Sacred Reich, Night Demon, Eradikator KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
Following the chaos and intensity of Municipal Waste the night before was always going to be a challenge. Luckily this bill certainly provided similar value and entertainment. Hauling our still aching arses across from the second city to the heart of the Black Country on a freezing cold day we holed up in a welcome (and warm) hostelry to recover and prepare for the next round on our thrash mini break. Despite the failure to meet up with Jarvis Leatherby (Lead singer, Night Demon) as planned for an interview, we were in place on the barrier well before the opening band of the evening hit the stage.
The Steel Mill Is an interesting venue. Kenneth (KK) Downing, former guitarist with Judas Priest if you’ve been under a rock, has invested some finances into the venue, creating a premier rock and metal venue in the industrial heartland of the Midlands. A Grade II listed building, the venue is located on the site of the Star Motor Company, run by Edward Lisle at the turn of the twentieth century. Look closely and you’ll see steel columns supporting parts of the original A frame roof. A bar and merchandise area are located separate to the main hall, a concrete floored arena holding, according to Ticketweb, 3000 punters. I’d hate to be in there with over 500 to be honest so I’ll consider that slightly inaccurate. Nevertheless, it has an industrial feel which is in keeping with the location and the venue’s history.
It’s been a couple of years since I last saw Birmingham’s Eradikator (6) and I was excited to see how the band had developed since that encounter at Hard Rock Metal in the Birmingham O2 third venue back in a chilly February 2017. Their latest release Obscura earned a very deserved and favourable review back in July this year with a change in their style which retained the thrash elements of their earlier work but with an added progressive edge. Sadly, the band’s 30-minute set was plagued with challenge. Drummer John MacNevin was clearly quite unwell, struggling after a couple of tracks and having to leave the stage at one point to use his asthma inhalers. That, combined with Liam Priest suffering technical nightmares with his pedal board throughout the set meant that Eradikator experienced a bit of a ‘mare and whilst bassist and singer Pat Cox declared that the crowd had been “awesome” at the end it was a relief for punters and the band alike when everything stopped. The band appeared on edge throughout, the absence of any evidence of enjoyment palpable and the small crowd, feeding off the band’s discomfort were in general rather silent. A bit of reflection would probably be useful.
Wolverhampton on a freezing damp Wednesday night is far removed from Ventura, California but that didn’t stop traditional metal trio Night Demon (8) from bringing the full show. A huge red banner proudly proclaimed their name at the back of the stage as the band’s intro tape started the set. For the next 40 minutes front duo Jarvis Leatherby (vox and bass) and guitarist Armand John Anthony simply tore around the stage, shredding with abandon and delivering a highly energetic up tempo set which drew from their three studio releases. Leatherby is an old stager, currently bassist with the legendary Cirith Ungol and his mere presence was enough to command respect. Anthony shreds for fun, his hyperactive racing across the stage captivating but the guy can play too. Meanwhile drummer Dusty Squires maintained a brutal artillery of double bass drumming which gave this three piece a mighty tone. The Chalice saw the arrival of Rocky, the band’s mascot, a skeletal figure cloaked and carrying a smoking chalice, much to the audience’s bemusement. Earlier we’d also been treated to a blast of Overkill which warmed the crowd. Closing with their anthem Night Demon this was a stellar set from a band who can only give 100%. Oh, and they were brain meltingly heavy as well.
The Boys Are Back In Town heralded the dimming of the house lights and the arrival of the revitalised thrash legends Sacred Reich (10). August saw their first release in 23 years with Awakening and despite the small audience the Americans showed exactly how to deliver a master class. 70 minutes, 15 songs and an exercise of simple quality. I had the pleasure of interviewing frontman Phil Rind in late July and the guy was a joy to chat with. Here he could not stop beaming, his joy at being able to do this evident. Anecdotes, stories and general positive vibes exude from the guy and rub off on all. How can you stay in that work rage with such a bubbly character grinning at you?
Alongside Rind, veteran guitarist Wiley Arnett showed his chops with some fluid and impressive work whilst new rhythm guitarist Joey Raziwill held the engine tight, his youth masked by a confidence and stage presence which looks good for the future. Early tracks included Divide & Conquer, one of five from Awakening and a thick American Way which got the old school roaring. Rind was comfortable asking younger fans questions and confirming that the craziness in the main pit was from a group of Cypriot metalheads who had been raging at Municipal Waste the night before. Meanwhile the incredible Dave McClain nailed everything down with his blistering drumming. Rind’s vocal performance was as impressive as it was on record, the fluid, relaxed style earning a lot of new fans.
Following the chaos and intensity of Municipal Waste the night before was always going to be a challenge. Luckily this bill certainly provided similar value and entertainment. Hauling our still aching arses across from the second city to the heart of the Black Country on a freezing cold day we holed up in a welcome (and warm) hostelry to recover and prepare for the next round on our thrash mini break. Despite the failure to meet up with Jarvis Leatherby (Lead singer, Night Demon) as planned for an interview, we were in place on the barrier well before the opening band of the evening hit the stage.
The Steel Mill Is an interesting venue. Kenneth (KK) Downing, former guitarist with Judas Priest if you’ve been under a rock, has invested some finances into the venue, creating a premier rock and metal venue in the industrial heartland of the Midlands. A Grade II listed building, the venue is located on the site of the Star Motor Company, run by Edward Lisle at the turn of the twentieth century. Look closely and you’ll see steel columns supporting parts of the original A frame roof. A bar and merchandise area are located separate to the main hall, a concrete floored arena holding, according to Ticketweb, 3000 punters. I’d hate to be in there with over 500 to be honest so I’ll consider that slightly inaccurate. Nevertheless, it has an industrial feel which is in keeping with the location and the venue’s history.
It’s been a couple of years since I last saw Birmingham’s Eradikator (6) and I was excited to see how the band had developed since that encounter at Hard Rock Metal in the Birmingham O2 third venue back in a chilly February 2017. Their latest release Obscura earned a very deserved and favourable review back in July this year with a change in their style which retained the thrash elements of their earlier work but with an added progressive edge. Sadly, the band’s 30-minute set was plagued with challenge. Drummer John MacNevin was clearly quite unwell, struggling after a couple of tracks and having to leave the stage at one point to use his asthma inhalers. That, combined with Liam Priest suffering technical nightmares with his pedal board throughout the set meant that Eradikator experienced a bit of a ‘mare and whilst bassist and singer Pat Cox declared that the crowd had been “awesome” at the end it was a relief for punters and the band alike when everything stopped. The band appeared on edge throughout, the absence of any evidence of enjoyment palpable and the small crowd, feeding off the band’s discomfort were in general rather silent. A bit of reflection would probably be useful.
Wolverhampton on a freezing damp Wednesday night is far removed from Ventura, California but that didn’t stop traditional metal trio Night Demon (8) from bringing the full show. A huge red banner proudly proclaimed their name at the back of the stage as the band’s intro tape started the set. For the next 40 minutes front duo Jarvis Leatherby (vox and bass) and guitarist Armand John Anthony simply tore around the stage, shredding with abandon and delivering a highly energetic up tempo set which drew from their three studio releases. Leatherby is an old stager, currently bassist with the legendary Cirith Ungol and his mere presence was enough to command respect. Anthony shreds for fun, his hyperactive racing across the stage captivating but the guy can play too. Meanwhile drummer Dusty Squires maintained a brutal artillery of double bass drumming which gave this three piece a mighty tone. The Chalice saw the arrival of Rocky, the band’s mascot, a skeletal figure cloaked and carrying a smoking chalice, much to the audience’s bemusement. Earlier we’d also been treated to a blast of Overkill which warmed the crowd. Closing with their anthem Night Demon this was a stellar set from a band who can only give 100%. Oh, and they were brain meltingly heavy as well.
The Boys Are Back In Town heralded the dimming of the house lights and the arrival of the revitalised thrash legends Sacred Reich (10). August saw their first release in 23 years with Awakening and despite the small audience the Americans showed exactly how to deliver a master class. 70 minutes, 15 songs and an exercise of simple quality. I had the pleasure of interviewing frontman Phil Rind in late July and the guy was a joy to chat with. Here he could not stop beaming, his joy at being able to do this evident. Anecdotes, stories and general positive vibes exude from the guy and rub off on all. How can you stay in that work rage with such a bubbly character grinning at you?
Alongside Rind, veteran guitarist Wiley Arnett showed his chops with some fluid and impressive work whilst new rhythm guitarist Joey Raziwill held the engine tight, his youth masked by a confidence and stage presence which looks good for the future. Early tracks included Divide & Conquer, one of five from Awakening and a thick American Way which got the old school roaring. Rind was comfortable asking younger fans questions and confirming that the craziness in the main pit was from a group of Cypriot metalheads who had been raging at Municipal Waste the night before. Meanwhile the incredible Dave McClain nailed everything down with his blistering drumming. Rind’s vocal performance was as impressive as it was on record, the fluid, relaxed style earning a lot of new fans.
All too quickly this masterclass was ending, with a thumping Killing Machine, Death Squad from Ignorance and then of course, Surf Nicaragua which finished off a remarkable set in style. Some of us had waited years for this. It was worth every minute of it and I will be front and centre when the band hit Bloodstock 2020.