember seeing them a couple of years ago and they brought their own lighting with them and created a really cool visual presence on stage that paired perfectly with their music. Well, they brought it back again just with even more this time. Opening with the chilling ‘I don’t know how we got here’ and some matrix-style falling lights the stage was set for them to put on a show. And they delivered on that promise. They kicked straight into that trademark VOLA sound with ‘We Will Not Disband’ and brought things back to ‘Witness’ with ‘Stone Leader Falling Down’ and ‘These Black Claws’ back to back for a really strong four-song opening. The band promised to not only play the new stuff but also their old stuff delivering three songs from their debut album Inmazes which was great to see as part of the setlist. One of the things I was interested to see was how they performed ‘Cannibal’ live without ‘In Flames’ lead singer Anders Fridén. I had seen in some of their shows they had guest singers come out to do his vocals including Charlotte Wessels two days prior at the Nottingham show.
VOLA Photo courtesy of McKenzie Jones Videography & Photography for All About The Rock
However it was left up to Asger to carry out the honors and he killed the vocals and was amazing to see him perform it. The highlight of the set had to go to ‘24 Light-Years’ with the crowd stealing the show joining for the vocals and the song truly is one that is great on the record but incredible to hear live. They are a band that I will almost guarantee to attempt to watch whenever they come to Manchester and I can’t wait to see how they perform at Download Festival next year. But for my only real complaint about the show to be wishing we got to see even more of the bands, I think it’s safe to say that they put on a show to remember.
