Tonight is one of the UK dates on The Mission’s 25th anniversary tour, and as their hometown show then expectations are high that tonight is going to be a great night.
Far too often these days the opening band on a bill plays to almost empty venues as fans stay in pubs nearby till nearer the time the main act is due on stage, but tonight the openers Salvation play to a large crowd – its good to see the venue two thirds full before the first band hits the stage.
I must admit I hadnt listened to anything by Salvation before tonight despite them sharing a similar fanbase to The Mission, but I was impressed by what I heard tonight. I say heard as the lighting was some of the worst gig lighting I’ve ever seen at a venue of this size, and it didn’t improve for the other bands either...
A few hours before the show I found out that Black Spiders are the support band, which doesnt really come as a shock as I’ve lost count of how many support slots and festival appearances they’ve racked up in the last couple of years. They put on their usual energetic performance complete with the obligatory part where they get the crowd to chant ”Fuck you Black spiders”. Despite their performance being great I just cant get excited by it tonight – I’m frankly bored of seeing them as they’ve become overexposed recently. I’ll look forwards to seeing them once they’ve taken a break and released a second album, but for now I’m just bored of them – a shame as they are a very good band.
Tonight’s headliners are Volbeat, the Danish band that has somehow managed to fuse Johnny Cash, Elvis Pres...
Read MoreBitches Sin/Metal Nation Records
NWOBHM band BITCHES SIN was formed in circa 1980 and were quite prolific with the albums “Predator” and “Invaders”. By the mid eighties the band disbanded, transforming into FLASHPOINT who lasted for an album. As many of their peers the internet signaled a new dawn, with people expressing their interest and an ease to reach out with your music compared to the days of old. Today the band consists of the ubiquitous Ian Toomey on guitars, Steve Turton on drums, Chris Tsangarides, yes the famous producer, on guitars, Macca on bass and Dave Mills on vocals. Today´s band is a mix of ages and backgrounds, maybe that is the secret to a lasting lineup and final glory?
The opening guitar riff echoes of big 80´s productions, no wonder since Chris was responsi...
Read MoreAngel Air/Border
The second album of 1971/72 success HARD STUFF ”Bolex dementia” was another example of an album that was delayed in the wrong time. But after a serious accident traveling from a gig in Frankfurt´s Zoom Club the band had no choice since their guitarist/vocalist and drummer were hooked up in a Belgian hospital, lucky to be alive. Almost a year after the iron was hot this cramped release was first heard, sporting a legendary awful cover, which did them no favors. The band broke up shortly afterwards, with DuCann and Hammond reforming ATOMIC ROOSTER, and Gustafson joining ROXY MUSIC. Is the album as bad as the cover?
The subject of the title is madness, and the title track, hushed away at the very last spot of the B-side, is not short of that description...
Read MoreAngel Air/Border
HARD STUFF was first known as BULLET, but changed to avoid confusion with an American band. Behind the words stood three experienced musicians with careers both behind an in the future; John DuCann, guitars/vocals, (ex ATTACK, ex. ANDROMEDA, ex. ATOMIC ROOSTER), Paul Hammond, drums (ex. ATOMIC ROOSTER), and JOHN GUSTAFSON, bass (ex THE MERSEYBEATS, ex. QUATERMASS). A heavily touring band, often as support to DEEP PURPLE or URIAH HEEP, they almost ended up dead on the road in a car crash in Germany. The band´s story was seriously hampered when DuCann and Hammond were seriously injured, and bedridden for long rendering them far too late with the follow-up to this 70´s success...
Read MoreFirst up tonight are the support band. Earlier dates on the tour had The Treatment as support, but tonight the support came from veteran rockers New York Dolls. They took to the stage considerably earlier than advertised, but the venue was already pretty busy when they came on. A backdrop limited them to using the front portion of the stage, but this seemed to suit their style anyway. They got a fairly good response from the crowd but their performance did feel a bit lacking to me, and the sight of David Johansen regularly checking a folder of lyrics didnt inspire much confidence.
There were plenty of fans dresed up in costumes and horror makeup and before Alice Cooper’s set then some of these were picked out to come on stage and be judged for the best costumes – the winners getting ca...
Read MoreThere are not many truly active bands still remaning from the glory days of the NWOBHM. The band split in the mid eighties, after two albums, but the resurgence via the internet caused BITCHES SIN to return roughly 20 years later.The first sign of life was ”UDUVUDU”, and now the follow-up ”The Rapture” is here. The band is both new and old these days; Guitarist Ian Toomey soldiers on, surounded by a world-renowned producer, Chris Tsangarides, on guitar, and Macca on bass. Vocalist chris Mills has a past in rock music and drummer Steve Turton is part of the older side of the band. But a rejuvenation might be the only way, as with BLITZKRIEG...
Read MoreNapalm Records/Sound Pollution
Their fascination of the legendary Atlantis still remains. VISIONS OF ATLANTIS now surpass four releases with a mini-album. The band has been on an apparently successful tour and wants to show their progress with some new and refreshed tracks, plus a catchy cover of SANDRA`S old hit “Maria Magdalena”.
The cover will be a hit! Remember the SANDRA original? This one has a slight touch of depressed seriousness but also the voices of Maxi Nil and Mario Plank. The arrangement captures the spirit of the original and adds the right touches to make it feel a VISIONS OF ATLANTIS track. This will do well when played in clubs and pubs. Of the remaining five two are re-workings, “Last Shut of Your Eyes” and “Beyond Horizon”, and the rest are totally new...
Read MoreMassacre/Sound Pollution
Leather clad Germans MAJESTY return to the scene with a 2 CD of something new and old, but nothing borrowed and nothing blue. Founded by vocalist Tarek “MS” Maghary in the late 90´s they have not blushed from worshipping MANOWAR openly. They have opened for their heroes, and claim to be true metal. After a name change in 2008 (to METAL FORCE) they now return with a mixed bag of tracks, of which tow are new, the title track and the touring life tribute “Metal on the Road” are brand new. Most of their treasury is here, from the deleted first (raw) demo tape to their latest reunion efforts.
To get started on the right foot, “Metal Law” is spiced up by the crude voice of UDO Dirkschneider...
Read MoreFrontiers/BAM
Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen rose to fame as vocalist of TOTO, and has cemented his position with bands and projects like TRILLION, LEROUX, FREDERIKSEN/PHILIPS, MECCA, FREDERIKSEN/DENANDER etc. This is a special album, being made during a period when Fergie was diagnosed and in therapy for cancer. In 2011 he was cured, and had a new record to display. Written from a perspective of how much you have to lose and the joy of being alive this is bound for glory…or?
Apart from being written in companionship with Jim Peterik (ex. SURVIVOR, PRIDE OF LIONS), the albuim also boosts the talents of Dennis Ward, bass and production, Dirk Bruinenberg, drums, Eric Ragno, keyboards, and Nathan Eshman, guitars. The general feeling of joy and happiness is contagious...