of storytelling with his lyrics, Clarkin has few equals some years back. So when I had the chance to get up H.E.A.T, SUPERCHARGER, NEW DEVICE Zeppelin’s ‘Rock And Roll’. We were also treated to an DORO was the first hint that things weren’t well; roadies in Rock music; poignant and evocative and in Catley and personnel with the guys in a live environment, I London: Garage instrumental version of ‘Danger Road’ as prior to all madly fiddling with cables as sound check began a he has the perfect partner to deliver the message. jumped at the chance. 16 May 2014 the microphone’s failing, there had been some awful sequence of worried looks and to-ing and fro-ing that A tough trio of songs followed, but before you start The Forum was filled to capacity, and at times crackling feedback, so in exasperation Gronwall just would become the theme of the night. ‘Symphony Of Sin’ thinking Magnum are all serious and sombre, such is looked like the “2014 Best Lumberjack Beard New Device are a London Melodic Rock band getting ripped off his t-shirt and revealed his toned torso which announced the band’s arrival and it has to be said that the strength of ‘...Garden’ that another newie in ‘Falling Convention”! Clutch hit the stage dressed workmanlike the local support slot to H.e.a.t, and came on stage at a caused an audible scream from the girls in the audience Photo: James Charlwood with a rather cool backdrop and (questionable topless For The Big Plan’ raised the pace with ease, bouncing and tore into new song ‘Earth Rocker’ from the latest about 6.45pm to a pitifully third full auditorium. However, and did an impromptu dive straight into the crowd and lady adorned) side panels, the Curse were pulling out along enthusiastically. And don’t overlook Clarkin’s album of the same name. the local lads brewed up a storm at the front of the went on a surf ride through the fans throughout the all the stops. However with Ivory Blacks being, shall guitar work either; from the Hard Rocking of ‘…Tattoo’ Neil Fallon, he of the beard and aggressive moves, stage, tightly packed with a lot of punters familiar with entire duration of the song. That was one of those “you we say, “snug”, the overall effect was to almost push through to a delicate version of ‘The Spirit’, it was tore around the stage, punching the air and beckoning them. ‘Here We Stand’, the first single from last year’s had to be there” moments – marvellous stuff! Encoring keyboard player Steve Williams off stage (where the precise and faultless. for our undivided attention, with a look in his eye of album of the same name, was as good a contemporary with ‘Address The Nations’ fan favourites ‘Breaking The keyboard sound would in fairness reside most of the Mark Stanway’s keyboards are an integral but man on a musical mission. ‘Gone Cold’ had Fallon Modern Melodic Rock song as you’ll hear today as was Silence’ and ‘Living On The Run’, H.e.a.t topped off a night) and limit the already small performance-space not intrusive part of the Magnum sound, Al Barrow taking up an acoustic guitar and he delivered a vocal the spirited and classy ‘Save Your Life’. They hit the superlative performance that surely cements their place to shuffle left, shuffle right, stand still proportions. Still, stalked the stage, grinning hugely throughout, whilst like a man in the depths of despair. With the audience audience with a four song salvo from their latest release at the very top of the Melodic Rock tree. none of that would have mattered had everything else his rhythm pairing with Harry James underpinned reduced to silence at times, the haunting melody rang before giving us the punchy sing-along ‘On Fire’, the Catch them at Firefest in October when they headline been tip-top, but with the bass, keys, vocals and guitar everything faultlessly. ‘All England’s Eyes’, ‘Vigilante’ around the hall. ‘Raise Your Hands’ Bon Jovi riff of ‘Until The End’ and on the Friday night – it’s going to be epic! I had a great time at Doro’s last London show but all taking turns to drop out of earshot and the whole and ‘Kingdom of Madness’ brought the main set to a The remaining band members were there to do the powerful melodic fast-paced title track ‘Takin’ Over’ Carl Buxton tonight was even more amazing and I had an absolute thing being so quiet that ignoring the annoying twonks close in triumphant and enthusiastic style. Again it’s a job and never detoured from the task. Leaving all from their debut release. This is a band that should be blast watching this first class show from a first class who laughed and joked their way through the entire was a tribute to the strength of ‘...Garden’ that another the interaction to Fallon, he smiled like a man on a going places. performer. Doro was sensational tonight and long may set, became impossible, neither tip nor top appeared. new song ‘Too Many Clowns’ kicked off the encore, moonshine run, and at other times, wild eyed and Due to technical difficulties Denmark’s Supercharger DORO, NULLDB she rein and continue to put on such fantastic live Even with a home crowd urging bassist Paul Logue and swiftly followed by another classic in ‘Sacred Hour’. ready to kill. started late. They’ve been supporting H.e.a.t on their Islington: O2 Academy shows. his cohorts on, the constant fiddling with monitors and Magnum were just quality tonight. I don’t think The new album was well represented which European tour and opened with the Bluesy Punk-edged 19 May 2014 Dave Scott audio equipment became the main focus, which with one person would or could have left the venue tonight meant anyone hoping for a “greatest hits” set was ‘Hold On Buddy’ from new album ‘Broken Hearts And mighty material like ‘Fly Away’, ‘Judas’ and ‘Time To without a smile on their face and that includes the disappointed. Sadly ‘The Incomparable Mr Flannery’ Fallaparts’ and segued straight into the Honky-Tonk I would been keen to attend a Doro gig at anytime Breathe’, was a real shame. Guitarist Thorsten Koehne band who seem genuinely appreciative of the support was omitted from the set, though a tough-as-nails piano of ‘Rise And Fall’ from 2011’s ‘That’s How We Roll’. but given “The German Queen Of Heavy Metal” was EDEN’S CURSE, ESTRELLA, FAHRAN proved his worth with a classically inspired solo slot and from the audience. Sure they have got one of the most ‘10001110101’ more than made up for that. Vocalist Mikkel Neperus had an immediate rapport with touring Europe to commemorate her 30th Anniversary; Glasgow: Ivory Blacks it has to be said that recently-ish added singer Nikola loyal sets of fans around, but when you’ve been this Considering the band was formed in 1990, it is the audience whilst bassist Karsten Dines Johansen cut this tour was a no brainer. 19 May 2014 Mijic also convinced much more than he did at Firefest good for this long it’s well deserved and on this sort of about time Clutch were awarded the success they a striking figure with his hoody pulled right up and his Opening act this evening was NulldB who were on songs new and old. showing, they’re going to be around for a lot longer yet; deserve. After witnessing this show I, for one, will be instrument low slung. Combining with furious drummer performing in the U.K. for the first time. They happen The resurgence of three band tour packages The night closed with energetic smacks of if you ever get the chance, let Magnum show you just paying them a visit on the live front again. Benjamin Max Funk they played a powerful, loud and to also hail from Germany and are a four-piece act roaming these shores has resulted in some real treats ‘Judgement Day’, ‘Evil And Divine’ and ‘Angels And how it should be done. Ray Paul heavy ‘Supercharged’ with its Punk angst being spat whose musical style could be described as Nu-Metal, for U.K. Rock fans, but I’d wager that at £6 a head, you’d Demons’ and much though Logue and Mijic both Ian Parry out by Neperus. The high energy of 2011’s ‘Are You albeit a quite accessible type. They played eight songs be far pushed to encounter a better value night out than thanked the audience for turning a Monday evening into Satisfied?’ and the harmonica infused ‘Hungover In in total with the majority of the vocals in German and the trio of Eden’s Curse, Estrella and Fahran. However a Saturday night, a quick look round the now half empty THE FLOWER KINGS, SOUND OF CONTACT Hamburg’ (think Hanoi Rocks) continued with Neperus mostly delivered in a shouty, raucous fashion, but never across the dates on this tour the line-up was an ever venue revealed that many had already departed with PATTI RUSSO Islington: O2 Academy gaining plenty of audience participation. The mid tempo too hostile so as to be unpleasant. The rhythm section evolving one, with Tainted Nation and Stormzone also Tuesday morning on their mind. For the second time now Islington: O2 Academy 08 May 2014 and even more Hanoi-influenced Rock ‘n’ Roll of ‘Five was thumping and at times so powerful it felt like being appearing and while I’ve never seen S-zone or TN I’ve encountered Eden’s Curse with great expectations; 27 April 2014 Hours Of Nothing’ preceded the final song as they had repeatedly punched by Mike Tyson.