Sabaton | The Garage |
Panic Cell | 13th December 2009 |
Malefice | |
Review to follow. |
W.A.S.P. | Shepherds Bush Empire |
Glitterati | 2nd December 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Femme Metal Festival | The Peel |
Sirenia | 6th October 2009 |
Soulgrind | |
Apparition | |
Scarecrown | |
Triaxis | |
Sanity Falls | |
Solsikk | |
Crimson Tears | |
Review to follow. |
Ensiferum | The Scala |
Metsatöll | 6th October 2009 |
Tracedawn | |
Tracedawn struck me as being very similar to Children Of Bodom, albeit a bit more melodic, with twin guitar harmonies very much in evidence. The harsh vocals were OK, but the parts where the singer used a clean voice were noticably better. Metsatöll are almost certainly the first Estonian band I've seen. They played what is now becoming an increasingly common form of folk metal. Of note were the variety of wierd and wonderful instruments on display. But for me, they were nothing more than average. I've seen Ensiferum several times now, and they have yet to put on a bad show. Highlights tonight were "Little dreamer", "Treacherous gods" and "Iron". In truth, despite enjoying the show, I'd have to say that this wasn't one of their better performances. But it was still a decent way to end the night. |
Diablo Swing Orchestra | The Purple Turtle |
Triaxis | 2nd October 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Primal Fear | The Garage |
Brainstorm | 25th September 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Bloodstock Open Air | Catton Hall |
Europe | 16th August 2009 |
Eden's Curse | |
Satyricon | |
Tribe | |
Darkness Dynamite | |
Nya | |
Amon Amarth | |
Into The Woods | |
Anterior | |
Moonspell | |
Nightmare World | |
Beholder | |
Biomortal | |
Turisas | |
Sower | |
Primitive Graven Image | |
Anathema | |
Into The Woods | |
Long Time Dead | |
Equilibrium | |
Triaxis | |
Anwwn | |
Girlschool | |
Agonyst | |
Sabaton | |
Eibon La Furies | |
Beholder | |
Review to follow. |
Bloodstock Open Air | Catton Hall |
Cradle Of Filth | 15th August 2009 |
The Rotted | |
Blind Guardian | |
Abgott | |
Godsized | |
Arthemis | |
Severed Heaven | |
Apocalyptica | |
Hunted | |
Celesty | |
Solsikk | |
Kreator | |
OMT | |
Enslaved | |
Inner Eden | |
Sanctorum | |
Candlemass | |
Internal Conflict | |
Entombed | |
Switchblade Sky | |
Niyah Sky | |
The Haunted | |
Nefarious | |
Wolf | |
They Will Rise | |
Battlelore | |
Uncle Rotter | |
Review to follow. |
Lacuna Coil | Shepherds Bush Empire |
Cancer Bats | 31st July 2009 |
Dead By April | |
The Defiled | |
Review to follow. |
Falconer | The Underworld |
Dragonland | 17th July 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Damsels Of Destruction | Bridge House 2 |
Hand | 6th June 2009 |
Liquid Sky | |
Hanging Doll | |
Reign Of Sirius | |
Tainted Grace | |
Triaxis | |
Crimson Tears | |
Apparition | |
Achilla | |
Winter Storm | |
Review to follow. |
Ultravox | The Roundhouse |
Anne-Marie Helder | 30th April 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Ultravox | Hammersmith Apollo |
Paul Claxton | 24th April 2009 |
Paul Claxton played some acoustic songs. Just him and a guitar. He was competent enough, but ultimately, quite dull. He played a cover of AC/DC's "Up to my neck in you", but I'd never have known had he not announced it to the crowd beforehand. Ultravox had been the favourite band of my formative years. I'd last seen them at Wembley 23 years earlier, and so naturally, I jumped at the chance to see them on this, their reunion tour. To be honest, I was doubtful they could still put on a decent live performance, after all these years, and I wasn't expecting much. I was extremely pleased to be proven wrong. The lights dimmed, and the familiar "tink, tink, tink" of "Astradyne" came through the PA. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I knew it was going to be good. Astoundingly, Midge still has a great voice, even now. He also brought a smile to my face when he said "I don't know what this place is called these days, but to us it'll always be the Hammersmith Odeon", a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. In addition to their nominal native drums, bass and guitar, Warren, Chris and Midge all had their own synths on stage, in addition to Billy's synths. Highlights for me were the aforementioned "Astradyne", plus "Passing strangers", "Hymn" and an end of set "The voice", complete with all four members on drums, just like on the cover of "Monument", which incidentally was recorded in this very venue over a quarter of a century earlier. |
Saxon | The Forum |
Doro | 23rd April 2009 |
Sweet Savage | |
Review to follow. |
The Green River Project | The Underworld |
Nemhain | 2nd April 2009 |
The Mercy House | |
Achilla | |
Review to follow. |
Kamelot | Islington Academy |
Dream Evil | 29th March 2009 |
Amberian Dawn | |
Review to follow. |
Amberian Dawn | The Underworld |
Pythia | 28th March 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Haken | The Peel |
Season's End | 21st March 2009 |
Review to follow. |
Adoration | The Underworld |
Moth Complex | 6th March 2009 |
Tranquil Fury | |
Wake | |
Review to follow. |
Hammerfall | Islington Academy |
Sabaton | 1st March 2009 |
Bullet | |
Review to follow. |
Edguy | Islington Academy |
Andre Matos | 10th January 2009 |
H.E.A.T. | |
I'd come straight from work, but didn't arrive in time to see H.E.A.T. Andre Matos had left Angra some years ago, and embarked on a solo career. He's still got a decent voice, and put on a reasonably good performance, but I feel something's lacking in the songwriting department, and apart from a rendition of Angra's "Lisbon", nothing much stood out. Edguy have long been a strong live band, so I was expecing big things. But for whatever reason, they just weren't on form tonight. Partly, that was a poor choice of setlist. For example, we didn't hear "Tears of a mandrake" or "Mysteria" tonight, both of which were very much missed. "King of fools" was the highlight, but overall, an off night for Edguy. |