Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin ‘Stygian Bough’ & 40 Watt Sun @ Rebellion, Manchester, 9th February 2026

After spending the day getting to and from London for work, I found myself heading up to Manchester in the evening to watch Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin, who were touring their Stygian Bough collaboration, at Rebellion, which, considering it was a Monday, was reasonably full for this Tapestry Promotions hosted night.

Support for these shows came in the shape of 40 Watt Sun’s Patrick Walker, who, as I walked in slightly late, was telling the audience about the worst venue toilets he’d encountered, and how he didn’t want people to see his silhouette as he went about his ‘business’, drawing laughter from the crowd.

It was one of those performances where the crowd stood transfixed, holding their breath and joyously living in the moment. Pour Your Love was exceptional, melancholy, captivating, with a funny Eric Clapton anecdote before he dedicated Stages to Paddy’s mum, as ‘it goes on a bit’. I closed my eyes and listened, as it’s a beautiful song slowed down to perfection and received big applause.

Walker proceeded with further anecdotes in between songs, telling us about his ‘year full of highlights’ before he played Carry Me Home from the first album, and this was incredible to witness. With a transfixed audience, it was heartfelt, dramatic and emotional, leading into the last song dedicated to a German guy from the Preston gig, who had approached Walker at the merch table to tell him that ‘you appear to be unhappy’. This was paused momentarily due to someone fainting. The Rebellion team dealt with this extremely quickly, leaving Walker to finish off a wonderful set with the magnificent Marazion.

Whilst waiting for the main act, and chatting with The Shaman, I found out that it had been some thirteen years ago since I last saw Bell Witch across the city at The Star & Garter. A lot has happened since then, but this was an opportunity not to be missed. Joined by Aerial Ruin, aka Erik Moggridge, they announce themselves with a huge explosion of sound as they play the entirety of Stygian Bough Volume II.

The floor is vibrating, and I can’t remember the last time my body shook like this to the thrum of a band. Dylan Desmond’s 7-string bass is like a weapon of mass destruction, and this is doom/drone metal as its finest and heaviest. Starting with the epic Waves Became The Sky, the mix is crystal clear and very loud, with every hit of the snare or cymbal from Jesse Shreibmancoming across perfectly. The way Desmond plays his bass high up and fret tapping the strings adds so much power to the sonics, and their harmonised vocals combine seamlessly in the downbeat, quieter moments.

There’s not much audience participation from the trio, and the songs merge into one, but nobody cares as we are all here to enjoy their mesmerising music. As Shreibman plays the synth to his left-hand side of his kits, the softer elements add more tension to the room, before the drums produce a thunderous roar during King Of The Wood. The tempo changes mean that all hell breaks loose with lots of double kick drum action. A personal favourite of mine, yet it’s full of melody and exceptionally powerful. ‘It’s good to be here Manchester with all of you’ says Moggridge, as they continue with From Dominion.

This is a frighteningly fabulous song, and what strikes me most is how they place great emphasis on deliberate notes. Each carries its own weight and significance to create these sombre masterpieces, which are enthralling to the ear. It’s a pleasure to witness three musicians this skilled in the flesh and appreciate their artistry and creativity. There’s an organ section accompanying the haunting and emotive vocals, adding more imposing resonance to the composition as heads and bodies sway all over the place in unison.

Giving thanks to Patrick Walker for his support and the venue for having them, Moggridge introduces The Told And The Leadened, a nearly twenty-minute opus of intricate mellowness mixed with cacophonous discord. It’s phenomenal to watch, and you are rendered motionless as you take it all in. Drums are rattled, solos are effortless, and the bass is boisterous. It feels like a shock wave rattling my bones, and when the end is nigh, there’s lots of feedback, the drums fade as the house lights go to the darkest red possible, and the spectacle that is Stygian Bough has finished.

Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin ‘Stygian Bough’

40 Watt Sun

Scribed by: Matthew Williams
Photos by: Lee Edwards