The near sell-out crowd were treated to hard rock at its barn-storming best. Considering people had travelled from the North of England (our hotel was packed with ageing rockers) it was a damn good thing. The standing audience were a whole new generation of blues-rock fans while the more demure contented themselves with the seated area.

(Despite a few bone-heads who don't get the concept of the seated area. There were a couple of younger ladies in front of me making a complete arse of themselves not realising there were people around them with crutches and canes who were not able to stand up during the gig. The fact they were crap dancers and nothing special didn't help matters. Still no bitch-slapping occurred...just.)

A few voice stumbles and off notes notwithstanding these two 30+ year old groups proved they could still cut it live. Smiles were plastered on the audience despite having to schlep home in the peeing down rain. If they extend this pairing worldwide don't miss it.

CD reviews

Deivos: Emanation from Below

This Polish lot sing about death and misery. This is first full-length re-issued for the rest of the world. Its heavy and threatening. You know the drill of course. I suspect this re-release is in anticipation of a new release from this lot. It would be good to see if they managed a bit of variety in their brutality. There are lot of bands doing something similar, and they need to tweak it a bit to raise among the competent morass. That said, its great to hear stuff from the very healthy Polish scene.

Atrocity: Todessehnsucht

Take the already pretty creepy "Longing for Death" album and put into the original German for a touch of extra sinister. This lot are German and really lay on the brooding threat of this sort of metal. That is not to say this is bog-standard death metal; its more experimental with touches of industrial, techno-metal that drifts into Testament-esque workouts and a dash of goth. Clearly a band that do not shirk from having a go at stuff; their catalogue is a variety of styles on the outer edge of metal. This album might be something to check-out for those who have a penchant for the more avant-gard, German varieties of heavy music.

Violent Force: Malevolent Assault of Tomorrow

This is old school thrash at its most basic, then again that is no shock as it was originally released in 1987. Their one and only full-length after a bunch of demos this is clearly in the Venom school of thrash attack. Quick drumming, repeated rifting and shouted vocals. Really basic and a tad dated these days its always amusing to listen to an this sort of also-rans from the era. Remastered by Metal Mind in loving care; this is probably one for completists. What might amuse is that the album even sports an instrumental track. Germans doing thrash with all their might.