Often hailed ‘Nu metal legends’, all-female heavy metal titans Kittie returned to Manchester for their ‘Legacy of Fire’ 30th anniversary tour, celebrating the band’s formation way back in 1996.
After Harpy (who we sadly didn’t catch), Split Chain were the second opener, hailing from Bristol but not failing to appease by reassuring us they were “so glad to be back in the north.”
Frontman Bert Martinez-Cowles rejects passive watching and demands a mosh pit to their opening track. The movement is relatively lacklustre, matching the slower pace of the track that seems more of a headbanger than a mosher. Not to be deterred, Martinez-Cowles pinpoints a notable mosh pit participant and orders him to begin a circle pit to ‘who am i?’ – it’s rowdier than the last, and works for the track which is heavier and more stompy.
“Hands up if you’ve never crowdsurfed – you’re first priority,” announces Martinez-Cowles, “Hands up if you’ve crowdsurfed before – now everyone needs to get over here, we wanna meet you.”
Starting with a fairly lethargic pit and ending with a sea of hands and feet rippling over the crowd is a testament to Martinez-Cowles’ charisma, while their unique sound of crunchy guitars, melodic riffs, and emotional lyricism is enough to keep us interested.
The five-piece have certainly earned their status in recent years, named one of the innovators of ‘nu-gaze’ and ‘dreamo’, making them a notable name on the bill. Nevertheless, they certainly know how to be an opener, encouraging non-stop crowd movement and energy to enjoy their music even if you’ve never heard it before. Notable tracks include ‘Sylvia (i wont belong to you), ‘bored. tired. torn.’ and ‘I’m Not Dying to Be Here’.
The atmosphere is buzzing in the venue, as both young and older fans eagerly await the headliner. Kittie have sparsely toured in the UK over the last few decades, so it feels like a special moment.
For those who don’t know, the Canadian metal band formed as teenagers in the late 1990s. Sisters Morgan and Mercedes Lander (vocals and drums respectively) are the only remaining original members, joined later by Tara McLeod on guitar and Ivy Jenkins on bass. The band were on hiatus from 2017-2022, dropping their most recent album Fire in 2024.
Opening with the album’s lead track ‘Fire’, the song marks their impressive comeback, with Lander’s hellish fry scream rippling through the Academy while shredding on her V-style guitar. From every angle they look undeniably cool – Landon’s fiery red hair covering most of her face except moments of headbanging and playing side-by-side with Jenkins and McLeod.
The band rip through most of their setlist back-to-back, fitting an impressive 20 tracks into their hour and 20 setlist. The setlist looks back on the last 30 years of their career, including 2011’s I’ve Failed You, 2004’s ‘Until the End’, 2001’s Oracle, and of course their debut Spit from 2000.
They don’t need to ask for a mosh pit; it forms naturally and instinctively. The crowd are happy to be there, fueled in nostalgia and appreciation for the group who were early pioneers for women-led heavy bands. They don’t say much for the first two thirds of the set, letting the music speak for itself, with crowd-pleasers ‘Spit’, ‘Oracle’ and ‘What I Always Wanted’ exploding with claustrophobic intensity in the 700-capacity venue.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been back, but this year is a very special year, because 2026 marks 30 years of Kittie,” says Landon.
The last time the band played in Manchester was in 2010, in a venue that no longer exists (RIP Moho Live); a sad reminder of the decline of live music venues. The intimate but packed-out Manchester Club Academy feels like a fitting venue, reminiscent of the underground audiences from the start of their career.
“I myself cannot believe it as I am still 21 years old,” she laughs. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs but we’re so grateful to be here tonight. I know that we’ve got some newer fans, some oldschool fans – for the people that have been with us since day one, this next song is for you,” Landon announces to a roar of cheers, before playing Spit’s ‘Charlotte’.
After ‘Mouthful of Poison’ the band exit stage, leaving the crowd to chant “One more song (Brackish!) one more song (Brackish!).”, the anticipation rising for the acclaimed track that launched the band into worldwide success.
Pandemonium sweeps over the crowd as the intro erupts, with Landon wailing “Crucify then learn” over her sister’s ferocious background scream vocals, all while unleashing fury on the drums. The atmosphere is visceral, unrelenting and outright special, celebrating the thirty-year old song in the sweaty basement venue where it was made to be heard.
Although the band are often praised as nu-metal legends, their comeback marks a noticeable shift in sound since their breakout album, written when they were just 14 years old. Recent album ‘Fire’ features faster drums, heavier riffs and versatile vocals – guttural, aggressive tracks like ‘Eyes Wide Open’ contrast the sound of ‘We Are Shadows’ for a cleaner, more modern metal sound.
The show felt like more than just a nostalgia tour with a few newer hits in there for the sake of it. Their evolved, mature sound pleases bold old and new fans alike, marking the future of the band who have been through multiple career difficulties and lineup changes over the last three decades. Playing songs from ‘Fire’ alongside pre-hiatus material demonstrates their sonic versatility, appreciating both the old and the new, and setting their future trajectory as truly talented musicians in the scene.
