After having seen Alestorm and Týr again at HammerFest, this was a show I was very much looking forward to. Especially after bumping into a quite wasted bassist by the name of Gareth Murdock in the day. After obtaining a nasty sprain in my left ankle on the Friday night (leaving me unable to see the Peterborough show on Saturday), this gig was sure to put a strain on me.
Middenhelm
What can I say about this band? Everything needs work. The music was a mismatch of black metal, thrash and metalcore. It seemed like they couldn't quite make up their mind what they wanted to play. The band don't look the part either. As a support band, it's generally not an idea to go on-stage with a variety of other bands shirts on. Also, when a technical error occurs with a guitar that you couldn't even hear, you can at least pretend to play rather than staring at your amp dumb-founded before leaving the stage and returning with a microphone to poorly scream the words with your other vocalist. Not impressed.
Týr
As stated in the previous blog, Týr have really become something as a live act. They play all the fans favourites, including the Irish traditional "The Wild Rover", with Gazz & Wilson of Alestorm hitting the stage to sing along on this track. Tracks included the newer & refined version of "Hail to the Hammer", "Regin Smiður", "Ólavur Riddararós", "Sinklars Visa" and the brilliant "Ramund hin Unge" - an adaptation of a Danish traditional. The band also played another Irish traditional in the form of "Whiskey in the Jar" - which appeared to be not as rehearsed, but incredibly tight. A great performance from the Faroe Islands' finest.
Alestorm
I was both looking forward to and concerned about the Alestorm show. Since the band appeared to be quite wasted, I knew it wouldn't be the tightest show they'd ever played. But that's not what this show was about. This show was about putting to an end an incredibly long stretch of touring and having a party in the country's capital. Showcasing much old and new material, Alestorm gain a lot of fan participation throughout the show, yet I don't know where the person dressed as a parrot seemed to disappear to - his costume was the best by far. Special thanks to Dani for sorting the guest list out on this one, as well as the rest of the guys in the band for being a fun bunch of drunken bastards.
Middenhelm
What can I say about this band? Everything needs work. The music was a mismatch of black metal, thrash and metalcore. It seemed like they couldn't quite make up their mind what they wanted to play. The band don't look the part either. As a support band, it's generally not an idea to go on-stage with a variety of other bands shirts on. Also, when a technical error occurs with a guitar that you couldn't even hear, you can at least pretend to play rather than staring at your amp dumb-founded before leaving the stage and returning with a microphone to poorly scream the words with your other vocalist. Not impressed.
Týr
As stated in the previous blog, Týr have really become something as a live act. They play all the fans favourites, including the Irish traditional "The Wild Rover", with Gazz & Wilson of Alestorm hitting the stage to sing along on this track. Tracks included the newer & refined version of "Hail to the Hammer", "Regin Smiður", "Ólavur Riddararós", "Sinklars Visa" and the brilliant "Ramund hin Unge" - an adaptation of a Danish traditional. The band also played another Irish traditional in the form of "Whiskey in the Jar" - which appeared to be not as rehearsed, but incredibly tight. A great performance from the Faroe Islands' finest.
Alestorm
I was both looking forward to and concerned about the Alestorm show. Since the band appeared to be quite wasted, I knew it wouldn't be the tightest show they'd ever played. But that's not what this show was about. This show was about putting to an end an incredibly long stretch of touring and having a party in the country's capital. Showcasing much old and new material, Alestorm gain a lot of fan participation throughout the show, yet I don't know where the person dressed as a parrot seemed to disappear to - his costume was the best by far. Special thanks to Dani for sorting the guest list out on this one, as well as the rest of the guys in the band for being a fun bunch of drunken bastards.