HEADBANGERS BALLS, The Rainbow Warehouse, Birmingham 17/8/13

A quite fantastic cause this – and a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, though some background may be required before continuing as the mainstream media appear to have given it paltry coverage.

A few years ago Reign of Fury frontman Bison Steed was diagnosed with testicular cancer, this is his fifth year clear of the disease and to celebrate he decided to do something about it. What the band did was team up with promoter Andy Pilkington and the people at Intune PR and set up a 12 date tour across the UK with a frankly incredible cast of underground metal bands.

This Birmingham date is the finale of the whole thing and saw an all-day festival type thing take place. Hands up, here, RTM wasn’t able to make all of it, but we got here as soon as we could, as we weren’t going to miss this for all sorts of reasons.

We get there in time to see Bull Riff Stampede. The local group has been making a few waves recently – not least of which was their appearance at Bloodstock last week and they evidently have the drive, ambition to get themselves heard. They have the songs too, “Advance And Conquer” and “The Pit March” posses everything a thrash band needs to succeed. They are about to record a new album, so this bull is one to watch.

Another local band, Hanging Doll is next up, and their female lead singer, allied to male guttural vocal approach is an interesting alternative to the previous group. “Cradle To The Grave” is arguably their best track, but they too are worth keeping an eye on.

Reign of Fury are next – introduced by Krusher, who RTM hadn’t seen for years before his Bloodstock appearance, but now appears to be following us about…..We had last seen Worcestershire’s finest at Bloodstock a year ago in the New Blood Tent – originally intending to leave after half their set to watch Evile, however, they were so good we stayed. If they were good then, they are even better tonight. RoF play a brand of metal that deserves to be aired in front of far bigger crowds than this. The aforementioned Steed has a presence and their twin guitar metal/thrash songs – of which “Psycho Intentions” is the pick, are excellent.

As we have said before, at RTM we want to like I Am I, but haven’t quite been won over. We were at their first ever show last May, then we saw them support Skid Row in March. On both occasions we have found singer ZP Theart a little too overpowering. Tonight, though, he tones down all the antics and concentrates on being a singer – and no one has ever doubted he can do sing. Not quite as power metal as you might expect given Theart’s past, instead “Cross The Line” and “Kiss Of Judas” could sit on a mid-1980s rock album pretty comfortably. First single “Silent Genocide” remains perhaps their best song, but this is a band that is making vast improvements.

Beholder’s Simon Hall never cuts the air of a bloke who is at peace with the world. Tonight, though, he gives as angry and incendiary a performance as we have seen from him. He is upset with Metal Hammer for not covering this tour, he is irked by the beer prices in the Rainbow and he is downright cheesed off with cancer itself.  It all makes for a fantastic Beholder show, though. The band showed at Bloodstock that they are in fine form right now and it continues tonight. Afforded a slightly longer set than last week, they use it to play “Never Take Us Down” the song they wrote for the Sophie Lancaster Charity, but its defiance is oddly in tune with tonight’s vibe too. By the time they have raced through the rant of “Liar” and the closing “Footprints” which has the central point that we are all flesh and blood, it is absolutely clear that you are watching one of the finest underground metal bands in the UK right now.

A superb evening all to raise money and awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust, the final word should go to Hall. “Thank you for doing the right thing,” he says. “Cancer is the biggest bastard out there. It took friends of mine and it took my hero Ronnie James Dio. Anything we can do to stop it must be done. Fuck you cancer.”

Well Simon, the picture of my mother in the living room of my house instead of her being there attests to the fact that it robbed my family too, so RTM agrees. And shame on any magazine that didn’t cover this event – but the unsigned scene will get by without support anyway, it always does. Just as someday, we will beat cancer. 

A tremendous and strangely life affirming evening.

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR DAY TWO: Catton Hall, Derbyshire 10/8/13

Day two, then, and we begin on the RJD stage to have a look at Stormbringer. A riff machine from Northamptonshire, they include ex members of Viking Skull. Stormbringer have less of a party approach to rock than that band, though. They play a chugging brand of metal/rock and they are very good indeed. “Grinder” and “Traitor” are more than enough to entertain anyone who has ventured in early.

After Krusher has seen us relive our youth watching Raw Power on TV and got us saying “rock hard, rock heavy, rock animal” to our mate just like when we were at school (and if that means nothing to you, then tough!) it’s the turn of Beholder. The Midlands thrash band (and with new album “The Order Of Chaos” is so heavy the band easily suits that moniker) singer Simon Hall always cuts an imposing figure and today is no different, as he strides the stage of the festival he helps organise. “Toxic Nation” is typical of the group’s angrier sound and “Footprints” is a fine closing song.

Being Canadian it was perhaps inevitable that 3 Inches Of Blood might stick some Rush in their set, but apart from the burst of “Tom Sawyer” it is fists-in-the-air pumping metal all the way. There is a Dio impression from singer Cam Pipes and they are big, dumb fun throughout. The likes of “Metal Woman” and “Battles And Brotherhood” are just there to be enjoyed, not analysed.

Just occasionally, watching gigs can be a jaw dropping experience. So, with that in mind, we say welcome to Hell. Best known, perhaps, for having producer to the stars, Andy Sneap in their ranks, for 40 minutes Hell put on one of the most stunning performances we have ever seen. From opening track, “Let Battle Commence” to the ending brilliance of “Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us,” Hell are phenomenal. From the ashes of the original band in the 1980s, their “Hell Awaits” album is superb, but nothing prepares you for the dose of fire and brimstone you get – and did we mention at one point, singer David Bower wears a pair of stilts and a goats head? No? Well he does. “Can you smell that burning?” he asks. “That’s your souls, that is.” Proving beyond all doubt that the devil does have the best tunes, Hell are one of the bands of the weekend.

How do you follow that? The blunt answer is that you can’t. What you can do, though, is go and watch the end of Scarab in the Sophie Tent. Israel’s premier metal export, they are keen to tell us how happy they are to be here and how metal is a unifying force. They are ok too.

But the reason we are in the tent isn’t for Scarab with all due respect, but for Mael Mordha. One of RTM’s favourite doom bands for a couple of years, this is the first time we have seen them – and it is most certainly worth the wait. “Hello, we are here to clean English cocks” might be a strange greeting, but it is the only thing that doesn’t quite hit the spot. Mordha are an incongruous thing. Monstrously heavy, but also using a flute, they have a new album coming out and “Bloody Alice” hints it might be a bit of a cracker

Neonfly are our perennial favourites at RTM. This is our fifth time seeing the band and we like them. We like them a lot. They are power metal, they are melodic, they sound European and they have members from all over the place. They also have one of the best frontmen around in Willy Norton and tons of good songs, like “Morning Star.” They apparently have album number two in the bag and play a few today. “Misspent Dreams” sounds like what we have come to expect, but “Highways To Nowhere” is altogether different. A band that will – we hope – achieve good things.

Especially as Power Quest are giving up after tonight and leaving the way clear for somebody else to become the flag bearers for UK power metal. You either like songs like “Call To Love” or you don’t, and tonight – as they bring former members out for one last goodbye – the band are very much preaching to the converted. And doing so very well.

How do you explain a band like Avantasia to people? Frankly, the collective, led by Tobias Sammet, vocalist in Edguy, and supported by a cast of many, many others, notably tonight, Bob Catley of Magnum, Eric Martin of Mr Big (who brilliantly chirrups “hello Birmingham” when he strolls out onstage…..) and Ronnie Atkins of the Pretty Maids, are a power metal fans wet dream. Gloriously intricate and overblown songs, they are more rock opera than rock band. Clocking in a 90 minute show, they are able to let rip with songs from new album “The Mystery Of Time” and whilst not everyone totally buys into their brilliance, for RTM this was very special indeed.

More special, unfortunately, than Lamb of God. The sense of anticipation that greeted the band’s first show on these shores since what Randy Blythe terms “our legal difficulties” wasn’t quite matched by what happened. Songs like “Ghost Walking” and “Set To Fail” of course are excellent, but their set is dogged by problems with the barrier and result in big gaps and lost momentum. Never mind, though, as we are seeing them do it all again on Tuesday in Wolverhampton…..

BASEMENTFEST DAY 2: Beholder, Under Blackend Skies, Left For Red, Valous @Roadhouse 26/8/12

Day two – notwithstanding the fact our mate the compare is still there (although pointedly not for the headliners) – always looked better than the opener. Whilst we are gutted to have missed Disarm Goliath who’s early slot means RTM can’t get there, there is still much to enjoy on paper.

Not least amongst the treats are Valous. A line up change has seen them bumped up the order and on the evidence of their thrilling half hour it is a very much-deserved promotion. They pedal similar meaty hooks to that of The Almighty in their heyday and with songs like “Locked Up Inside,” “Fools Dance” and newbie “Blisters” – apparently from a new album they are releasing - they are most definitely worth having a look at.

Another set of West Midlands metal stalwarts, Left For Red, are next. Evidently they are close to Valous – and there is a warm atmosphere amongst all the bands this evening – and they too operate in a distinctly British metal vein. They are unpretentious and fun, and with man mountain frontman LC providing a focal point they are always enjoyable. Alongside the tried and tested “Empty Shell” and “Shatter,” they too choose to unveil a new song and “Mercy Fight” sits very snugly indeed in their cannon.

Birmingham’s Under Blackened Skies have no problems following this, and the past few years on the circuit have turned them into a formidable live act. Easily the heaviest band on the bill this evening, they are almost Black Metal in their approach, and although “Faceless Devastation” remains their best song, there is always much to enjoy, including a fine “Sense of Reason.”

Back in March, at this very venue Under Blackened Skies were the main support to Beholder. Whether by accident or design, it has worked out that way again. Equally curiously Beholder played that UK tour to unveil some songs from a new album, entitled “The Black Flag” which was apparently to be released just after. As of yet the album still hasn’t seen light of day, which is a shame as it sounds like it could be a monster.

Whether they want just to tease us, or the album – a follow up to the stunning “The Awakening” - has suffered some setbacks is unclear. What is certain, however, is the “…Flag” songs are very heavy indeed. Frontman Simon Hall cuts an angry demeanor and that suits the mood of the new songs like “Toxic Nation” and the title track perfectly.

Like in March they mix the new stuff with plenty of songs from the debut, kicking off with “Heretic” and playing “Snake Eyes” before insisting on the weekends first circle pit during “Razorline.”

Hall launches into his usual impassioned speech about bands not needing record companies during “Here I Stand” before a truncated set is brought to a close with the best of the old in “The Awakening” before bringing in the new with “Footprints in the Sand.”

RTM’s impatience to hear the new album notwithstanding, the fact remains that Beholder are even better now than when RTM first clapped eyes on them at the Hellfire Fest at the NEC in 2009 – and they were pretty damn good then.

One of British metal’s best kept secrets, Beholder were absolutely the best band possible to close a celebration of underground metal.

BEHOLDER, Under Blackened Skies, Adust @The Roadhouse 1/3/2012

Brummie Thrashers Adust are not a band we have come across before but they are a welcome surprise. Tight and talented, they have songs that tick all the right boxes but are far from a bullets and high top sneakers type retro tribute.

New track “Refuse, Replicate, Resist” hints at some fine things to come and they end a fine set with a medley of songs including Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica and Pantera.

Under Blackened Skies follow. Heavier than Adust, they are ostensibly here to plug new EP “Faceless Devastation.” The title track bludgeons and they lead the crowd into a fists-in-the-air singalong of “We are Together, We Stand As One” before they disappear.

But if these new breed of Birmingham metal bands were good, the reason we are all here is to celebrate the return of perhaps the best local underground band Beholder. It was 2009 when RTM clapped eyes on the five-piece for the first time, blowing us away as they opened the main stage at the Hellfire Fest at the NEC. Well now, the five piece are back. And this time, it seems, they mean it.

Frontman Simon Hall explains as much to begin with: “There are no fanfares, no intros, no encores,” he says. “Just an hour of heavy metal.” (Far be it from RTM to argue with Simon, who as you probably know is a very big man, but they don’t play for an hour, but actually an hour and a quarter…)

Tonight represents the first night of a major headlining UK tour for the group and also the first time they have played a lot of these songs live. New album “The Black Flag” is due soon and it showcases a heavier, angrier sound, borne out by their apparent frustration at the way the world is going, indeed the title track gets an airing and bodes extremely well from the upcoming opus.

They don’t forget their acclaimed debut either, with the likes of “Heretic” and “Snake Eyes” still sounding fresh and crushing, but it is perhaps “Never Take Us Down” the song written for Sophie Lancaster, the young girl who was beaten to death in 2007 for being a goth, that remains their best moment.

Indeed, it is perhaps the moment that best sums the group up, beneath the rough and ready exterior their beats the heart of a band with genuine warmth and appreciation for their crowd. It is also a band which has some fine musicians, with Si Fielding’s lead guitar especially impressive.

True to their word there are no encores, but they do finish with the title track of their debut CD before playing a new song “Footprints in the Sand” about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is a neat way to show the band they were compared to the band they are now.   

The fact remains, though, that whichever version of Beholder you care to listen to, they are a mighty fine proposition.

Welcome back, boys!