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Ferret Fabrications Alex Treacher Photography

Concerts I've seen


3/5 Adam Ant The Roundhouse
??/5 Ten Fé 20th December 2018

Adam Ant advert Adam Ant ticket Adam Ant photo Adam Ant photo


The European Apocalypse The Roundhouse
4/5 Kreator 16th December 2018
3/5 Dimmu Borgir
??/5 Hatebreed
??/5 Bloodbath

Kreator / Dimmu Borgir advert Kreator / Dimmu Borgir ticket Dimmu Borgir photo Kreator photo


3.5/5 Lawnmower Deth The Underworld
??/5 Xentrix 15th December 2018
??/5 Re-Animator
??/5 Solitary

Lawnmower Deth advert Lawnmower Deth ticket Lawnmower Deth photo


3.5/5 Shot Through The Heart The Lounge 666
14th December 2018

Shot Through The Heart advert Shot Through The Heart photo Shot Through The Heart photo Shot Through The Heart photo

More rock and metal covers. Once again, Dan did a fine job, and Mel was outstanding. Guest vocals from Kai, making a decent fist of sounding like Brian Johnson and Tom Keifer, and from David Ryder Prangley doing some songs by The Cult.


4/5 Nightwish Wembley Arena
3/5 Beast In Black 8th December 2018

Nightwish advert Nightwish advert Nightwish advert Nightwish ticket Beast In Black photo Beast In Black photo Beast In Black photo Nightwish photo Nightwish photo

Beast In Black had been OK the first time I'd seen them, but I'd been disappointed by the overuse of backing tracks - particularly for the vocals. That situation seemed to have improved when I saw them in Sweden over the summer, but sadly it was back again tonight. For me, it really detracted from the performance. They were OK, but not a band I'll be going out of my way to see again (despite liking their recorded output).

Nightwish had been a bit underwhelming for me at Wacken, but had been fantastic the following week at Bloodstock. This performance lay somewhere between the two. A retrospective tour looking back on their career should have been fantastic, but while I enjoyed it, it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. For me their best material came from the "Wishmaster" and "Century child" albums, and I'd have expected them to be well represented. But while we got three from "Wishmaster", we didn't get the title track, probably their most iconic song, and we only saw one from "Century child". The show was good. Floor's voice was strong, and there were certainly highlights (for example, "Wish I had an angel", "Slaying the dreamer" and "Ghost love score"). But while I enjoyed the performance, I'd been hoping for more, and the choice of setlist was a large contributing factor in that.


??/5 Secret Rule Scruffy Murphy's, Birmingham
4/5 Control The Storm 7th December 2018

Secret Rule advert Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo


HRH Vikings O2 Academy, Sheffield
3.5/5 Týr 2nd December 2018
1.5/5 Svartsot
3/5 Finsterforst
3/5 Sellsword
2.5/5 Obscurity
3/5 Bload Oath
4/5 Darkest Era
4/5 Atorc
1.5/5 Valafar
3/5 Mordrake
1.5/5 Frozen In Shadows
2.5/5 Gymir

HRH Vikings advert Gymir photo Frozen In Shadows photo Mordrake photo Valafar photo Atorc photo Atorc photo Darkest Era photo Darkest Era photo Blood Oath photo Obscurity photo Sellsword photo Svartsot photo Týr photo


HRH Vikings O2 Academy, Sheffield
4/5 Turisas 1st December 2018
3/5 Ereb Altor
3/5 Waylander
3/5 Eternal Fear
2.5/5 Old Corpse Road
2.5/5 Oakenshield
2/5 Hærken
2/5 Footprints In The Custard
3/5 Isarnos
2.5/5 Ravenage

HRH Vikings advert Ravenage photo Isarnos photo Footprints In The Custard photo Hærken photo Oakenshield photo Old Corpse Road photo Eternal Fear photo Waylander photo Ereb Altor photo Turisas photo


Retribution Alive The Lounge 666
3.5/5 Satan 24th November 2018
4/5 Airforce
3.5/5 Primitai
3.5/5 Toledo Steel

Satan advert Toledo Steel photo Primitai photo Airforce photo Satan photo


3.5/5 Lovebites Islington Academy
3.5/5 Seven Sisters 21st November 2018

Lovebites advert Lovebites advert Lovebites ticket Seven Sisters photo Seven Sisters photo Lovebites photo


3.5/5 Power Quest The Underworld
3.5/5 Temperance 17th November 2018
2.5/5 Chris Bay

Power Quest advert Power Quest ticket Chris Bay photo Temperance photo Temperance photo Power Quest photo Power Quest photo Power Quest photo


3.5/5 Within Temptation Brixton Academy
2/5 Ego Kill Talent 13th November 2018

Within Temptation advert Within Temptation advert Within Temptation advert Within Temptation ticket Ego Kill Talent photo Within Temptation photo


4/5 Powerwolf Koko
3/5 Amaranthe 12th November 2018
3/5 Kissin' Dynamite

Powerwolf advert Powerwolf advert Powerwolf advert Powerwolf ticket Kissin' Dynamite photo Amaranthe photo Amaranthe photo Powerwolf photo Powerwolf photo Powerwolf photo


4/5 Angel Nation The Boston Music Room
3.5/5 A New Tomorrow 8th November 2018
3.5/5 Winter's Edge

Angel Nation advert Winter's Edge photo Winter's Edge photo A New Tomorrow photo A New Tomorrow photo Angel Nation photo Angel Nation photo Angel Nation photo


4/5 Devilskin The Craufurd Arms
2.5/5 The Fallen State 7th November 2018
2.5/5 The Hallows

Devilskin advert Devilskin advert The Hallows photo The Fallen State photo Devilskin photo Devilskin photo Devilskin plectrum Devilskin plectrum


3.5/5 Sirenia The Boston Music Room
3.5/5 Triosphere 4th November 2018
2/5 Paratra
??/5 Mind Whispers

Sirenia advert Sirenia ticket Paratra photo Triosphere photo Sirenia photo Sirenia photo


4.5/5 Dakesis Scruffy Murphy's, Birmingham
4/5 Fury 3rd November 2018
2/5 Cenfora

Dakesis advert Cenfora photo Fury photo Fury photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo


4/5 Devilskin The Boston Music Room
3/5 The Fallen State 31st October 2018
2/5 Temples On Mars

Devilskin advert Devilskin advert Devilskin ticket Temples On Mars photo The Fallen State photo Devilskin photo


3.5/5 Victorius Bridgehouse 2
3/5 Grimgotts 27th October 2018
2.5/5 Skyward

Victorius advert Victorius advert Victorius advert Skyward photo Grimgotts photo Victorius photo


3.5/5 Kamelot Electric Brixton
3.5/5 Cellar Darling 12th October 2018
3/5 Leaves' Eyes

Kamelot advert Kamelot advert Kamelot ticket Leaves' Eyes photo Leaves' Eyes photo Cellar Darling photo Kamelot photo


4/5 Primal Fear The Dome
4/5 Riot V 11th October 2018
2.5/5 Existence

Primal Fear advert Primal Fear advert Primal Fear advert Primal Fear ticket Existance photo Riot V photo Primal Fear photo Primal Fear photo


4.5/5 Ross The Boss The Underworld
3.5/5 Uproar 8th October 2018

Ross The Boss advert Ross The Boss advert Ross The Boss ticket Uproar photo Ross The Boss photo


Aoniafest Corporation, Sheffield
1.5/5 Miscreant 6th October 2018
4/5 Aonia
4/5 Dakesis
4/5 Fury
3/5 Alwaid
3.5/5 FyreSky
2/5 Burn Down The District
4/5 Divided We Fall
3/5 Skeleton Crew
2/5 Vulgore

Aoniafest advert Aoniafest advert Aoniafest advert Aoniafest ticket Vulgore photo Skeleton Crew photo Divided We Fall photo Burn Down The District photo FyreSky photo FyreSky photo FyreSky photo Alwaid photo Fury photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo Aonia photo Aonia photo Aonia photo Miscreant photo


Power Metal Quest Fest Mama Roux's, Birmingham
3/5 Red Rum 30th September 2018
4/5 Dendera
4/5 Fury
3.5/5 Nightmare World
4.5/5 Womenowar
3.5/5 Birmingham Rockschool Choir
3/5 Skyward
2.5/5 Grimgotts
3.5/5 Atorc

Power Metal Quest Fest advert Power Metal Quest Fest advert Power Metal Quest Fest advert Power Metal Quest Fest ticket Atorc photo Grimgotts photo Skyward photo Birmingham Rockschool Choir photo Womenowar photo Womenowar photo Womenowar photo Womenowar photo Womenowar photo Nightmare World photo Fury photo Fury photo Fury photo Fury photo Dendera photo Dendera photo Red Rum photo


4/5 Cretura The Unicorn
2/5 Mordrake 25th September 2018
2/5 Byrde
1/5 Troll Mother

Cretura advert Cretura advert Troll Mother photo Byrde photo Mordrake photo Cretura photo Cretura photo


3.5/5 Tiffany The Borderline
2.5/5 Sian Cross 24th September 2018

Tiffany advert Tiffany advert Tiffany ticket Sian Cross photo Tiffany photo


3.5/5 Bai Bang Big Red
2.5/5 Spyder Byte 15th September 2018
3.5/5 Mercury Rising
??/5 Stephen Brian Leonard

Bai Bang advert Spyder Byte photo Mercury Rising photo Bai Bang photo


3.5/5 Serenity The Underworld
2.5/5 Temperance 5th September 2018
3.5/5 Alight

Serenity advert Serenity advert Serenity ticket Alight photo Temperance photo Serenity photo


3.5/5 Winter's Edge The Unicorn
2/5 Isarnos 23rd August 2018
??/5 Enterfire
??/5 Elderseer

Winter's Edge advert Winter's Edge advert Isarnos photo Isarnos photo Winter's Edge photo Winter's Edge photo


Sabaton Open Air Lugnet, Falun
2/5 Man Machine Industry 18th August 2018
4/5 Sabaton
4/5 Battle Beast
4/5 Powerwolf
4/5 H.E.A.T.
3/5 Eleine
3.5/5 Blaze Bayley
2/5 Warbringer
3/5 Stormburst

Sabaton Open Air advert Stormburst photo Warbringer photo Blazy Bayley photo Blazy Bayley photo Blazy Bayley photo Eleine photo H.E.A.T. photo Powerwolf photo Battle Beast photo Sabaton photo Sabaton photo Man Machine Industry photo


Sabaton Open Air Lugnet, Falun
3.5/5 Nocturnal Rites 17th August 2018
3/5 The Darkness
4/5 Orden Ogan
3.5/5 Týr
2/5 Bombus
3.5/5 Hulkoff
3.5/5 Reinxeed
3.5/5 Beast In Black
3.5/5 Dalriada

Sabaton Open Air advert Dalriada photo Beast In Black photo Beast In Black photo Reinxeed photo Hulkoff photo Hulkoff photo Bombus photo Týr photo Orden Ogan photo The Darkness photo Nocturnal Rites photo


Sabaton Open Air Lugnet, Falun
4/5 Civil War 16th August 2018
2/5 Sepultura
4/5 Primal Fear
2/5 Svartsot
3.5/5 Thunder Mother
2/5 Trollfest

Sabaton Open Air advert Trollfest photo Thundermother photo Thundermother photo Thundermother photo Svartsot photo Svartsot photo Primal Fear photo Primal Fear photo Sepultura photo Civil War photo


Sabaton Open Air Lugnet, Falun
3.5/5 Brothers Of Metal 15th August 2018
1.5/5 Chainwreck
3/5 Baryk Khazad
3/5 Prudence
2/5 V
3.5/5 The Last Heroes

Sabaton Open Air advert The Last Heroes photo V photo Prudence Baruk Khazad photo Chainwreck photo Brothers Of Metal photo Brothers Of Metal photo Brothers Of Metal photo


Bloodstock Open Air Catton Hall
4/5 Rekovered 12th August 2018
3.5/5 Watain
4/5 Nightwish
4/5 Gemma Fox
2/5 Act Of Defiance
2.5/5 Servers
3.5/5 Sellsword
1/5 Devildriver
3/5 Skybrudd
3/5 Dead Before Mourning
3/5 Mr Big
1.5/5 Jasta
3/5 Ethyrfield
2.5/5 Fozzy
3.5/5 Amaranthe
4/5 Evergrey
3.5/5 Monument

Bloodstock advert Bloodstock advert Bloodstock ticket Monument photo Evergrey photo Evergrey photo Amaranthe photo Fozzy photo Ethyrfield photo Jasta photo Mr Big photo Mr Big photo Dead Before Mourning photo Skybrudd photo Devildriver photo Sellsword photo Servers photo Act Of Defiance photo Gemma Fox photo Gemma Fox photo Nightwish photo Nightwish photo Watain photo Rekovered photo


Bloodstock Open Air Catton Hall
2/5 Orphaned Land 11th August 2018
2.5/5 Ten Foot Wizard
1.5/5 Gojira
3.5/5 Luke Appleton
3/5 Alestorm
4/5 Aonia
2.5/5 A Forest Of Stars
2.5/5 Spires
2/5 Venom Inc
3.5/5 Thirteen
2.5/5 Septic Flesh
4/5 Orden Ogan
3/5 Cadence Noir
1.5/5 Power Trip
2.5/5 Kilonova
2.5/5 Nailed To Obscurity

Bloodstock advert Bloodstock advert Bloodstock ticket Naild To Obscurity photo Kilonova photo Power Trip photo Cadence Noir photo Cadence Noir photo Orden Ogan photo Septicflesh photo Thirteen photo Venom Inc photo Spires photo A Forest Of Stars photo Aonia photo Aonia photo Aonia photo Alestorm photo Luke Appleton photo Gojira photo Ten Foot Wizard photo Orphaned Land photo


Bloodstock Open Air Catton Hall
4/5 Doro 10th August 2018
3.5/5 Metalhead
4/5 Judas Priest
3/5 Emperor
4/5 The Heretic Order
3.5/5 King Bison
3.5/5 Kamelot
3/5 Sertraline
2.5/5 Season Of The Witch
2/5 Kinasis
3.5/5 Wednesday 13
3.5/5 Pelugion
3.5/5 Fahran
3/5 Onslaught
2/5 Feed The Rhino

Bloodstock advert Bloodstock advert Bloodstock ticket Feed The Rhino photo Onslaught photo Fahran photo Pelugion photo Wednesday 13 photo Kinasis photo Season Of The Witch photo Sertraline photo Kamelot photo King Bison photo The Heretic Order photo The Heretic Order photo Emperor photo Judas Priest photo Judas Priest photo Judas Priest photo Metalhead photo Metalhead photo Metalhead photo Doro photo


Bloodstock Open Air Catton Hall
3/5 Vital Idol 9th August 2018
1.5/5 Arkona
1/5 Bloodshot Dawn

Bloodstock advert Bloodstock advert Bloodstock ticket Bloodshot Dawn photo Arkona photo Vital Idol photo


4/5 Iron Maiden The NEC
2/5 Killswitch Engage 7th August 2018

Iron Maiden advert Iron Maiden advert Iron Maiden ticket Killswitch Engage photo Iron Maiden photo Iron Maiden photo Iron Maiden photo


Wacken Open Air Wacken
2.5/5 In Extremo 4th August 2018
4/5 Dimmu Borgir
3.5/5 Helloween
3/5 Sólstafir
4/5 Dalriada
3/5 Arch Enemy
3.5/5 Ensiferum
2.5/5 Steel Panther
2.5/5 Skiltron
4/5 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
2.5/5 The Bloodstrings
4/5 Riot V
3.5/5 Love Bites

Wacken advert Wacken ticket Lovebites photo Riot V photo The Bloodstrings photo Die Apokalyptischen Reiter photo Skiltron photo Steel Panther photo Ensiferum photo Arch Enemy photo Dalriada photo  Sólstafir photo Helloween photo Dimmu Borgir photo In Extremo photo


Wacken Open Air Wacken
4/5 Running Wild 3rd August 2018
4/5 Lee Aaron
3.5/5 Nightwish
4/5 Doro
3/5 2 Cellos
3.5/5 Leaves' Eyes
4/5 Firewind
3/5 Fozzy
4/5 Epica
3.5/5 Amaranthe

Wacken advert Wacken ticket Amaranthe photo Epica photo Epica photo Fozzy photo Firewind photo Firewind photo Firewind photo Leaves' Eyes photo Leaves' Eyes photo 2 Cellos photo Doro photo Nightwish photo Lee Aaron photo Running Wild photo


Wacken Open Air Wacken
4/5 Judas Priest 2nd August 2018
3.5/5 Exit Eden
3.5/5 Danzig
3.5/5 Visions Of Atlantis
3/5 Monstagon
3.5/5 The Privateer
3.5/5 Vince Neil
3.5/5 Tremonti
3/5 Dokken
3.5/5 Skyline
3.5/5 Ganaim

Wacken advert Wacken ticket Ganaim photo Skyline photo Dokken photo Tremonti photo Vince Neil photo The Privateer photo The Privateer photo Monstagon photo Visions Of Atlantis photo Visions Of Atlantis photo Danzig photo Exit Eden photo Exit Eden photo Exit Eden photo Judas Priest photo Judas Priest photo


Wacken Open Air Wacken
3/5 Jesper Binzer 1st August 2018
2.5/5 Fish
3/5 Bannkreis

Wacken advert Wacken ticket Bannkreis photo Bannkreis photo Fish photo Jesper Binzer photo Jesper Binzer photo


4/5 Control The Storm Red Rum, Stafford
2.5/5 Synthetic 29th July 2018
2.5/5 Cenfora

Control The Storm advert Cenfora photo Cenfora photo Synthetic photo Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo


2.5/5 Helgrind Club 85, Hitchin
3.5/5 The Mighty Wraith 21st July 2018
2.5/5 Spectral Darkwave
??/5 St Fenton The Tainted

Helgrind advert Spectral Darkwave photo The Mighty Wraith photo Helgrind photo Helgrind photo

A night of bands being put on for Ian's 60th birthday. I didn't arrive in time to catch St Fenton The Tainted, so my night started with Spectral Darkwave. They're a band that participated in the Hitchin M2TM rounds, and can perhaps best be described as playing doomy industrial metal. There's a clear steampunk visual element to their performance, but they didn't really stand out. I'd watch them again, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

The Mighty Wraith were the primary reason I'd made the trip. I'd seen them a few times before. As a power/trad metal band, they're always going to appeal to my tastes. Despite a relatively sparse crowd, the band managed to whip up support and had the crowd joining in at the relevant points. Once again, the highlights were "Dragonheart" and a cover of Maiden's "Number of the beast".

Following that were headliners Helgrind. They're a band I'd heard of by name, but knew nothing about. They were described to me beforehand as the UK's version of Slayer. In truth, they were better than that description might imply, playing very traditional thrash, straight out of the '80s. The guitar work was quite impressive in places, and with better vocals, they could be an interesting band. But ultimately, they fell a bit flat for me, and I left part way though their set in order to make it home at a reasonable hour.


Retribution Alive The Big Red
3/5 Neuronspoiler 20th July 2018
3/5 Agresiva
4/5 Neverworld
2.5/5 Raze

Retribution Alive advert Retribution Alive advert Raze photo Neverworld photo Agresiva photo Neuronspoiler photo


3.5/5 Dorja The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham
1/5 Resurrection Men 14th July 2018
??/5 Kanada
2/5 Air Drawn Dagger
??/5 The Wild Strays

Dorja advert Dorja advert Dorja advert Dorja advert Air Drawn Dagger photo Resurrection Men photo Dorja photo Dorja photo


4/5 Dorja The Lounge 666
3.5/5 Death Valley Knights 12th July 2018
??/5 Dirty Ol' Crow

Dorja advert Dorja advert Death Valley Knights photo Dorja photo Dorja photo Dorja photo


Metal 2 The Masses London The Dome
2/5 Courtesans 20th June 2018
2.5/5 Dirty Ol' Crow
3.5/5 Prolapse AD
2.5/5 Serpentyne
3/5 Dead Before Mourning
1.5/5 The Brood
??/5 Annunciation

M2TM London advert M2TM London advert The Brood photo Dead Before Mourning photo Serpentyne photo Prolapse AD photo Dirty Ol' Crow photo Courtesans photo Courtesans photo


3.5/5 Hollywood Vampires Wembley Arena
3/5 The Darkness 20th June 2018
3/5 The Damned

Hollywood Vampires advert Hollywood Vampires advert The Damned photo The Darkness photo Hollywood Vampires photo


4/5 FyreSky The Unicorn
3/5 Aonia 19th June 2018
1.5/5 Mortimer's Wish

FyreSky advert Mortimer's Wish photo Aonia photo Aonia photo FyreSky photo FyreSky photo


Stone Free The O2 Arena
3.5/5 Shot Through The Heart 16th June 2018
4/5 Scorpions
3.5/5 Megadeth
3/5 Buckcherry
3/5 Orange Goblin
3.5/5 Aaron Buchanan & The Cult Classics
3/5 Stone Broken
3.5/5 Daxx And Roxane
2/5 Warrior Soul
3/5 Dirty Thrills
3/5 Triggerfinger
3.5/5 Anchor Lane
2.5/5 The Picture Books
3.5/5 Killit
??/5 Pete Spiby & The Beat Alls
3/5 Nitroville

Stone Free advert Stone Free advert Stone Free ticket Nitroville photo Killit photo Killit photo The Picture Books photo Anchor Lane photo Triggerfinger photo Dirty Thrills photo Warrior Soul photo Daxx And Roxane photo Stone Broken photo Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics photo Orange Goblin photo Buckcherry photo Megadeth photo Scorpions photo Scorpions photo Scorpions photo Scorpions photo Shot Through The Heart photo Shot Through The Heart photo Shot Through The Heart photo


Download Donington
??/5 Neck Deep 9th June 2018
??/5 Thy Art Is Murder
3.5/5 Guns N’ Roses
??/5 Mayday Parade
??/5 Plini
??/5 The Maine
??/5 Parkway Drive
??/5 Knocked Loose
4/5 Black Stone Cherry
??/5 Being As An Ocean
??/5 Malevolence
3/5 Babymetal
??/5 Massive Wagons
4/5 Thunder
??/5 Asking Alexandria
??/5 Shvpes
2/5 L7
??/5 Rolo Tomassi
2/5 The Temperance Movement
??/5 Sleep Token
??/5 Bury Tomorrow
??/5 The Faim
??/5 The Struts
2/5 Higher Power
??/5 Corrosion Of Conformity
??/5 WSTR
??/5 Monster Truck
3.5/5 Anchor Lane
3/5 Lawnmower Deth
3.5/5 Whiskey Myers
2.5/5 Tigress
??/5 Death Blooms
??/5 Von Hertzen Brothers
??/5 The Pink Slips
??/5 Powerflo
??/5 The Bottom Line

Download advert Download advert Tigress photo Whiskey Myers photo Lawnmower Deth photo Anchor Lane photo Higher Power photo The Temperance Movement photo L7 photo Thunder photo Babymetal photo Black Stone Cherry photo Guns N' Roses photo Guns N' Roses photo


3.5/5 Janet Gardner The Underworld
4/5 Sister Shotgun 28th May 2018

Janet Gardner advert Janet Gardner advert Sister Shotgun photo Janet Gardner photo


More Than A Memorial Scruffy Murphy's, Birmingham
4/5 Dakesis 12th May 2018
1.5/5 Absinthropy
3/5 Winter Storm
3.5/5 Opus Mortis
1.5/5 Rise Of My Empire
2.5/5 Cyberaptor

More Than A Memorial advert More Than A Memorial advert Cyberaptor photo Rise Of My Empire photo Opus Mortis photo Winter Storm photo Absinthropy photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo


4/5 Fury The Dev
3/5 Eternal Fear 10th May 2018
3/5 Black Emerald

Fury advert Fury advert Black Emerald photo Black Emerald photo Eternal Fear photo Eternal Fear photo Fury photo Fury photo Fury photo


3.5/5 Apparition The Robin 2, Bilston
3.5/5 Winter In Eden 6th May 2018
3/5 Serpentyne
4/5 Control The Storm
2.5/5 Alice In Thunderland
3.5/5 The Loved And Lost

Apparition advert The Loved And Lost photo Alice In Thunderland photo Control The Storm photo Control The Storm photo Serpentyne photo Winter In Eden photo Apparition photo Apparition photo


3.5/5 Leaves' Eyes The Dome
2/5 Mayan 28th April 2018
3.5/5 Almanac

Leaves' Eyes advert Leaves' Eyes advert Almanac photo Almanac photo Almanac photo Mayan photo Mayan photo Mayan photo Leaves' Eyes photo Leaves' Eyes photo


4/5 Kim Wilde Koko
2/5 Lawrence Hill 26th April 2018

Kim Wilde advert Kim Wilde advert Kim Wilde advert Kim Wilde ticket Lawrence Hill photo Kim Wilde photo


3.5/5 Angra The Underworld
3.5/5 Operation: Mindcrime 17th April 2018
3/5 Halcyon Way
??/5 Ravenscry

Angra advert Angra advert Angra ticket Halcyon Way photo Halcyon Way photo Operation: Mindcrime photo Angra photo Angra photo


Metal 2 The Masses Reading The Facebar
2/5 Gutlocker 15th April 2018
1/5 Mercury's Well
3.5/5 Kamikaze Test-Pilots
3.5/5 Winter's Edge
3.5/5 Ghost Of Machines
1/5 King Minos
2.5/5 Cipher

M2TM Reading advert Cipher photo King Minos photo Ghost Of Machines photo Winter's Edge photo Winter's Edge photo Kamikaze Test-Pilots photo Mercury's Well photo Gutlocker photo


4/5 Seven Sisters The Black Heart
3.5/5 Toledo Steel 13th April 2018

Seven Sisters advert Toledo Steel photo Seven Sisters photo Seven Sisters photo Seven Sisters photo Seven Sisters photo


3.5/5 Cellar Darling The Boston Music Room
3/5 Diamond Black 5th April 2018

Cellar Darling advert Cellar Darling advert Cellar Darling advert Cellar Darling ticket Diamond Black photo Diamond Black photo Cellar Darling photo


Darker Days The Musician, Leicester
4/5 Star Industry 24th March 2018
3/5 The Last Cry
3/5 Red Sun Revival
4/5 The Faces Of Sarah
2/5 The Glass House Museum
3.5/5 Auger
??/5 Siberia
??/5 Last Dusk

Darker Days advert Darker Days advert The Glass House Museum photo The Faces Of Sarah photo Red Sun Revival photo The Last Cry photo Star Industry photo Star Industry photo Star Industry photo


Hammerfest Hafan y Môr, Pwllheli
??/5 Donkerkarnuffel 16th March 2018
??/5 Red Rum
??/5 Forged In Black
??/5 Sepultura
??/5 Morti Vivendi
3/5 Critical Solution
2/5 Obscura
1.5/5 Goatwhore
??/5 Ohhms
??/5 Limb
??/5 Death The Leveller
3.5/5 Blaze Bayley
2.5/5 Acid Reign
3.5/5 The Heretic Order
4/5 Triaxis
??/5 Jukebox Monkey
1.5/5 Ballsdeep
2/5 Redwood Avenue
1.5/5 Fit For An Autopsy
3/5 Sergeant Thunderhoof
??/5 Callus

Hammerfest advert Hammerfest advert Sergeant Thunderhoof photo Fit For An Autopsy photo Redwood Avenue photo Ballsdeep photo Triaxis photo Triaxis photo Triaxis photo Triaxis photo The Heretic Order photo Acid Reign photo Blaze Bayley photo Obscura photo Critical Solution photo


3.5/5 Blaze Bayley The Underworld
3/5 Faith In Glory 3rd March 2018

Blaze Bayley advert Blaze Bayley advert Blaze Bayley ticket Faith In Glory photo Blaze Bayley photo Blaze Bayley photo


3.5/5 As Night Falls 229 The Venue
2.5/5 Serpentyne 1st March 2018

As Night Falls advert As Night Falls advert Serpentyne photo As Night Falls photo


3.5/5 Rhapsody Islington Academy
4/5 Beast In Black 26th February 2018
3.5/5 Scarlet Aura

Rhapsody advert Rhapsody advert Rhapsody advert Rhapsody ticket Scarlet Aura photo Beast In Black photo Beast In Black photo Rhapsody photo


3.5/5 Freedom Call The Underworld
3.5/5 Power Quest 25th February 2018
4/5 Hanowar

Freedom Call advert Freedom Call advert Freedom Call ticket Hanowar photo Power Quest photo Freedom Call photo


HRH Metal O2 Academy, Birmingham
4/5 Grave Digger 18th February 2018
??/5 Footprints In The Custard
??/5 Dead Hands
3.5/5 Attica Rage
1.5/5 Memoriam
4/5 Sister Shotgun
4/5 Dakesis
??/5 Elvenking
3.5/5 Skarthia
??/5 Torous
3.5/5 Power Quest
??/5 Nightmare World
??/5 Lifer
2.5/5 Trivax
3.5/5 Kaine
3.5/5 The Mighty Wraith
2/5 Fire Red Empress
3.5/5 Vice
2.5/5 Incinery
2/5 Devil's Playground

HRH Metal advert Devil's Playground photo Devil's Playground photo Incinery photo Vice photo Fire Red Empress photo The Mighty Wraith photo Kaine photo Trivax photo Power Quest photo Power Quest photo Power Quest photo Skarthia photo Dakesis photo Dakesis photo Sister Shotgun photo Memoriam photo Attica Rage photo Grave Digger photo


HRH Metal O2 Academy, Birmingham
2.5/5 Alestorm 17th February 2018
4/5 Fury
3.5/5 Evil Scarecrow
??/5 Elimination
??/5 Desert Storm
??/5 Ironrat
2.5/5 The Dread Crew Of Oddwood
??/5 Warcrab
4/5 Metaprism
2/5 Hærken
3.5/5 Cypher16
2/5 The Face Of Ruin
4/5 Monument
??/5 Gravil
??/5 Sodomized Cadaver
1/5 Ballsdeep
2/5 XIII
??/5 Masters Call
4/5 Collibus
3/5 Wrath Of The Gods
1.5/5 Ashen Crown

HRH Metal advert Ashen Crown photo Wrath Of The Gods photo Collibus photo XIII photo Ballsdeep photo Monument photo The Face Of Ruin photo Cypher16 photo Hærken photo Metaprism photo Metaprism photo The Dread Crew Of Oddwood photo Evil Scarecrow photo Fury photo Fury photo Alestorm photo


4/5 Serenity The Underworld
3/5 Visions Of Atlantis 14th February 2018
3.5/5 Sleeping Romance
2.5/5 Secret Rule

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4/5 Accept Koko
3/5 Night Demon 8th February 2018

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4/5 Therion Islington Assembly Hall
3.5/5 Imperial Age 3rd February 2018
2/5 Null Positiv
2.5/5 Midnight Eternal

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3.5/5 Gloryhammer Islington Academy
4/5 Civil War 27th January 2018
4/5 Dendera

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4/5 Firewind The Underworld
4/5 Rage 21st January 2018
2.5/5 COP UK

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COP UK were much like the last time I saw them. On paper, they should do well. They have most of the right ingredients in place. But somehow it just doesn't work, and they leave me cold with their brand of melodic metal. Admittedly, they weren't helped by a poor mix, but event allowing for that and even a set closing cover of Journey's "Separate ways", they failed to win me over.

Although the tour was nominally a co-headlining one, this show was billed as a Rage show, However, on the night, Rage followed the opener, leaving Firewind to end the night. The band were clearly not firing on all cylinders. Peavey had a fever and a cough and was struggling to sing. But he'd made the decision to play rather than cancel the show and I'm very glad he did. I suspect the running order was switched on the night because of concerns over Peavey's ability to make it through the whole set. That was helped somewhat by Marcos took over vocal duties for a few of the songs in order to give Peavey's voice a rest. In the end, the set was cut slightly short, but not by much. And it didn't matter. It's a measure of how good a live act they are these days that even with Peavey suffering, the band put on another very strong performance. Highlights for me were "Great old ones", and the obligatory "Higher than the sky" to close the set, featuring extended snippets of both Sabbath's "Heaven and hell" and Dio's "Holy diver", with Marcos once again doing a remarkable impersonation of the man himself.

Last year, Firewind had put on an outstanding show in the same venue, and I was optimistic of another good showing here. I was slightly concerned about whether they'd be able to follow Rage's fantastic performance, but I needn't have worried. Henning Basse is without doubt the best frontman the band have had, and he showed it again tonight. There was perhaps slightly more emphasis on Gus's guitar work than at previous Firewind shows, but as a fan of guitar wankery, that's a good thing in my book. Notable tracks here were "Head up high", "World on fire", "The fire and the fury" and ending the night with "Falling to pieces". At the end of the night, we'd been treated to two strong sets from two bands in their prime. A great night overall.


3.5/5 Lacuna Coil The Forum
19th January 2018

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3.5/5 Operation Mindcrime The Garage
2.5/5 'Till Death Do Us Part 15th January 2018

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