Saturday

So, a full day ahead for the Saturday and the prospect of an emotional one. And hopefully some decent photos.

Food and chat first but thankfully paying enough attention to realise that one of two returning bands who played the last Warhorns with absences, Vlka Fenryka, were on. Thankfully rejoined by their giant singer The Berserker and so making the rest of the band look like hobbits (look I’m 5’5″, hobbits tower over me usually) this self-confessed “smooth jazz band gone horribly wrong” launch the longship. It’s another seriously engaging performance, kind of Amon Amarth with a neat little NWOBHM influence in the melodies and some great harsh vocals. Visually they entertain with energy to their stagecraft, and a nice self-deprecating humour to their banter. Yeah a couple of slightly dodgy seconds on some clean vocals but with excellent songs like ‘Howl Of War’, ‘Flaming Sword’ and ‘Berzerker Rage’ they really warm the crowd up nicely. Check them out for your Viking metal fix.

Next up a new name to me, Denali took the stage and joy upon joy they bring the thunderous (artisan) death doom to the crowd. From the outset of ‘Catafalque’ we are plunged into the slow grim sound. Its enveloping and intense and the vocals (from Ross King of Countless Skies I embarrass myself by discovering at the merch table later) are just perfect.

This is deep into very early Paradise Lost territory, twist of Swallow The Sun maybe but most importantly with that much sought out individuality threading through. Bass heavy, great riffs and lead work and pummelling drums summon a slow rolling storm in ‘Beneath The Waves’ and epic closer ‘Deathless’ confirms the superb musicianship on display.

They go down very well which is great to see as the only doom band on the bill and I look forward to hearing some release or other as soon as they manage.

So far, this is a great start indeed.

So, can the second returning-this-time-fully-staffed band Akilla keep it going? Of course they can. I was really looking forward to hearing the full band after they played without a bassist last time (“I had a hair appointment…”) and they didn’t disappoint in the slightest. It’s a really muscular chunky version of death metal in a kind of maybe Swedish style that borders on thrash chops with a melodic style that still delivers in the oomph.

They look really comfortable together on stage too; tight and confident. ‘Song Of The Seafarers’ doesn’t elicit another rowing party but it still goes down great as it conjures real atmosphere and the cold biting spray rowing to harsh lands and previous single ‘Echo’ is just fantastic; haunting and yet still power. Spot on guys.

Frozen In Shadows were on next, a band I’d never heard before but that’s why we come to gigs like this, yes? Ah, well this was difficult for me. I mean they can play fine and the singer is a pretty good rabble rouser as shown by the warm response but I found the music…difficult to latch on to. Kind of melodic-ish death metal with At The Gates style attack?

A thrashy feel round the edges? It just felt a little shapeless to me, no real hooks for my brain at least so I retired to the back. They did keep the crowd going and went down rather well though so maybe just not for me?

Countless Skies used to be not for me until that moment they clicked and now I just can’t get enough of this incredible melodic death/proggy band. And even better this evening the cello parts were being performed by the hugely talented Arianna Mahsayeh: This really brings a rich extra vein of sound to their sumptuous music. They don’t open their set so much as absolutely soar into the heart wrenching ‘Daybreak’. The riff has a heavy attack with some powerful drumming and the harsh vocals of Ross King drive it on until those quite incredible clean vocals of bass player Phil Romeo just lift it to the roof. The quite magnetic stage presence of guitarist James Pratt, his intensity and fluidity, work so well and honestly for a bunch of guys in black t shirts they are visually great to watch, yes even drummer Nahtan Robshaw. Add in Ms Mahsayeh, dancing with her cherry red electric cello as all cellists do and the stage show is excellent.

Musically they are incredible. Flourishes of Permanent Waves era Rush dance with that melodeth sound from Scandinavia and just all steeped in the Countless Skies majesty. ‘Zephyr’ and ‘Solace’ fly by until they build and incredible obstacle for any band to climb; a 20-minute live version of ‘Glow’ which…shit…that should not work, not at all and yet it does and the crowd goes whole-heartedy with them. By the time they close with ‘Tempest’ once more I am in awe. Best melodic death metal band in the UK and one of the best full stop.

Thank you Countless Skies; it’s been emotional.

Which left welcome Northern Irish epic Celtic tinged metal band Darkest Era a lot to follow. They been pretty absent since their showing at HRH and very quiet on the recording front since 2015 but my affection for their albums and their superb show at Warhorns somewhat, six years ago gave me both great anticipation and a little concern as I had no idea how many in the crowd even knew them.

Also, for the second time this weekend a guitarist’s beard confused me (but I was soon informed regular other guitarist Sarah Wieghell was absent due to pregnancy). The glory of ‘An Ancient Fire Burns’ just rushes through me and I am immersed within moments, the grin spreading. Their sound is a rolling barrelling celebration of riffs and hooks, and when Krum lets loose of his huge and deeply emotional voice it all just takes you out of the world. The twin duelling guitar runs are wonderful glorious evocations. By the time ‘Sorrow’s Boundless Realm’ finishes its gallop I think it’s fair to say the crowd know what they are dealing with and begin to warm to them. Stragglers come in to see what all the thunder and lightning is about.

The energy from Krum is tremendous and matched by the rest. I’ve missed this band. They play with their hearts pinned firmly to their sleeves and with songs like ‘Beyond The Grey Veil’ their songwriting talent shines.

Of-course they play ‘The Morrigan’, just a brilliant moment that shines with superb vocals and joyous guitar runs and breaks as the bass and drums whip up a storm of Lizzy-esque licks and celtic heart.

No ‘Visions Of The Dawn’ (my favourite) but I’m not really complaining. With an impromptu encore with some guest vocals from Ms Wieghell they have brought everything that made me fall in love with the band flooding back and go down so well. Thank you, thank you so much. New album in the works too so look out people.

So. A Forest Of Stars.

Well. So often having seven members in their club they have people hiding behind speakers or even half in the crowd but here they have enough space to see them all and only the redoubtable bassist Mr Titus Lungbutter and guitarist Mr William Wight-Barrow snuggle. As the turbulent, roiling riffs of ‘Precipice Pirouette’ and the haunted, wild but emotionally twisted vocals of Mr Curse spit, cry and snap I wonder what the uninitiated in the crowd will make. But this, their first gig in over two years is a magnificent stage setting. We get the disturbing and haunting violin of Katheryne, Queen Of Ghosts weaving in and out of the violence, the sinister backdrop of keyboards from The Gentleman and the dapper Mr T.S. Kettleburner whipping his guitar from fury to delicacy with ease.

The crowd and myself seem taken aback. Some perhaps confused, the rest of us just swept up immediately.

‘Prey Tell Of The Church Fate’ follows ominously. Eerie black metal woven with the lost souls of some lunatic asylum. The Queen Of Ghosts is serene, conducting the phantoms, a perfect counterpoint to the dark, lean figure of Mister Curse so intense in his torment that he twists and crouches and stalks until the quiet tames him for a while. It’s beautiful and horrible melody from seance parlours and asylums is mesmeric. ‘Children Of The Night Soil’ utterly thunders out of the darkness under the precise violence of drummer Mr John ‘The Resurrectionist’ Bishop. It is a waltz of black metal and Victoriana, a malevolent mischief of music that seems to torture and taunt Mister Curse into rages.

‘Summertides Approach’ with its puppet-like dance follows and it’s fair to say at this point the only critical faculty I have left is noting that the crowd is most definitely with them, more than I had hoped. The mesmeric ‘Gatherer Of The Pure’ gleefully possesses Mister Curse to spit out insanities and The Gentleman conducts the abuse like a sideshow magician riding upon a calliope. Messrs Kettleburner and Wight-Barrow play such a transfixing melody and it all collapses inwards.

The end of the pleasure and the pain is the huge ‘Drawing Down The Rain’, a midnight journey of all things A Forest Of Stars, waltzing melody, perfect bass and multiple layers of chiffon melody sewn with hidden razors and eruptions of wild violence.

I’m emotionally drained. Visually compelling, musically utterly enthralling this unique Club with a weird, anguished and complex sound of lost souls and tortured thoughts are somehow also so accessible even in the live setting. They were frankly stunning. And many told me the same afterwards, some not having heard them before.

Just…perfect to have them back. (Gizmo)

And so the reviewing baton was passed to me for the mighty Winterfylleth and what promised to be an emotional set. A Ukrainian flag with “No War” written on it was hung above the drum kit and Vocalist Chris was proudly sporting a Drudkh shirt.

The set opened in ferocious fashion with the band unleashing their epic black metal on the Warhorns faithful, as a member of the crowd threw a bra on stage (only to ask for it back later on!). ‘A Valley Thick With Oaks’ stirred the crowd into action with a perfect balance of vitriol and atmosphere. As the track ended, somebody shouted “Chris is the best”, to which he replied, “yes he fucking is”…..brilliant!

‘Whisper of the Elements’ provided more abrasive, yet melodic, black metal before the band launched into the title track of the latest album ‘The Reckoning Dawn’ followed by ‘The Ghost of Heritage’. Glorious melodies infiltrated the swirling maelstrom and it was noticeable how much the band looked to be enjoying the set, smiling and engaging with the crowd.

‘A Hostile Fate (The Wayfarer pt. 4) provided sublime melodies before a brief halt in proceedings to reflect upon the current situation in Ukraine and for the band to reflect upon their relationship with Ukrainian band Drudkh. This inevitably led into ‘Ensigns of Victory’, which Chris explained is about “…forcing your way into someone else’s country and sticking your flag in the ground….”. The crowd were asked to spare a thought for Drudkh and all Ukrainians as the band ripped through this poignant, and unnervingly prophetic, culmination of their set.

This was the perfect end to the festival, and once again Winterfylleth demonstrated why they are at the forefront of UK black metal.  (Andy P)

So Warhorns pulled off an absolutely top-notch festival. The party night partied, the Saturday was just rammed with bands turning in great sets and the last four in particular were just outstanding, every one.. The audience was great too; there to be involved, to appreciate and to uphold the friendly atmosphere (hey one child was giving out little cakes with their parents!)

It’s difficult still. Some still don’t feel comfortable going to gigs, others are ok with it but for other reasons don’t feel comfortable travelling outside of their home area. Some people I thought would be there because of the outstanding bill just weren’t there sadly, a few I didnt expect turned up. It’s hard for all promotions, and so they really need to work together to make the most of whatever audience is out there to help everyone and that can only benefit us, the fans. Warhorns do this. They are stand up guys doing this for the scene. Support them by enjoying some incredible bands.

I just hope we all soon feel able to come out to play. By the looks of the world we’re going to need this escape.

Warhorns are still one of the best in the country. Get to the full event in September. You wont regret it. This was superb. (Gizmo)

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Review (except Winterfylleth) Gizmo

Photos (except Vlka Fenryka) Andy Pountney