No
False Metal!
New
year gets kicked off brilliant. The very first show in 2012 for
me and our beloved Turock
club already presents a killer package. Pure and true Heavy Metal
that is. So it does not wonder that the club is totally sold out.
Yes, should leave the owner much satisfied too ;)
Despite the fact that five bands would share stage time schedule
was the normal one. Left me wondering how every band can play
an adequate set and the show is finished at 11, 11:30pm to open
the doors for the usual Saturday disco. Well… GRAND MAGUS
played till long after midnight what made the disco kids showing
strong displeasure, because inside it was really, really packed
and outside fucking cold.
::
pics ::
Apropos fucking
cold… those who think now that you would have sweated as
hell inside, is wrong, at least for the ones in the front row,
the common place for photographers. Under the stage, on the left
and the right, huge air pits blow in the icy cold air from the
outside. So, depending on your size, the ones standing in front
got sooner or later icy legs or even an icy abdomen. It truly
hurt after a while. Since the club was sold out we were nailed
were we stood. To be honest, I gave up before the show’s
end, feeling entirely like a block of ice. Not the worst thing
at all since I had early shifts and the alarm would kick me out
of bed at 4.30am again…
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If the show
would have had a different running order I probably would have
missed the first bands. But this way I wanted to see ::
VANDERBUYST
:: see live urgently. The Dutchies had to leave right
after for a headlining show anywhere in their home country. Saw
these cats for the first time at last year’s Rock Hard Festival
and was totally blown away. And they did it again. Despite the
early hour the Turock was filled till the backside when VANDERBUYST
started their furious show. Fans welcomed them almost frenetically
and cheered and adored them till they left again. It’s so
refreshing to see a band playing that energetic and dedicated.
It’s stirring. A short but definitely a great and highly
entertaining show!
Setlist: Black & Blue, KGB, Tiger, Into The Fire,
Traci Lords, Stealing Your Thunder, Don’t Believe A Word
(Thin Lizzy), From Pillar To Post
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Quick change-over
and :: SKULL
FIST :: jump onto stage. Flashback, time machine,
back to the future… I am 16 years old and we are in the
middle of the 80s. And these guys exactly looked like that. These
guys sounded like that and feeling was like that as well. Incredible.
All clichés got used, but the way it has to be! That’s
pure fucking Heavy Metal! With a proper dash of Speed Metal. The
baddest thing was the ‘83 Ozzy tour shirt on the bass player’s
skin. That I call homage. Anyway, founded back not so long ago
the debut album of the Canadians Head Öf The Pack
is already kvlt and so is SKULL FIST.
P.S. If you can’t get enough, after this tour (second to
last tour date tonight) SKULL FIST go on without a break
with Steelwing as sweet two-pack ;)
Setlist: Attack Attack, Like A Fox, Ride The Beast,
Ride On, Commit To Rock, Sign Of The Warrior, Heavier Than Metal,
Head Öf The Pack, No False Metal
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Next up is
:: STEELWING
:: introducing the Swedish side of the evening. They
kick in with songs from their brand new sophomore Zone Of
Alienation (out on Jan 6), with a pair of songs from the
debut Lord Of The Wasteland. Same look: colorful
Spandex pants, striped soccer socks and high tops. Indian summer
for Kutten-bearer a reviewer said about them. Again traditional
Heavy Metal with a splash Priest, Maiden, certain speed and Swedish
lightheartedness.
Setlist: 2097 A.D., Solar Wind Riders, Headhunter, Full
Speed Ahead, The Illusion, Zone Of Alienation, They Came From
The Skies, Lunacy Rising, Roadkill (...Or Be Killed)
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::
BULLET ::
right after turned out to be the secret headliner. These dudes
are hardly to stop and even less to top. Bullet-proven setlist,
kind of a best-of but still focusing on the new Highway
Pirates. Crowd completely freaks out and sings along every
song. BULLET is touched and plays even harder, rocking
their souls out of the bodies. Mr. Hell Hofer appears royally
robed in (Roadking), while the duo Hampus Klang & Adam
Hector poses as if there were no tomorrow. Only lead guitarist
Erik Almström seems to be much restrained. However, everybody
was going wild and BULLET was the highlight.
Setlist: Highway Pirates, Back On The Road, Turn It
Up Loud, Stay Wild, Roadking, Rebels Return, Dusk Til Down, Bang
Your Head, Bite The Bullet
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There’s
no doubt :: GRAND
MAGUS :: are one of my personal faves. But tonight
things did nit go too well. The Turock got emptied, the band had
some tech probs, sound was bad, way overdriven and JB’s
singing was hardly to hear. Beside, the master got out of beat,
occasionally. No hard feelings! It’s always a pleasure to
see and to hear the Swedes playing live :) Contrary to last year’s
shows they played a best-of set through the last 3 albums with
only three new songs and the very old Ulvaskall. Again,
fans are enthused, adoring the band enthusiastically.
Yes, that was an amazing evening! Every fucking band was just
great and much entertaining! Loved it. Truly.
Setlist: Intro, Storm, Kingslayer, Like The Oar Strikes
The Water, Silver Into Steel, I The Jury, Wolf’s Return,
Ravens Guide Our Way, The Shadow Knows, Hammer Of The North, Ulvaskall,
Iron Will
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