I always feel a slight buzz of excitement at the prospect of going to a new venue as the Ruby Lounge in the heart of Manchester became my 181st different venue I’ve been to since I first started attending gigs back in the early 80s. This is Battle Beast’s first headline tour in the UK as a stalwart contingent was queued up outside the venue to the look of bemusement by passers-by rubbernecking at us. Opening on time and burrowing down into the venues caverns I was pleasantly surprised at the style of the venue with the various relaxing zones with decent seating, but also very concerned that Taake will be playing the same venue next month and if you’re not in front of the stage you won’t be able to see a thing, though thankfully the gig wasn’t rammed tonight.

Japanese three piece Gyze hit the stage and proceeded to lavish a deft guitar display on the audience that was very similar to Children Of Bodom, (Children Of Bosom as it appeared on my phone as I keyed in my notes). That similarity was persistent throughout the set as they opened with “Pirates Of Upas”, I believe, from their impending new album called ‘Northern Hell Song”. On the merch desk my shooter grabbed a free disk from the bands but I missed out as they were quickly snapped up. The band could certainly play as they pulled off every imaginable heavy metal pose and cliché through their set that continued with “Perryi Rain Dragon”, which sent the actual guitar riffing sound into a quagmire of indecipherable dirge but allowed the lead work to stand out fully, as the guitarist mimicked Alex from Bodom with his pose and singing style at the mike. He also utilised raised platform (read box) at the centre to pose on as “The Bloodthirsty Prince” produced a modern bouncy infested tune that the crowd clearly enjoyed as both guitarists used the limited stage space very well. Their drummer was enjoyable to watch, standing and playing when suitable, engaging with the audience as much as possible, probably to make up for the less than energetic bass player. All the guys had a striking look both in clothing and face daubing as a friend of mine noted that there was a Chthonic style to them and even a dabbling within the Taiwanese band’s music style too. Closing their set with “Northern Hell Song” the guitar riff was more audible on the song as the band reeled in the last few fans as new converts and although I wasn’t too enamoured by their performance I think I was in a majority of one.

Having seen Germany’s Majesty at the Czech Metal Fest in 2015 I wasn’t expecting much from them as their show at the festival was mediocre, but here they were nothing short of stunning and I felt that Battle Beast were in for a tough task in upstaging them. Everything you can think of within the sphere of heavy metal, the clichés, the posing, the banter was thrust at the audience who were one of the best I’ve ever witnessed as the bands fanbase was fanatical to say the least. After a short intro piece the band nestled snugly on stage with the opening riff of “Die Like Kings” and the moment it started the audience was in full voice and did not stop for their entire set and I really mean that. The eye make up the band was sporting did them no favours and made them look like they had major hangovers as they continued with “Hail To Majesty” complete with the crowd chanting ‘hey’ with no provocation. Each aspect of their show was choreographed, that was clear, but the way the band danced around each other on stage was not as they were not small dudes by any means. With powerful vocals, the ever-affable frontman Tarek commanded the stage with prowess cajoling the audience louder when required and also calmer when the songs required it. The sound afforded the band was bass loaded which seems to be a common trait these days at gigs which is annoying as it’s the guitar work that shines in heavy/power metal bands like this, as they sailed into “Yolo Heavy Metal”, prior to which Tarek did a left and right audience vocal shout back saying he needs to test us. He sang ‘yolo’ we shouted… well I guess you can work that part out. Slowing the pace for “Across The Lightning” the crowd did their power grabs that a friend of mine was also doing and seemed to catch the eye of Tarek as he did it back to her. You can’t argue with songs like “Metal Law”, and whilst the Judas Priest like riffing may be obvious to me, the band are their own as they produced a stellar live show delivered with confidence, dexterity and total enthusiasm. With the set approaching the last few songs Tarek shouted ‘thunder’ which someone followed with ‘cats’ to much hilarity as smoke billowed from the front of the stage like a seething volcano as the band members constructed a fine synchro head bang along with the audience when “Thunder Rider” blazed from the stage, though I think Tarek needs to learn some new moves outside of his dad dancing routine. Their set ended with “Fight Till The End” as two of the guitarists adopted the spin dryer head bang style wafting the smoke at the same time as the crowd enthusiastically joined in on the lyric line of ‘go away and fuck yourself’ in the chorus and ended a powerful, exuberant and energised heavy metal set.

I’ve seen Battle Beast a couple of times before this tour and on both occasions, they convinced me that they’re going to be huge and now that they’ve also recently released their stunning new fourth album “Bringer Of Pain” that journey to stardom edges ever forward. My worries about the band being upstaged by Majesty proved unwarranted as the band appeared on stage in bits with the drummer first accompanying the intro with a kick drum beat and cymbal tap that led into the guitarists appearing positioning themselves ready for Noora to bounce on stage to a massive cheer from the crowd who as I said are one of the best metal crowds I’ve seen for a long time, never tiring of singing, never waning in uncompromising adulation and never tiring of raising those horns and fists whenever beckoned to do so.  With Noora on stage the set erupted with a triple salvo from the new album starting with “Straight To The Heart”, with its infectious chorus and almost pop like beat. With all the band decked out in black, Noora had changed her image somewhat since I last saw the band as she worked the stage perfectly as the set continued with “Bringer Of Pain” and “Familiar Hell” the latter of which has one of the catchiest choruses you’ll ever hear this year, preceded by Noora stating that the band is finally here and that Wolverhampton was last night to obligatory boos from the crowd.

The energy teeming from the stage was potently effective as Noora gave a little speech about the new album before unleashing “Into The Heart Of Danger” which for some reason had a very loud snare hit as I watched the band, admiring and recalling why heavy metal is so damn great. The stage was low so the provision of the said raised box was paramount for seeing individual band members throughout the night, except Majesty who were all giants it seemed, as Noora stood aloft with arms outstretched to the crowd as smoke appeared on “We Will Fight” and a fist pump was encouraged, as though it needed it which it didn’t. Possibly the bands future anthem “Let It Roar” was fantastic and I can’t ever imagine it ever being off the set list and was thunderously executed after which Eero told the audience that they were advised not to play the UK by their agent as no one would come and jumped straight into “Black Ninja” as by now Noora had ditched her long black coat as it was rather warm in the venue, as more smoke erupted from the front of the stage creating a mushroom like nuclear detonation cloud effect creating an eerie sight especially with the blue light when her face appeared through it.

“Far From Heaven” was beautifully sung, its ballad qualities able to shine passionately and emotively both from the guys instruments and Noora’s wondrous vocals. A slight pause ensued before “Lost In Wars” was aired as Noora was now brandishing an ornate mini sceptre as the smoke diffused through the stage into the audience with spooky green light reflecting off it. Cloaking her head with a hood Noora’s vocals were nicely contrasted with Janne’s (keyboards) vocal producing a nice contrast in texture. Before “Touch Of The Night” Noora joked that she had had to take her eyelashes off as they were melting to her face as the tune was pure dance metal after which Noora stated that that was the best dancing of the tour. With the set rocketing by “Bastard Son Of Odin” was possibly the band’s heaviest song of the night and led into “Enter The Metal World” from the band’s debut as I took the opportunity to get a shirt before the set hit the encore. “Out Of Control” was the bands last song of the main set played with undulating smoke and red light, the stage looked hellish as Eero told us again that they were told not to come to the UK as the audience chanted Battle Beast. With the encore approaching the Eero’s asked for an A major then a higher C for some reason as we were told that next song is a tribute to Manowar which immediately caused the crowd to cross their arms in a cheer expecting to hear a Manowar cover and would be a heavy tune, then promptly played part of “Last Christmas” by George Michael which the crowd instantly sang together.

“King For A Day” was the first of the encore songs as strobing pink lighting made the stage shimmer and in some respects dipped the momentum a tad as Noora stood stage centre beckoning the audience telling us it’s time for us to sing together. With fine vocals on display the gathered throng sang in unison as the set closed with “Beyond The Burning Skies” telling us we were the best audience of the tour so far and this was the 19th show of the tour and past half way. A thoroughly enjoyable and riveting night of heavy metal and I hope other bands that are hesitant at playing in the UK take note, that if you come here we will attend, especially in Manchester it seems.

Word: MARTIN HARRIS

Photos: ANDY POUNTNEY