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Absalom and Animal Omens at 'We Are Listening' - Rebellion, Manchester.

'We Are Listening' was organised to raise money for Music Minds Matter. The event was held in memory of Alistair McDonald and Callum Clarke, Manchester students who committed suicide last year. A large variety of bands, stalls and activities were arranged to offer support and help raise awareness for mental health issues. I had the pleasure and opportunity to contribute a donation and attend for two of the acts from the loud lineup.


Absalom


Absalom's blasts were pumping from the moment I stepped in the room. Despite the band's absence on music platforms and social media, they have a sound worth sharing. I briefly had the chance to commend the lead guitarist, Stephen Brown on his insane finger work. The head vocalist and front man had a high energy, punk spirit and went for gold with every scream and growl that graced the chugs and blows of the metal and hardcore instrumentation. Those beat downs wanted to disrupt the deep sleep of my far overslept two-step. It was an evident reminder that I'm not attending enough hardcore gigs these days. But with too many valuables and business to conduct, I remained tame. This kind of music connects with people of whom it tends to matter significantly. It's a fuel to relight the fire inside of you. It's an outlet for pent up stress, energy and emotion amongst others who relate to those struggles and have felt the same resonance that you have with this corner of intellectual property. It isn't hate or fight music. It's love music. Absalom shared the love that day.


 

Animal Omens



Animal Omens are the band I came to really dig my paws into. Lead singer and guitarist, Joe Shalter displayed confidence with his high octane and wide vocal range. Jem Renshaw's bass lines were precise, creative and fun. As a collective they take influences from a wide spectrum of hard rock. I remember elements of Nirvana and Muse being fused but they have plenty more to offer when it comes to influences. Half time slams are always a winner. Their songs had stories with a clarity that helps you connect to their intentions and comprehend the firm of their metal. Their song 'Spaceships' really encompassed the meaning and loving intentions of the event and also gives insight into Animal Omens' own experience and take on the ever-concerning topic of mental health. The chorus,


'I don’t give a fuck about being someone else

Even though I’m not perfect myself

No one is more perfect than themselves

It’s the best they can be'.


They were blunt, but honest and loving. These are notions that resonated through their entire set and that warmth of heart was shared with every witness in the room.


 

After the set I found Renshaw's right hand to pull and shake. We arranged to have a Q&A. Here's what I managed to pluck from the thrashy three.


Your ability to relate to the event with a track of your own, 'Spaceships' impressed me. It was a great tap in to the cause of the day while enriching your set, which was full of music that conveys those emotions so well. What was your initial inspiration for this song?


The song spaceships is about negative self absorption and how someone struggling with mental health issues or substance addiction that causes mental health issues can end up hating themselves or becoming depressed however the song is a reminder that nobody is perfect and the best way to live your life is to treat yourself and others around you with love and positivity, you’re being the best that you can be by being true to yourself and honest to everyone else about what you are with or without any problems you face


How did you all form?


Ben and Joe both met at uni and bonded through being fans of lower than Atlantis, Jem was Joes housemate who later offered to play bass in order to fully complete the line up we decided to stay as a three piece as it was more convenient and kept us closer together as friends What are your collective tastes as a group?


Highly suspect

Nothing but thieves

Don broco

Foo fighters

Tesseract

Avenged sevenfold

Royal blood


Any recorded material yet or upcoming releases?


Singles in the new year and then shortly afterwards release a 4 track EP that features the singles. We are going to release two -


Single 1 burning up

Single 2 gravity

EP burning up

Gravity Goodbye

and so long Truth


Also currently working on some really DIY music videos


Lastly - a musical guilty pleasure from each member of the group?


Ben - baby shark??? I listen to lots of trash but I’m not ashamed by it!


Joe - loves abit of little mix


Jem - the eagles (but that’s not really a guilty pleasure cos they’re sick

 

Find them on Facebook here.


Be sure to check out music minds matter the great work they achieve here.


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