On September 6, 2025, Rebellion in Manchester buzzed with anticipation as Magna Vita kicked off the night ahead of Junkyard Drive and headliners The Lazys.
The four-piece powered through a concise 30-minute set, shifting seamlessly between adrenaline-charged riffs, melodic hard rock and sing-along anthems that had the room erupting in fist-pumps whilst high-gain guitar tones sliced through the air with razor-sharp clarity, and thunderous bass and drum foundations gave every chord weight.
Despite opening duties, Magna Vita commanded full attention – Rebellion’s ever-filling floor leaned in on every stomp and shout, turning call-and-response chants into a communal roar.
By sets end, Magna Vita proved they’re a force with enough punch, melody, and stage charisma and Manchester’s already counting down to their next return.
Next up were Junkyard Drive – And they certainly hit the floor running following a lightening fast turn round by sound/stage tecs set them free to unleash their gritty brand of rock ’n’ roll on a somewhat unsuspecting crowd. Their opening riff cut through the venue’s roar, instantly firing up a sweaty floor with sound – A collision of blues-infused riffs and punk-fueled intensity. Every guitar chord felt like a shot of adrenaline, driven hard by a tight rhythm section. Drums thumped with a punch that rattled the crowd’s chests, while the bass growled underneath, anchoring the chaos with rock-solid grooves. The mix was edgy yet clear, letting snarling guitar leads and rough-hewn vocals shine without washing out the band’s fierce undercurrent. Junkyard Drive didn’t just perform—they ignited a riotous energy that spread across the floor.
By the time Junkyard Drive wrapped up their set, they had crafted more than a warm-up—they left a mark. Keep an eye on their upcoming tour dates, where they’ll no doubt expand that live ferocity into headline runs of their own.
We had only seen The Lazys around a month ago at Firevolt, but on their large outdoor stage. They were epic that evening, and I couldn’t wait to see them play the more intimate Rebellion setting to see the contrast.
What I noticed was that the enclosed space created a pressure-cooker vibe – Louder, tighter, and more visceral. The crowd was now packed in, face-to-face with the band, which intensified the connection – And the heat. There is no pit at Rebellion, so switching positions for more advantageous angles would be very difficult.
I’ve never been much of a fan of the lighting here, as they tend to opt for alot of backlighting that points into the faces of the front row, not much back lighting and plenty of haze, creating a situation for photographers that sits us firmly between Chinese puppet theatre and 1880’s Whitechapel, or just plain difficult to generate any functional photography from, so you can imagine how my heart sank to hear frontman Leon Harrison ask for the front lighting to be dimmed because “It was like being in a sauna”. Never mind. We play the hand we’ve been dealt and try to make it work, so less about me and more about them. If you’re looking for a band that channels the raw, sweat-drenched spirit of classic rock and delivers it with punkish ferocity, The Lazys are your guys.
Their live shows aren’t just performances – They’re full-throttle, bar-top, beer-soaked celebrations of rock ‘n’ roll. Their shows are relentless – No ballads, no breathers, no stories, no fillers. From the moment they hit the stage, The Lazys explode with intensity. Vocalist Leon doesn’t just sing – He commands the room, and they don’t just play to the crowd – They play with it. They were on night 27 of their 27 date tour, and we were treated to a much leaner and more aggressive set than Firevolt, with less room to roam but much more punch per square foot. Songs like Half Mast Blues and Howling Woman hit harder in this setting, whilst extended and impromptu guitar solos at every opportunity and performing amongst a party-ready and party-hungry crowd made this feel like the party you never want to see end, but end it must, in brilliantly riotous fashion to AC/DC’s TNT which saw all three bands onstage, witha bit of crowd surfing, awesome guitar solos, initiation-like drinking games, swearing (you seriously need a tally counter to keep score lol) and plenty of fun. All rounded off – Much to the disappointment of the venue security team – With all of tonight’s bands staying around long enough to ensure that every single fan had their fill of conversations, merch, autographs and selfies – Even fanboy me.
Photos and Words by Gregg Howarth
