Gloryhammer, Beast In Black & Wind Rose, SWX, Bristol
Into what is rapidly becoming my favourite venue SWX in Bristol it was going to be an evening where you can leave your brain at the door and just enjoy the madness that was about to unfold. We were taken into the world of dragons, goblins, hammers, battles and dwarves with three power metal bands ready to put smiles on the faces of a sold out venue.
SWX filled quickly with the assorted masses many in fancy dress, carrying inflatable weapons, wearing furs, horns etc as Italian dwarven metal band Wind Rose (5) took to the stage opening the night. Unfortunately much like Alex mentioned in his (a little harsh) album review Wind Rose are quite generic in their sound with none of their songs standing out and the vocals of the frontman washed out by the two guitarists, though may have been for the better. Decked out in armour and furs like extras from Lord Of The Rings, they got the baying mob jumping mainly with the god awful Diggy Diggy Hole (a song from an internet meme video thing) but personally I would have rathered any other band open the night but they got a strong reaction, so maybe Alex was a little too hard on them but live they don't do themselves any favours.
Next thankfully was Beast In Black (8) who if I'm honest were the band I was there to see, they are much more traditional unit having the speed metal style of bands such as Judas Priest, the Finnish unit fronted by Greek vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos, brought the heavier twin axe attack to the evening along with some thumping 80's styled synths on numbers such as Cry Out For A Hero, From Hell With Love and the ridiculously overblown Sweet True Lies as Yannis flexed his at times unbelievable vocal range as Anton Kabanen and Kasperi Heikkinen traded solos and riffs, the rhythm section of Mate Molnar (bass) and Atte Palokangas (drums) blasted away as numerous shapes were thrown, Accept-style. Beast In Black are an excellent live act, slick and professional playing the crowd like it was their own headline show from the song selection (mainly from their latest album) they may not have had the entire room on their side, perhaps because they don't have enough songs about wizards, but for me they were the best band of the night.
Next though it was time for the main event, formed by Alestorm frontman Chris Bowes who wanted to make the silliest band imaginable, it was time for Gloryhammer (7). Or was it? Before they arrived on stage a cardboard cut out of Welsh crooner Tom Jones was put on stage against a mic and Delilah played over the PA resulting in a massive singalong, with the Welsh contingent in the audience the loudest of course. As 'Tom' finished the band took to the stage and plunged into The Siege Of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust) frontman Angus McFife, Crown Prince Of Fife (Thomas Winkler) singing with all of his heart as the band pumped out the bouncy power metal, next came Gloryhammer and Angus McFife as the setlist came from all three of the bands albums. For most of the first song Zargothrax, Dark Emperor of Dundee (Bowes) wasn't even there, though by magic the keys were still pumping out. He arrived halfway through the track to 'Fight' with McFife (the first of many).
Gloryhammer are totally over the top with songs about "laser powered Goblin smashers" (Legend Of The Astral Hammer), heavy drinking bass players; The Hootsman, Astral Demigod of Unst (James Cartwright) on Hollywood Hootsman and battles for eternity with Ser Proletius, Grand Master of the Deathknights of Crail (Paul Templing) on Battle For Eternity. These songs of battle, other dimensions and just general fantasy tomfoolery was exactly what the masses wanted each stupid lyric sung back at the band. The most excitement of course was for Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee the blast beats of Ralathor, the Mysterious Submarine Commander of Cowdenbeath (Ben Turk) like the gallops of those undead unicorns. It was with this finale that the epic quest ended and goofy grins were abound, having only seen the band supporting and at festivals I must admit that Gloryhammer's headline set is for the die hards in the audience but entertaining enough for the outside observer too. Raise those hammers high and embrace the absurdity!
Into what is rapidly becoming my favourite venue SWX in Bristol it was going to be an evening where you can leave your brain at the door and just enjoy the madness that was about to unfold. We were taken into the world of dragons, goblins, hammers, battles and dwarves with three power metal bands ready to put smiles on the faces of a sold out venue.
SWX filled quickly with the assorted masses many in fancy dress, carrying inflatable weapons, wearing furs, horns etc as Italian dwarven metal band Wind Rose (5) took to the stage opening the night. Unfortunately much like Alex mentioned in his (a little harsh) album review Wind Rose are quite generic in their sound with none of their songs standing out and the vocals of the frontman washed out by the two guitarists, though may have been for the better. Decked out in armour and furs like extras from Lord Of The Rings, they got the baying mob jumping mainly with the god awful Diggy Diggy Hole (a song from an internet meme video thing) but personally I would have rathered any other band open the night but they got a strong reaction, so maybe Alex was a little too hard on them but live they don't do themselves any favours.
Next thankfully was Beast In Black (8) who if I'm honest were the band I was there to see, they are much more traditional unit having the speed metal style of bands such as Judas Priest, the Finnish unit fronted by Greek vocalist Yannis Papadopoulos, brought the heavier twin axe attack to the evening along with some thumping 80's styled synths on numbers such as Cry Out For A Hero, From Hell With Love and the ridiculously overblown Sweet True Lies as Yannis flexed his at times unbelievable vocal range as Anton Kabanen and Kasperi Heikkinen traded solos and riffs, the rhythm section of Mate Molnar (bass) and Atte Palokangas (drums) blasted away as numerous shapes were thrown, Accept-style. Beast In Black are an excellent live act, slick and professional playing the crowd like it was their own headline show from the song selection (mainly from their latest album) they may not have had the entire room on their side, perhaps because they don't have enough songs about wizards, but for me they were the best band of the night.
Next though it was time for the main event, formed by Alestorm frontman Chris Bowes who wanted to make the silliest band imaginable, it was time for Gloryhammer (7). Or was it? Before they arrived on stage a cardboard cut out of Welsh crooner Tom Jones was put on stage against a mic and Delilah played over the PA resulting in a massive singalong, with the Welsh contingent in the audience the loudest of course. As 'Tom' finished the band took to the stage and plunged into The Siege Of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust) frontman Angus McFife, Crown Prince Of Fife (Thomas Winkler) singing with all of his heart as the band pumped out the bouncy power metal, next came Gloryhammer and Angus McFife as the setlist came from all three of the bands albums. For most of the first song Zargothrax, Dark Emperor of Dundee (Bowes) wasn't even there, though by magic the keys were still pumping out. He arrived halfway through the track to 'Fight' with McFife (the first of many).
Gloryhammer are totally over the top with songs about "laser powered Goblin smashers" (Legend Of The Astral Hammer), heavy drinking bass players; The Hootsman, Astral Demigod of Unst (James Cartwright) on Hollywood Hootsman and battles for eternity with Ser Proletius, Grand Master of the Deathknights of Crail (Paul Templing) on Battle For Eternity. These songs of battle, other dimensions and just general fantasy tomfoolery was exactly what the masses wanted each stupid lyric sung back at the band. The most excitement of course was for Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee the blast beats of Ralathor, the Mysterious Submarine Commander of Cowdenbeath (Ben Turk) like the gallops of those undead unicorns. It was with this finale that the epic quest ended and goofy grins were abound, having only seen the band supporting and at festivals I must admit that Gloryhammer's headline set is for the die hards in the audience but entertaining enough for the outside observer too. Raise those hammers high and embrace the absurdity!