Friday

Greeted once more by the four elder gods (some nutbags claim they are ‘just cooling towers’ but I’ve done my research so wake up sheeple!) it’s Warhorns Late Winter Camp (and yes brave Warhorners do indeed camp in the slightly damp, chilly field but I’m old, live 5 miles away and have a designated driver…)

Warm inside though and with hot food, good beer (Black Metal Brewery as always and new guys Anarchy Brewery add to an already excellent range) and Warhorns mead make it a nice relaxing start and time to say hi to familiar faces and meet people not seen in 3 long years.

Food sorted, it’s on into the party evening of the festival.

First up are Aventail from Bristol I gather, a pagan folk metal band to slot us in nicely to the Warhorns ethos. A moody intro graces the sound system before we charge into a big galloping sound. It’s pretty good, engaging stuff and their version of ‘The Swallowtail Jig’ is particularly welcomed by the crowd who get their dancing shoes on. It is their first ever gig so there are some rough edges; a bit of talking over each other for lead singer and guitarist, a couple of wayward clean vocals which I suspect were simple nerves but honestly no biggie. They were enthusiastic, pretty tight and sounded great with some good songs on first hearing. They knew to mix it up with the fiddle and some clean female vocals with the harsh ones.  A genuinely cool start that deservedly went down well with a crowd eager to have fun. They’re gonna grow into it quickly. Well done people.

So the next band I’d never heard of. Fellowship. Well, I was concerned that as well as including a monk that they had exceeded the legally allowed cloak allowance on stage with four, but was later assured by singer Matt that there were only in fact three cloaks and the other was actually a cape. Phew. I readied myself for hobbity folk metal aaaaand….got suckerpunched by ‘Glory Days’. What we actually got was…kind Hammerfall at Dragonforce speeds; solid power metal riffs, racing, razor sharp melodic guitar runs from both guitarists, high clean vocals, galloping drum battery and some neat bass lines scampering along.

The sound was a bit messy on the first song but cleaned up quickly and we were treated to a charismatic, fun and catchy set. ‘Scars & Shrapnel Wounds’ gave us some great hooks and there was so much lively and positive energy from the band. The singer had a good, friendly stage presence and the lead guitarist was clearly having a blast and the crowd fed off it. By the time we reached closer ‘Glint’ the audience were loving it and even grumpy sod me was smiling.

We closed the party night with Womenowar. Like Manowar songs but can’t deal with their fetid bullshit? Then this is the answer to your dreams! I, not actually having been able to listen to Manowar since a live encounter in the 80s, know precious few of their songs since Sign Of The Handbag…er Hammer…. So yeah, the worst person to review this but I’m all there was from Ave Noctum tonight.

And what did I make of it?

Oh my. What a band.

With three mighty women warriors, another one with a fetching beard I wasn’t sure about and a…er… Spread Eagle on drums. Sadly second guitarist Floss The Boss was absent, laid low by a cowardly Covid ambush but these are warriors, not wimps so they went to battle heedless of the fallen! And they put on a fantastic set.

The first thing you realise is that they are just such good musicians: From the absolutely huge voice of Erica Had’ems (!) that can make your heart sing and your ribcage vibrate to Davina Shenkles hammering out those riffs. The pairing of Spread Eagle and Joanne Lmao (sorry, love these names) are just so solid and powerful and the dexterous Dark Destroyer on keyboards brings the fog of war right to us. The sound is great and the smoke rises (thus completely screwing up my feeble photography attempts) and we gallop through a history of battle honours. ‘Hail And Kill’ charge us and the crowd are indeed lapping it up. A minor routing of our forces and a quick regroup to rally and sally forth once more (yeah ok, a fire alarm) and they lost no time in getting back to the fray. Highlight had to be Queens/Kings Of Metal and the great crowd call back.

Ah, I hate comedy bands, have little time for covers bands but Womenowar are a superb live experience, full of passion and fun and just a fine, fine band with a very good point to make.

Day one done, battle torn hero that I am I ride for home and the morrow….

Review and photos Gizmo

Part 2 to follow