[Matt]
Easter Saturday, London, travel chaos expected but with a worthy pay off. It never really materialised, yes ok The Elizabeth Line was shut, meaning more time was spent on the Bakerloo and Overground but you know what? When you're spending time with one of your best friends none of it really matters. Even more so when he's a train fan and loves working out the routes.
From Paddington to Hackney for our hotel, we stopped in The Cock Tavern for one of 12 real ale taps, though it was more like four, dinner there was sought until we jumped back on the train to Camden Town locking down inside The Black Heart for some more refreshment until we awaited the early door time at 6pm (club nights innit?).
Suitably ready we made our way to London's underground venue for the final stop on the headliners European tour. Having done co-healone shows with Masterplan, this promised to be a fan pleasing set varying a little from their EU shows, allowing them to reset for the mammoth US tour they embark upon on later this month.
Only one support here due to time constraints but thankfully it was a band who are no strangers to these pages. The frenzied, fun of Fury (9) is always a good time, the five piece kicked off their set with the rampaging If You Get To Hell First, rapid fire lyrics and thrashy riffs Fury set the some with the lone track from their most recent album.
It meant that the rest of the set was comprised of older songs, most from The Grand Prize; Galactic Rock and The World Is Mine came next the machine that is Tom Fenn and the powerful low end of Mercyful Fates Becky Baldwin laying down the heavy rocking grooves that shift into classic heavy metal/thrash on Prince Of Darkness where Nyah Ifill took the incredible lead vocal, showing why she needs more leads on the new album.
That's not to say frontman JJ still hasn't got a great gruff delivery on Lost In Space and The Dragon's Song, both from the Lost In Space album. JJ's rhythm playing seems to be bolstered by the addition of Tom Atkinson on lead guitars, who as I've mentioned before seems to actively enjoy shredding up a storm injecting pace into the long played Fury classics.
Closing out their set with Burnout (synchronise those dance moves) and Road Warrior, Fury returned to the stage to kick off their 2024 dates and impress the London crowd once again, after the show I saw that the band had won over several who hadn't seen them before, they seem to be gaining momentum, fans and a higher profile with every show.
I for one will be looking forward to their new album due this year. Soon though it was time for the headliners to take to the stage...
[Nick]
Following the triumphant set of Fury, they certainly picked up a new fan in myself, a beanie was purchased and future dates perused.
From Paddington to Hackney for our hotel, we stopped in The Cock Tavern for one of 12 real ale taps, though it was more like four, dinner there was sought until we jumped back on the train to Camden Town locking down inside The Black Heart for some more refreshment until we awaited the early door time at 6pm (club nights innit?).
Suitably ready we made our way to London's underground venue for the final stop on the headliners European tour. Having done co-healone shows with Masterplan, this promised to be a fan pleasing set varying a little from their EU shows, allowing them to reset for the mammoth US tour they embark upon on later this month.
Only one support here due to time constraints but thankfully it was a band who are no strangers to these pages. The frenzied, fun of Fury (9) is always a good time, the five piece kicked off their set with the rampaging If You Get To Hell First, rapid fire lyrics and thrashy riffs Fury set the some with the lone track from their most recent album.
It meant that the rest of the set was comprised of older songs, most from The Grand Prize; Galactic Rock and The World Is Mine came next the machine that is Tom Fenn and the powerful low end of Mercyful Fates Becky Baldwin laying down the heavy rocking grooves that shift into classic heavy metal/thrash on Prince Of Darkness where Nyah Ifill took the incredible lead vocal, showing why she needs more leads on the new album.
That's not to say frontman JJ still hasn't got a great gruff delivery on Lost In Space and The Dragon's Song, both from the Lost In Space album. JJ's rhythm playing seems to be bolstered by the addition of Tom Atkinson on lead guitars, who as I've mentioned before seems to actively enjoy shredding up a storm injecting pace into the long played Fury classics.
Closing out their set with Burnout (synchronise those dance moves) and Road Warrior, Fury returned to the stage to kick off their 2024 dates and impress the London crowd once again, after the show I saw that the band had won over several who hadn't seen them before, they seem to be gaining momentum, fans and a higher profile with every show.
I for one will be looking forward to their new album due this year. Soon though it was time for the headliners to take to the stage...
[Nick]
Following the triumphant set of Fury, they certainly picked up a new fan in myself, a beanie was purchased and future dates perused.
Next, the main event, and, an event I have waited all too long for. Since first seeing Firewind support Dragonforce in 2006 I fell in love with this band… hard. The simple but effective recipe of melodic foundations sprinkled with crushing riffs complement the stirring lyrics that Firewind always produce. The band have always pulled me in with their music and put a beaming smile on my face as I air guitar in my happy place. Its been nine years since I’ve seen one of my favourite bands, it was time this was corrected.
Having said all this, I entered this gig with some trepidation. Over recent years Firewind (10) have had a couple of line-up shuffles that have seen the likes of long-term keyboardist Bob Katsionis depart, while Henning Basse (Metallium) and Matts Leven (Therion, Candelmass) have filled in as front men following the departure of long-term vocalist, the great Apollo Papathanasio. Now it seems Firewind have secured a longer-term vocalist in seasoned professional Herbie Langhans (Rhapsody of Fire, Sinbreed) who joined in 2020 and is fronting up for a second album, the newly released Stand United.
On the run up to the gig, Firewind were asking fans what they wanted to hear in their return to the UK, which set up the potential for a great setlist that stretched the 26-year history of the band. Nonetheless, Firewind opened up with Salvation Day, the obligatory first single from the new album, and title track Stand United. These being Herbie Firewind tracks it demonstrated the reason Gus G was so keen to recruit him to the band, able to reach the highest of the high and the lowest of the low vocally, the anthemic songs were delivered with enthused perfection from Herbie, this theme was maintained throughout.
Next was old school and fan favourite Destination Forever, from 2004 album Between Heaven & Hell the opening riff greeted with a deafening cheer from the die-hard fan who had gathered in Camden. Singing along to every word, it was easy to hear the crowd over the band at times, but the most impressive element was that Herbie took to the song with ease and with his vocals did the song justice, and sent me back to the first time I first saw Firewind in my head, my trepidations had been well and truly put to bed… this guy is immense!
Throughout the set the band delighted the fans with old school song such as I Am The Anger, and the crushing instrumental piece The Fire And The Fury, with the pounding bass of scandalously underrated Petros Christodoulidis, which sent every head in the venue banging in sync with air guitars aplenty. Judge me all you want, but this sent a tear down my cheek, which typically Matt had to turn just in time witness. This was Firewind at their best, despite the new additions to the band.
As the gig progressed anthemic fan favourites Mercenary Man, Allegiance, and the brilliant cover of Maniac were offered which the fans lapped up and bounced around singing. I must admit, it wasn’t quite the same breaking out some filthy moves to Maniac without fellow Musipedia colleague Paul Hutchings even filthier moves being present. Interspersed between these songs from recent albums including ballads Chains and Longing To Know You, as well as Fallen Angel and Rising Fire, all of which were equally as well received by the passionate crowd who sang along to almost every word.
Between every song the band were praised with endless chants of “Firewind! Firewind!”, much to the increasing surprise and appreciation of the band. As the gig came to a close the band re-emerged to deliver heavy and powerful renditions of Ode To Leonidas and the Firewind great… Falling To Pieces, leaving the fans jumping, smiling and shouting for more. But alas there was no more to come. As usual Gus G promised to be back, I personally will hold him to this promise, and I hope it will not be so long this time.
If this gig proved anything, it was that Firewind are still relevant in the UK, in any incarnation, if they put on shows like this… the fans will return and cram into these venues as they did tonight. Do I miss the likes of Apollo and the on-stage antics of Bob? …yes. Nevertheless, the addition of Herbie has cemented the persistent quality Firewind have, and continue to produce.
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