Dick Tracy blows onto the stage with their party rock anthems and I get my first look at the insane lighting rig being used for the night, which was quite a show (and a step up for the usual lighting rig thanks to their manager Tank) but may have been a tad bright for the room at times, making me wish I'd brought my shades along to the gig (although I did wonder if this was just my age and hundreds of gigs catching up with me haha).
As the first band on there weren't that many people there but they had people up the front dancing as soon as they started playing, and they still played like the place was packed out. Heavy catchy riffs and gritty growly vocals set the DT party off thumping em out one after the other as more and more people started to turn up, playing their singles Old Long Johnson and Party Pete. When it was over I couldn't help but think that was just not enough dick to satisfy me...
Red Dawn hit the stage next to kick off the rest of the night that was jampacked with NWOBHM influence. Lots of Maiden style riffs and guitar harmonies and a lot of Halford style screams, Even some of the shredding solos were dual harmonized perfectly, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden would be proud. It helped that the guitar tone was clear and crisp, it can be hard to get a nice sound out of a brick room but it came through nicely.
The first thing I noticed about Fallen Order was their drummer sitting on a kitchen chair instead of a drum stool, must be something in it too cos he was on fire! Bass tone stuck out amazingly well too through another NWOBHM (influenced), and it's always a bit harder to get a nice bass tone (compared to guitar, or maybe that's just me?) so when it stands out it's magic. Vocalist spent more time in a slightly higher end of the vocal spectrum with stronger more confident Halford screams.
Forsaken Age got to the stage, and while it was still very NWOBHM I couldn't help but notice other influences too, for example the first song had a very “sabbath” vibe to it, and it was nice to see a chick vocalist get up there and her thing, more than keeping up with the boys!
There was a lot of call and response style vocal/guitar licks, with a lot of heavy throaty yells from both the main vocals and BV's taking us into some very smooth solo work.
I was a little disapointed to see a lot of the crowd had dispersed by the time the headliners came on (it was 12.30, was it passed your curfew?) but they didn't let it faze them at all, Chrissy (vocals) running out into the crows with her wireless set up to get those of us who were still there pumped up. Last song of the night got some call and response crowd participation going before a list of thank you's to end the night, always nice to see some humble (self proclaimed) Jaffa's haha
Heavy Metal is currently lost in a wilderness of trends, fashion and Pop Idols.
We battle for the Forsaken Age of Heavy Metal. Uniting the denim vest, leather clad metal warriors who believe Heavy Metal is a way of life and not for sale.
Forsaken Age makes the call for all heavy metal warriors to stand together, make their mark and battle to keep true metal alive.