Tag: metal

Airbag - Live London 2025

Review: Airbag The Dome London – 26 April 2025

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig reviewLeave a comment

I can’t quite remember how I discovered Airbag many moons ago but when I did, early on in their career, I said to myself finally the rightful heirs to the Pink Floyd crown. They create sonic, sometimes barren, soundscapes that suddenly bursts into life with a rollicking riff or a Dave Gilmour inspired solo.  File them under Prog Rock!  To confuse matters it turns out there is another Airbag, an Argentine hard rock band whom seem to come to the for on internet searches – it fooled a few of my friends who checked out the wrong band 😊 until I told them to go to AirbagSound.com.

So a quick history lesson, Airbag were formed in Oslo in 2004 by school friends and their current mainstay line-up is Asle Tostrup (vocals/guitar), Bjørn Riis (lead guitars), and Henrik Bergan Fossum (drums).  Live they also have Jørgen Hagen (keyboards) and Anders Hovdan (bass). They have released the following LPs – check them out all mighty fine listens.

  • 2009      Identity (a compilation of previously released EPs)
  • 2011     All Rights Removed
  • 2013     The Greatest Show On Earth
  • 2016     Disconnected
  • 2020     A Day at the Beach
  • 2024     The Century of the Self

So finally after 20 odd years they made it to the UK and I was so looking forward to this evening.  Dressed all in black Airbag took the stage at 8:50 for an atmospheric 80 minute set interspersed with a splattering of songs from all their albums bar ‘Disconnected’.  They start with the pulsating bass drone of ‘Machines and Men’, and it’s repetitive chord sequence before it explodes into life.  They certainly know how to build a layered musical canvass. Excellent throbbing bass from Anders and guitar work from Bjørn.  Next comes ‘Redemption’ with another slow impressive build-up of bass and layered Korg synths.  Asle took a couple of songs to get the mix of his voice right (but more of that later) given it was lost during the loud parts where all instruments were at full tilt.

‘Never Coming Home’ is one of my personal favourites and is one of those songs that always makes the hairs on the back of my arm stand out! Atmospheric keyboard work from Jørgen, a lovely melody and aching guitar licks – plus great lyrics – what’s not to like.  ‘Dysphoria’ slow burns and showcases Asle’s vocals at their best when not fighting the other instruments and Bjørn’s virtuoso guitar work is excellent.  ‘Erase’ is punching bass lines, thumping drums, guitar licks and gripping vocals.

‘Megalomaniac’ commences with its irresistibly haunting repetitive guitar riff and vocals before busting into life with huge riffs and dynamic guitar solo.  All parts of the band working in total harmony – a joy to behold.

Airbag Set List (click on link to see YouTube videos)

  1. Machines and Men – (A Day at the Beach, 2020)
  2. Redemption – (The Greatest Show On Earth, 2013)
  3. Never Coming Home – (All Rights Removed, 2011)
  4. Dysphoria – (The Century of the Self, 2024)
  5. Erase – (The Century of the Self, 2024)
  6. Megalomaniac – (A Day at the Beach, 2020)

Encore:

  • Colours – (Identity, 2009)
  • Homesick I-III – (All Rights Removed, 2011)

The band leave the stage to rapturous applause from a fixated audience.  They are quickly back for an encore of ‘Colours’ and ‘Homesick’ – wow and both these were just fantastic.  Asle strums away on acoustic guitar before the synths and slow guitar kick in and the whole sound just flows slowly through you like a mist – ‘Colours’ is such a beautiful record. 

Airbag - London 2025

So in the end they only played at 80 minute set ☚ – they have such a wonderful rich back catalogue of work and so many classics not played.  I’m sure they could have snuck a couple more songs in?  The final song ‘Homesick’ is an opus epic a beautiful mix of melodic guitar backed by multiple rolling keyboard layers, deep bass and drum rhythms. A dark moody atmospheric piece with scorching guitar licks and evocative melodies that freely roams into ‘Wish You Were Here’ territory.

A couple of low points for me were the lighting and merchandise.  With the correct lighting and backdrop this would have made the gig even more spectacular.  It didn’t detract from the music but certainly didn’t add to it.  But that’s the trouble when you play in a smallish venue and have to use their rig.   Also, the merchandise (or what there was of it) wasn’t very inspiring and lacked imagination.  I’m sure they can come up with far better designs e.g. the ‘Identity’ cover.

The anticipation of a great evening’s music was certainly fulfilled and more.  I loved every minute of the gig and managed a brief chat with Asle and Bjørn as they were clearing up – top blokes!  An all-encompassing immersive experience from start to finish.

Please come back soon chaps 🙏🏻, else I’ll just have to go to Norway or the Netherlands for an away trip!

Marko [27 April 2025]

Gig Review : Judas Priest / Saxon / Uriah Heep – Ovo Arena Wembley 21 March 2024

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig review1 Comment

What a line up – Judas Priest, Saxon, Uriah Heep – and what a great night of heavy metal and rock by three bands at the top of their game.  I’m just going to leave this statistic here for you, Rob Halford is 72, Biff Byford is 73 and Mick Box is 76.  Get out and see these bands before it’s too late!!!

It’s been 9 years since they last hit our shores and yes they are here to showcase their new LP ‘Invincible Shield’ but tonight the Priest set consisted 70% of 70s and 80s output, 20% from the latest LP and a couple of songs 1990 and 2014.  A career spanning best of that tells you something about the strength of their early output compared to the latter years.  

Original Judas Priest members, in order of longevity, Ian Hill, Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton (who appeared for the last 2 songs having been forced off the road with Parkinson’s disease), were supplemented by long standing regulars Scott Travis and Richie Faulkner and touring member Andy Sneap.  All resplendent in black leather and studs with Rob going off stage after each song (for oxygen I guess given he’s a sprightly 72 😊) and changing his leather top every few songs – he must have worked up a sweat as he constantly wore 2 leather jackets.  The final change for the encore was to a floor length sleeveless denim coat emblazoned with band patches – reminded me of 70s Quo fans style (that said I’ve never seen so many patched denim since the early 70s at the show tonight – old rockers never die!!)

To be fair all 3 singers on tonight’s bill have still got outstanding vocal dexterity.  They all have outstanding dynamic ranges which given their ages is surprising.  The band are tight and don’t put a foot wrong throughout a night of heavy metal anthems.  You know it’s going to be good from the start when they launch into the blistering ‘Panic Attack’ followed by a salvo of ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ and ‘Breaking the Law’ when Ritchie, Rob and Andy do a little shimmy move during the guitar solo – great stuff (watch the video via the link further down this blog).  Loads of archetypal metal axeman posturing from Ritchie, Ian doing the usual bassist thing but Rob still gets the audience gaze, striking as he is with tattooed bald head, nose ring, long white beard and leather clad head down singing into the mic.

Judas Priest Set List (9:20 – 22:55) (click on link to watch video)

  1. Panic Attack (Invincible Shield, 2024)
  2. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ (Screaming for Vengeance, 1982)
  3. Breaking the Law (British Steel, 1980)
  4. Rapid Fire (British Steel, 1980)
  5. Sword of Damocles (Redeemer of Souls, 2014)
  6. Love Bites (Defenders of the Faith, 1984)
  7. Saints in Hell (Stained Class, 1978)
  8. Crown of Horns (Invincible Shield, 2024)
  9. Turbo Lover (Turbo, 1986)
  10. Invincible Shield (Invincible Shield, 2024)
  11. Sinner (Sin After Sin, 1977)
  12. The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) – (Killing Machine, 1978)
  13. Painkiller (Painkiller, 1990)

Encore:

  1. Electric Eye (Screaming for Vengeance, 1982)
  2. Hell Bent for Leather (Killing Machine, 1978)
  3. Metal Gods (British Steel, 1980)
  4. Living After Midnight (British Steel, 1980)
Judas Priest – – Wembley Arena 21 March 2024
Judas Priest – – Wembley Arena 21 March 2024
Judas Priest – – Wembley Arena 21 March 2024
Judas Priest – – Wembley Arena 21 March 2024

Priest’s stage set is excellent – great lighting, a large 3 pronged backdrop playing videos or showing the band members in full swing and a invincible shield trident lowering occasionally centre stage for further effect.  There is the occasional between songs banter, Rob introduces Ian “Ian, say hello, how you doing tonight?  Ian has been here as long as I have, we’ve been playing heavy metal for over 50 years, that’s a long time”.  Then the band launch into ‘Invincible Shield’.  And Drummer Scott Travis launches into a prologue about the tour then in as a typical American he says “but we knew the last show in the UK had to be in London, England (like we don’t know where it is 😊) and it’s been the best audience we have had so far…” before giving the drums a damn good clattering as he launched into ‘Painkiller’.

For the encore ‘Electric Eye’ the sound of engines ignites and Rob emerges in a plume of smoke on his Harley motorcycle clad in leather, chains and muir cap – Hell Bent for Leather indeed!!!  The special guest Glen Tipton comes on for the last 2 songs to massive audience approval and the bad finish triumphantly with the sing along ‘Living After Midnight’ – a perfect end to a great night.  Rob is indeed a metal god!

SAXON

The Band are “Biff” Byford (vocals), Brian Tatler (ex Diamond Head) and Doug Scarratt (guitars), Nibbs Carter (bass) & Nigel Glockler (drums).  They are here to promote their new LP ‘Hell, Fire and Damnation’ however 70% of the songs tonight are from their NWOBHM 80s heyday.  That said the 3 songs they did play sounded great especially ‘There`s Something In Roswell’ and ‘Madame Guillotine’.  Biff Byford was in his element, exciting the audience in his thick Yorkshire accent, to have a fucking great time. A classic line from him was “The bill tonight is fucking great, even I’d buy a ticket and I’m from Yorkshire”.

Saxon – Set List (click on link to watch video)

  1. Hell, Fire and Damnation (Hell, Fire and Damnation, 2024)
  2. Motorcycle Man (Wheels of Steel, 1980)
  3. Sacrifice (Sacrifice, 2018)
  4. There’s Something in Roswell (Hell, Fire and Damnation, 2024)
  5. And the Bands Played On (Denim and Leather, 1981)
  6. Power and the Glory (Power & the Glory, 1983)
  7. Madame Guillotine (Hell, Fire and Damnation, 2024)
  8. Heavy Metal Thunder (Strong Arm of the Law, 1980)
  9. Dallas 1 PM (Strong Arm of the Law, 1980)
  10. 747 (Strangers in the Night) –  (Wheels of Steel, 1980)
  11. Denim and Leather (Denim and Leather, 1981)
  12. Wheels of Steel (Wheels of Steel, 1980)
  13. Princess of the Night (Denim and Leather, 1981)
Saxon – Wembley Arena 21 March 2024

All the classics are played during their 60 mins: ‘And the Bands Played On’, ‘747 Strangers in the Night’, ‘Wheels of Steel’ and the crowd choice of ‘Dallas 1 pm’ based on the noise level when Biff gave us 3 songs to choose from.  Saxon were actually really very good and engaging. Loads of top riffs, blistering solos and Biff with a powerful commanding front man display.

URIAH HEEP

Mick Box is such a good guitarist, which I don’t think he gets enough credit for.  Heep are a great live band and they started with a couple of lively newer songs ‘Save Me Tonight’ and ‘Grazed By Heaven’ which got the set off to a blinder.  Bernie Shaw`s voice is very powerful and compliments the thumping Hammond organ driven songs well.

Although coming on at 18:30 and only given 35 minutes Heep delivered a mix of epic old prog classics and crowd pleasers ‘Gipsy’, ‘Rainbow Deamon’ and ‘Easy Livin’ which sat neatly with quality dynamic new songs that show they still have got it.

Uriah Heep – Set List (click on link to watch video)

  1. Save Me Tonight
  2. Grazed by Heaven
  3. Rainbow Demon
  4. Hurricane
  5. Free ‘n’ Easy
  6. Gypsy
  7. Easy Livin’

Bernie Shaw (vocals), Mick Box (guitar), Phil Lanzon (keyboards), Dave Rimmer (bass),  Russell Gilbrook (drums) are a well oiled machine on top form tonight.  Bernie said “There’s around 150 years of music in here tonight” and he was not wrong!

Marko [23 March 2024]