Fearless Vampire Killers + Annisokay + Forever Never + Thirteen Shots @ Academy 3, 10th May 2015
Even with the doors 15 minutes from opening, you could tell the O2 Academy 3 had sold out for Fearless Vampire Killers. It was a great showing for doors opening as the room filled up to at least three quarters full for the nights show. With three supporting acts, the night kicked off from the get go, a very rare occurrence at the smaller venue.
With the room filled with face painted teenagers (and parents), there was a slight unease as the first band on for the night, Birmingham based Metal band Thirteen Shots, took to the stage. But within moments of their first song, their front man Johnny Rose, was interacting with the crowd, who responded with eagerness, shouting and clapping along to the heavy riffs the band were producing.
As the set progressed, it was quite easy to see why the band relate themselves to ‘the older type of metal, you know, the good stuff’, with retro guitar styles and vocals to suit alongside. The band continued to enjoy the crowd, with Rose hopping off the stage for a brief spell in the pit (and on my lap, something I would have never expected). With a European tour coming up, these Birmingham boys are ones to watch.
As the evening rolled onwards, the second of four bands, Forever Never, opened their set. The Essex based five-piece seemed more than happy to be in Birmingham and opened their night with passion. The boys are probably most well known for their covers of famous songs, including a surprisingly great cover of Mr Boombastic with Skindred front man Benji Webbe.
With constant jokes between themselves and the audience, it wasn’t hard for them to have the crowd in their palms. Lead vocalist Renny Carroll was constantly beaming with wide smile and dancing around the stage and it’s hard to disagree with their description of having ‘bags o’ melody’. Forever Never seem to be back on the scene and it definitely isn’t a bad thing. Especially their cover of ‘You’re the Voice’, one of the highlights of the evening.
Touring support band Annisokay were the last of three to warm up the now full room. The band, who have been termed with bringing a new breed of German metal to the forefront with their new album ‘Enigmatic Smile’, suited the dark surroundings of the Academy Three with their dual vocal approach of Dave Grunewald on Scream vocals and Christoph Wieczorek on Clean. Their love for a live audience exuded from them and came out with full force as they moved through their set like a well-oiled machine.
They were quite obviously the heaviest band of the night, but the crowd seemed to revel in it and provided a great atmosphere for Annisokay’s first show in Birmingham. As the final song came to a close, Dave threw himself against the barrier and began singing to the audience. It was fantastic to see a relatively young band with such passion for their music and the ability to share it with an audience that had not especially experienced anything like it before.
Finally the night came to its headliner. With the crowd rocking the barrier and the chant of FVK deafening every mother and father at the back of the room, the band came onto the small O2 Academy Three stage for the second time in 18 months. And what a difference that time made. The first time round, the room was still packed, there was static in the air, there were packs of teenage girls at the barrier and the boys filled the stage with a great night. But the second time the room was full, there was electricity surrounding the crowd, there were hoards of girls nearly over the barrier and the stage seemed tiny compared to the atmosphere in the room.
As the band started, with Laurence Beveridge starting on vocals and Kier Kemp on Guitar, the crowd responded in fashion. With songs being sung along to with every word, to screams that I can still hear, the night was a success from the moment the first note began. With a European tour beginning in the latter half of this year, more dates in the UK until the 22nd of May and even a slot at the legendary Download festival, FVK are having an amazing year.
Fearless Vampire Killers night at the O2 Academy Three gave the venue an absolute run for its money, with the room nearly full from the start and three support bands that warmed the crowd up with minimal effort. They have dates left on their UK tour, but don’t be surprised if the tickets are already gone.
Review and Photographs: Jack Kirby