In Photos: Howling Bells + Cold Specks @ Academy 3, Manchester (20.09.11)

Photogenic Aussie quartet Howling Bells delivered their third LP, The Loudest Engine, a fortnight ago, and promptly set off on a six-date UK tour to promote it. Last week's Manchester gig was the last night of that trek, and our photographer Duncan Elliott was there to capture the occasion. The album's lead single 'Into The Sky' provided one of several highlights of what was a highly polished set, the band's moody guitar crunch perfectly pitched against Juanita Stein's crystalline vocals.

Those who made it through the Academy 3 doors a little early were treated to a promising opening set from enigmatic 'doom soul' outfit Cold Specks. Based around the visceral singing voice of Canadian-born Londoner Al Spx, the band have recently been working on a debut album alongside PJ Harvey and Anna Calvi producer Rob Ellis, and are about to release their debut single 'Holland' (b/w 'Old Stepstone') via brand new Transgressive offshoot paradYse Records. You can catch Cold Specks live again on October 17 when they launch said single with a gig at London's St. Pancras Old Church.