Gloryhammer & Beast in Black & Wind Rose @ The Mill 22 October, 2019
The cold months are now upon us and the queues always seem longer when it’s cold. Tonight the queue seems longer than ever for a much awaited visit from tonights bands. Unfortunately it takes most of Wind Roses set to be able to get everyone in.
As Italians Wind Rose take to the stage the power metal journey begins. Dressed in leather shoulders, belts,tunics and gowns lined with fur trimmed edges complete with fur boots they pose an interesting sight. From the offset the crowd are headbanging away to Of Iron and Gold, Wintersaga and Drunken Dwarves.
Their influences are dwarven mythology (so they must like beer and women) and Tolkien. Lord of the Rings fans you would totally understand when you see and hear this connection. They have 4 studio albums and their latest album Wintersaga features Of Iron and Gold, Drunken Dwarves, Diggy Diggy Hole and Mine Mine Mine!. It wouldn’t be complete without the epic YouTube 2m views of To Erebor. The crowd singing a long like a tavern of dwarves. Vocals are from Francesco Cavalieri who now looks like most of us, only he is still wearing all that armour – poor guy.
Next up, Beast In Black, For those that don’t know Anton Kabanen his original project was Battle Beast. Anton wanted to keep his original sound and dream alive and thus he formed Beast in Black with a new frontman Yannis Papadopoulos. They toured with Nightwish and visited Birmingham last year, where they certainly made an impression. They are one of the most engaging bands I’ve seen and it feels more amplified by the intimate setting unlike the arena tour.
Opening up tonight is Cry Out for a Hero from their latest studio album and supporting the tour From Hell With Love. They possess fast-heavy hitting thumping beats, with rapid paced distinctive guitars and a set of vocals most singers would dream of. Add in the catchy chorus’s, harmonies and likeable melodies it won’t be long before you’re singing along.
Unlimited Sin and the band title track Beast In Black complete an exciting entrance, whilst each member of the band are only too happy to play and pose for photos with fans. This further increases their presence and excitement, making it a one to remember. OK maybe they don’t add anything fresh and new to the table in terms of the style, though it is still fun and the pace doesn’t slow down. The band perform a number of tracks from both their studio albums Die By The Blade and Blind and Frozen before finishing on End of the World
BIB isn’t all about fun and frolics though. Whilst the engaging part of it helps the live experience, they deliver solid powerful music and manage to produce a great live sound too. I mean after all Yannis is a vocal coach by trade and this shows.
Clearly, they write songs that regardless of originality or something new, you want to sing along to, you want to bang your head along with them and you want to engage. They are only too happy to oblige that’s what live shows are about for them.
This venue is heaving with people and is at bursting capacity. Power metal is very much alive in Birmingham. When they return back to Europe, they continue the tour as the headliners, that tells you something.
Last but not least Gloryhammer, for those that don’t know… they have lead singer Christopher Bowes fronting the band also from Alestorm, so expect to be in for a treat. Although there is no kilt, there is some Interdimensional Space Metal instead of pirate metal (I can feel some people’s eyes rolling now) They are currently touring their latest studio album released in the summer Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex.
To start the set there is a cardboard cut-out in front of at the mic of Tom Jones. We all get to sing along to Delilah, Why everybody wonders… and I think having seen Alestorm, we know exactly why, fun, humour and this is Gloryhammer they can do what they want
Opening up the music with aptly named Into the Terrorvortex all members are fully in character. This means wearing an array of super hero costumes, wielding hammers, goblins running about stage and all things in interspace. You don’t need to know the Gloryhammer universe to get involved, most people are singing along word for word from The Siege of Dunkeld. During the gig we all get to meet Angus McFife , who is actually Swiss Thomans Wrinkler by trade, who runs his own law firm fighting evil villains and defending them, of course. His vocals are clearly what adds and makes this band work. Even though he doesn’t appear as the front man, this is really his show and not Bowes.
Another interesting sight was a crowd surfer practically getting carried from the front to the back of the venue along the top of the crowd, only at something like this could it be witnessed, i was surprised there was no mention of this by the band as it was talks and laughs amongst the crowd
The latest album doesn’t have as much of the humour as past albums though has a decent array of songs that are made for the fans to sing along to. The songs are still worked through the set such as Masters of the Galaxy and Hootsforce which all go down a treat before having to end with the encore.
The encore is 5 songs long and contains Chaos Wizards before Setting the Universe on Fire, a Unicorn Invasion before finishing on The National Anthem of UNST.
A thoroughly enjoyable night. The stand out performance for me, was Beast In Black though each of the acts offered something special and unique.
Set List
Gloryhammer
Delilah
Into the Terrorvortex of Kor-Virliath
The Siege of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust)
Gloryhammer
Angus McFife
Legend of the Astral Hammer
The Land of Unicorns
Questlords of Inverness, Ride to the Galactic Fortress!
The Hollywood Hootsman
Goblin King of the Darkstorm Galaxy
Hootsforce
Battle for Eternity
Masters of the Galaxy
Encore:
Infernus Ad Astra
Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Universe on Fire
The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee
The National Anthem Of UNST
Review and Photos: Chris Bowley