For those of us with a birth year beginning with nineteen, we will continue to gaslight ourselves into believing the late ’80s were recent history. Unfortunately for our fragile egos and bodies, it was an awfully long time ago. But when a double headline of Biohazard and Life Of Agony hit the O2 Ritz Manchester, this was a much-needed reminder of why they both gained their fandom in the first place.
Biohazard – Life Of Agony – LYLVC
O2 Ritz Manchester – 5 March 2025
Words: Matt Pratt
Photography: Dominic Beaven
It seems commonplace, nearly 40 years later, to see musical disciplines overlap and intertwine. However, in the latter part of the last century, genres such as rap and Metal were as alien to one another as rival gangs.
Fiercely guarded by their own cults of fanhood, it would seem almost inconceivable the two could exist in the same space harmoniously, but with their shared interest in antiestablishmentarianism and hardcore fundamentals it was only a matter of time before a band like Biohazard popped up.
Biohazard
Biohazard have seen a number of comings and goings in the membership department over the years but are back to the lineup, which found them fame for this return to our humble shores.
For a band so vocal about injustice, it seems the perfectly imperfect time for Biohazard to make their return. The band took to the stage through a wall of noise. You get the impression that their fanbase has not changed since the ’90s and there were few in the room this evening who appeared to be at their first Biohazard show.
Biohazard rallied the reception with a gloomy roar of guitar and guttural lyrics, the guitarist whirling about on stage in a display of energy fitting for a crowd of such ferocity. It was tough to distinguish which vocals were coming from the speakers and which were coming from the crowd, as the audience growled back with mirrored confidence and power. The support’s dedication proves exactly why Biohazard are still visiting some of our larger venues. 
The four-piece raced through their established back catalogue to a roaring reception. Hits such as Shades Of Grey, Black And White And Red All Over, and Love Denied were blasted back at them from the bouncing audience.
The band even found time for a special treat, a cover of Bad Religion’s We’re Only Gonna Die. They bounded into the popular track only to grind to a halt after mere seconds. They heckled the crowd that London had shown a much more impactful reaction and that they had been talking ill of Manchester, a surefire way to rile a northern audience.
Their second attempt was met with a much greater fire and was played out in full, this time to rapturous applause on completion. 
While Biohazard may not be the first band you hear on the radio, nor the one that occupies your ‘for you’ page on TikTok, it is clear that the loyal support that they have founded has not, and will not, waiver.
The show felt as though it should reaffirm the band’s place in the world, that what they do is appreciated deeply by those who love them. If a future return to the UK was in doubt prior to this tour, I hope that Biohazard believe now, as I do, that any visit at any time would be gladly received.
Life Of Agony
As if a headline tour with Biohazard would not have been enough, tonight we are graced with two headliners, with the second in the form of Life Of Agony. The band, which celebrates a style of Metal much more traditionally recognised, have been around for a similar length of time as Biohazard and will surely have been intimately familiar with their touring buddies long before this evening. 
The support for the Brooklyn band was not dissimilar for their fellow headliners, with riotous onlookers bouncing and moshing to the timeless hits of an experienced outfit.
It was interesting to notice a lack of crowdsurfers for either of the headline acts. Given the energy being displayed, it seemed an absolute certainty we would see a few pop over the barriers, but none were to be seen this evening.
Musically, Life Of Agony were tight, with instruments presenting loud and vibrant and plenty of on-stage energy to match them. It was noticeable that lead singer Caputo was somewhat more erratic than usual, and on the select moments in which he addressed the crowd, he made lukewarm comments, which were met with uncomfortable replies.
Fortunately, the small talk was kept to a minimum as they let their unrestrained brand of Metal do most of the talking.
It has been an interesting few weeks for Life Of Agony. The band has become wrapped up in controversy following comments from their enigmatic frontman, Caputo. They will have approached this tour in the hope of making the music the focal point of what they do once again, and they have certainly shown that.
With their back catalogue sounding as good now as in the grungy early ’90s, the Life Of Agony have turned back the clock and given their long-enduring support a much-needed reminder of why they gained their fandom in the first place.
LYLVC
Opening the night for the Metal Legends was a wonderful example of the diversity that has grown out of the scene since the ’90s. Throwing traditional rock band composition to the wind, LYLVC boasts not one, but two vocalists to deliver their rambunctious brand of Nu-Metal.
Their lineup even features a synth player, something that at one time would feel borderline illegal in the Metal scene. Leaning on vibrant electronic interludes and the snappy chug of their guitar, their full sound was at ease in the sizable venue. 
LYLVC threw every ounce of their energy into the set, the many members ducking and weaving around one another, banging their heads and pulling vicious faces at the early onlookers. Whilst every member was giving it their absolute most, the one member of the band that you could not help but notice was Gillette, the synth player. The lively musician was thrusting his instrument about the stage as if it were made from cardboard. One wonders why he even bothered attaching legs to it!
The sextet present a sound stylistically similar to that of Linkin Park in structure, with melodic vocals paired with rhythmic raps and guttural screams from the vocalists Zavala and Romero and electronically padded rock music to back it up.
With that being said, LYLVC display a sound with far more venom than the Nu-Metal pioneers and behave as such, grasping each other on stage as though they are about to brawl. The set was engaging, exciting and confidently executed. However it was presented to a meagre audience, possibly in part due to how different their style was to the headline band.
Should the band return to our shores, accompanying a band more in line with their sound, or even for their own headline tour, they would be sure to attract a stronger audience, which their level of performance strongly deserves.
