It’s a well known fact that the average metalhead spends around two hours preparing for a night out. Forty-five minutes to actually get ready, the other hour spent choosing which band shirt to wear. Sometimes however, the decision can be made a little easier. For a night like tonight, if it’s brightly coloured and Power Metal, wear it.

First up is Swedish act Majestica. Formerly known as ReinXeed, frontman Tommy Johansson has great fun ensuring his new act takes full advantage of their all too brief thirty minute set. Guitarist Petter Hjerpe throws shapes with bassist Chris David while drummer Joel Kollberg drives songs like ‘Metal United’ and “Alliance Forever” from the side. It’s with “Power Train” and “Night Call Girl” where the band really impress though, the latter introduced like it was written in 1986. An impressive achievement as only Hjerpe was actually born at that point, and then was only one year old.

If you like theatricality and the undead then German four-piece Dominum will be right up your cemetery. Consisting of three masked zombies (mohawked drummer Victor Hiltop, dreadlocked guitarist Tommy Kemp and magnificently bearded bassist Patient Zero), the band is led by non-masked ringleader Dr. Dead (aka Felix Heldt) who, for the next forty minutes, turns his audience into willing zombie slaves ready to do his bidding. Opening up with a slightly subdued “Danger Danger” and “Killed by Life” the band suddenly jolt into life, electrifying the audience with “The Dead Don’t Die,” “Frankenstein” and “Don’t Get Bitten by the Wrong Ones.” A raucous version of Scorpions classic “Rock You Like a Hurricane” gets everyone bouncing before building to a rousing climax with “We All Taste the Same,” “The Chosen Ones” and an almighty “Immortalis Dominum.”

Having to follow that is an unenviable task but Finnish headliners Battle Beast do not disappoint. Focusing heavily on new album Steelbound, the band thunder through “The Long Road,” “Straight to the Heart,” “Last Goodbye,” “Here We Are,” “Blood of Heroes,” “Watch the Sky Fall,” “Angel of Midnight,” the title track and the Latin rhythms of “Twilight Cabaret,” all for the very first time on UK soil.

Previous record, Circus of Doom, is also heavily represented with “Master of Illusion,” “Eye of the Storm,” “Where Angels Fear to Fly” and “Wings of Light” while the rest of the set is split between the Bringer of Pain and No More Hollywood Endings records. “King for a Day” and ‘Bastard Son of Odin’ from the former, the title track and “Eden” from the latter. In fact, the only pre-2017 song tonight comes in the shape of Elton John/Tim Rice classic “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” sung brilliantly by underrated bass player Eero Sipilä.

Drummer Pyry Vikki, Keytar killer Janne Björkroth and his guitarist brother Joona all get their chance to shine but, as always, it’s on singer Noora Louhimo where ninety percent of the audience’s attention is permanently focused. Wearing Maleficent-style horns, fishnet stockings and a black dress with more spikes than a Buffy convention, she absolutely dominates every inch of the stage. The audience hangs on her every word, either singing at the top of their voices, watching attentively, or lost deep in their own personal fantasies. Of which we shall not be speaking of in public, ever.

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GARY ALCOCK
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