SYMPOSIUM at Manchester University, Review by CLIVE LAWRENCE

THE Symposium machine is flexed, fighting fit and looking tougher than ever despite their recent split with record company Infectious over a matter of principle.

When Ross Cummins and the lads discovered Rupert Murdoch had taken charge at the helm of Infectious Records, they immediately exercised a get-out clause in their contract.

Far from falling apart, the five-piece have since re-grouped, set up their own label, started work on their second full album and sold out an entire twelve date tour.

Not to mention releasing current single Killing Position, which is the first from their own new label Sympomania Recordings.

The track carries all power of Metallica balanced with the delicacy of Smashing Pumpkins and shows the group brandishing a more mature metal sound to the music.

The off-stage trials and tribulations of the band have dominated music paper headlines, but in the flesh the ecstatic bouncing of Cummins and company leaves their problems a million miles away. Originally known aptly as The Jump Puppets, little has changed.

The group's loyal fans frantically pogoed throughout the show, trying desperately to keep up with the boys.

Front man Ross Cummins (pictured) promised no safe songs in the evening's set and he delivered on the night.

But life without a record label when you're not the biggest band in the world is far from safe. Here's hoping Symposium are strong enough to go the distance.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.