They say some things are like wine: the older, the better. That is probably a fair way to describe Biohazard‘s most recent show, held on 6 August 2026 at Manchester Academy.
The evening opened with Striking 13, a band from Los Angeles, California. Their sound sits somewhere between thrash metal and hardcore, mixing fast, aggressive riffs with a heavy rhythm section and a fierce, distinctive vocal style. Despite a thin crowd early on, it was a great way to kick off the night. One detail stood out: one of the guitarists played nearly half the set with a broken string after it snapped mid riff during a particularly heavy passage.
Next up were Sworn Enemy, hailing from Queens, New York. Their sound leans hardcore with thrash elements, packed with breakdowns, tempo shifts and unpredictable song structures. Notably, the singer spent most of the set not on stage but in the pit itself, running, jumping and staying in constant contact with the crowd. They ran through several of their biggest tracks, doing a great job of priming the audience for what was still to come.
After a short break, the lights dropped, ‘Gonna Fly Now’ from Rocky kicked in, and the legends took the stage: Biohazard.
In the UK, Biohazard are touring with their classic, original lineup, reunited after years apart to promote their album Divided We Fall. The four musicians behind the band’s biggest hits from the ’90s are Evan Seinfeld on vocals and bass, Billy Graziadei on vocals and rhythm guitar, Bobby Hambel on lead guitar, and Danny Schuler on drums.
They opened with ‘Urban Discipline’, the moment the packed room had clearly been waiting for. The 1992 classic ‘Shades of Grey’ followed, along with the newer, incendiary ‘Fuck the System’. Every member brought huge energy to the stage, engaging with the crowd throughout, and the audience responded in kind, tearing up mosh pits and circle pits all night. Next came ‘No More Pain’, a track built around a slower, crushing, almost overwhelming riff that contrasts sharply with the fast, hardcore driven bursts the band is known for.
The atmosphere in the club kept building. That was especially clear during ‘5 Blocks to Subway’, when the crowd sang along at the top of their lungs. Then came ‘The Fight to Be Free’, a track from Biohazard‘s tenth and latest studio album, Divided We Fall, released on 17 October 2025, the very album this European tour is built around.
The Manchester show was the final date of this leg before the band heads back to the States, with only a Bloodstock festival appearance and a Dublin show left before the trip home.
There was also room for a Bad Religion cover, ‘We’re Only Gonna Die’, and for ‘Punishment’, arguably the highlight of the night. The song is widely regarded by fans and critics alike as an absolute classic and anthem of the ’90s New York hardcore scene, blending the weight of groove metal, the drive of hardcore punk and rap influenced vocal rhythms, a combination that has become the band’s signature. It is also known for its sudden tempo shifts and the distinctive guitar feedback in its midsection.
The night closed with ‘Hold My Own’, a song about personal struggle, inner rage, surviving in a brutal world and finding the strength to keep moving forward, summed up in the line “hold your head up high.” That message will likely stay with everyone who was there for days to come.
All in all, it was a night of heavy guitar work, powerful vocals, thunderous drums and an enormous amount of energy poured out from the stage. Without question, Biohazard‘s set was the strongest of the night, proving once again that age means nothing on stage.
So, going back to that wine comparison, these guys are still very much a good, aged, well crafted vintage, not some cheap plonk off the shelf.
