The Metal Ball (Point Blank Fury, Intense, Fury, Maidallica, Shades Of Avalon)

A good idea, this.

10 new and unsigned metal bands in one place, for a fiver. Excellent value.

Five of the bands have already been on by the time RTM shows its face, but we are there in time to see Manchester mob Shades of Avalon. “Here’s a song about killing Vikings,” explains singer/guitarist Tobias Gray and thus the tone is set. Think Amon Amarth with slightly more melody and you would be in the right ball park. There is much merit to their set.

Next up are Maidallica, and I will bet you can’t work out what they were doing. Kicking off with “Aces High” and moving onto “Blackened” – they are ok, but it’s a tribute band, For God sake strap your guitars on and play some tunes of your own, even if its derivative its still better than copying perfection.

Strapping their guitars on is just what Worcester’s Fury have done. The young four piece were a late addition to the bill after Scream Arena pulled out. This is good news for us, though as they have started to make waves recently and have just released their second EP “Burn The Earth.” A twin guitar attack, you know the reference points – a spot of Maiden, a bit of Priest - but that’s not a bad thing. Keep an eye on these boys, they may just have a chance.

Main support is RTM favourite leather clad metal men Intense. When they were last in these parts in October it was to celebrate the release of “The Shape of Rage” album. The intervening five months has allowed them to hone their delivery and, as a masterclass in underground Brit metal they are hard to beat. “Anubis” pounds, “The Elemental” tips his hat to the Irons then moves off in it’s own direction and they really are the real deal.

Headliners Point Black Fury were former stalwarts of the Brummie metal scene, before they disappeared about 12 months ago, when it turns out, they split up. This represents their comeback show “its ok, we like each other again now” points out guitarist Dale Jones, helpfully.

Their 40 minute set highlights why they were so good in the first place, and also allows them to showcase some new songs including “Love Ain’t Always Easy” which strays a little into power ballad territory at first, but then redeems itself by the end. They close, just like they always used to, with “Night Skies” and as a welcome back the job is very much done.

This event is apparently going to be repeated, which is to be welcomed. There are much worse ways to spend a Sunday evening then at a metal ball.