GRAVEYARD, Horisont, Signfy @Slade Rooms 25/3/12

A few weeks ago RTM spent an extremely interesting night in Wolverhampton with some of the cream of Scandinavian metal. “ However they keep churning out such fine bands over there,” we wrote about Amon Amarth, Grand Magus and In Solitude, “you can only hope that it continues for years.”

Barely 10 days later and we are back in the same city in the company of a couple more bands from Sweden, although this time there isn't a thrash or melodic death band in sight However,  before that we get to sample the undoubted talents of a band from a little closer to home.

Brummies Signify have been cropping up on the Midlands Rock scene for a number of years and they always deliver a fine show. Albeit, a show with a difference tonight. Deprived of their usual singer they are being fronted by Captain Horizon man Whitty,  who adds his undeniable presence and vocal skills to tracks like the well honed “Sonic Boom.” Signify are a band who deserves, at this point in their evolution, a bigger stage.

Local talent – we got there too late to check out trash punks Dante’s Revenge – out of the way, it is on with the Scando retro rock, and not without good reason, you feel have Horisont been picked to open proceedings. Friends of the headliners, they are also kindred spirits. With a sound – and image -  rooted in the 70s, they are perhaps less overtly heavy rock than Graveyard, with a sound which owes much to pysch rock.

They can let rip when they need too though, such as on the title track to new album “Second Assault” (out recently) and “Nightrider” from their debut. They are an intriguing and rather beguiling proposition.

Its fair to say that RTM has had rather a soft spot for Graveyard since first hearing last years “Hisingen Blues” album. The classic retro sound of the 1970s is back in vogue right now, thanks to the success of bands like Gentlemen’s Pistols and Rival Sons, and in “….Blues” Graveyard have constructed an album that matches those two groups.

This sort of music is made to be listened to live, however, and a new life is injected into tracks like “Aint Fit To Live Here” and “Uncomfortably Numb” when they are played before tonight’s reasonable crowd.

Coming on rather like a cross between Sabbath and Led Zep, they do have a conventional hard rock sound, and while Joakim Nilsson is not perhaps the most hypnotic frontman – standing stage right behind his guitar and mic – that does little to detract from a fine performance. The 70 minute set is split reasonably equally between both their albums and it is “Satans Finest” from the self titled debut that really shines.

Called back for an encore, the four piece seem genuinely pleased with their reception and they respond with an exquisite jam of “Evil Ways.”Graveyard deserve the adulation and the critical acclaim, and bell bottoms have never quite been so cool.

At this point you can't help but reflect on the sentiments expressed in the opening paragraph Musically. Sweden is where its at, right now. Although Abba are still the second worst band of all time behind Simply Red.