The real beauty of the new album, The House Always Wins, lies in the fact that every single note and drumbeat sounds equally as good live as it does recorded in the studio. This was made apparent at the album launch show at The Old Library, where a packed house witnessed Neuronspoiler tearing up the stage with nine tracks from the new album.
Neuronspoiler – Death Valley Knights
The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026
Tonight was not without a mishap or two, as Adam Breyer managed to damage the ring finger on his left hand while lifting and shifting some of the equipment. Then the backdrop took on a life of its own, refusing to behave and allow itself to be spread across the stage.
At one point, guitarist David Del Cid was perched up a ladder, over-reaching, trying to get the offending piece of fabric to do as it was told.
Thankfully, the axeman didn’t slip down the ladder, otherwise Neuronspoiler would have had the very definition of a “slide-guitarist”. The backdrop just was not playing ball and was consigned to Room 101. The moral of this story? Get a roadie. But this did not stop the real fun beginning.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
The boys kicked off with Take To The Stage, a track from their 2013 album Emergence. This was quickly followed by a new track, the anthemic Spoils Of War, a number where JR Vox proved beyond any doubt that he can perform equally as well live as he can in the studio.
Crimson Tales then followed, with the twin guitars blasting through the venue. The packed house was suitably warmed up before JR Vox then spoke about Hilldrop Crescent in Camden. This was the cue for the rather mysterious Witness to be fired up.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
I had been desperate to know the story behind Witness, and guitarist Adam Breyer earlier explained that the Witness story centres around Hawley Harvey Crippen. “Dr Crippen was in the news in the early 1900s about a murder, and there’s a really amazing story about him trying to escape and the first use of a telegram to capture an alleged criminal.
“There’s stuff about affairs with women in his life and so on, and he was hanged in Pentonville Prison, just a bit of London history. It came to me in a dream. We put it down in music form, and these guys really stepped up and helped with everything else to write the song. It’s a great track lyrically.”
Just A Fool and Hiding then followed, with some rather nice backing vocals from Breyer. Barren Soil slowed the pace down a touch before Let The Sun tore the roof off of The Old Library. The drumming and bass playing had been incredibly tight all night, but this track really showcased how good that engine room really is. Not spectacular, not fussy, but incredibly well locked in.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
Then came the ridiculously catchy New Thing, with David Del Cid rocking out like a 16-year-old at a Black Sabbath gig. The guitarist cut more shapes than a well-used hacksaw, and the flying hair, my goodness. Del Cid and Breyer should be known as the Timotei Twins. JR’s vocals were again absolutely fantastic. His voice is, quite frankly, extraordinary.
JR and the band dedicated the next number, Lost Brother to their friend Colin. In what was a strange twist of fate, the singer explained that Colin passed away on a street just behind the venue. The track comes from an early EP and really showcases Del Cid’s ability as a guitarist. With a superfast solo and an abundance of fret-tapping, it was like watching Edward Van Halen in his prime.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
A slightly Middle Eastern riff announced the arrival of Ascend To Death, which was the seventh track from new album The House Always Wins. Again, JR Vox reaches notes that no man has any right to reach. The packed house was going wild, joining in, feeling every note and scream coming out of the vocalist’s mouth before the next track, Self Afflicted, blasted out of the speakers.
Apparently, this track took nearly a quarter of a century to write, which predated almost half of the audience. Adam Breyer’s pedal board was going into overdrive as he worked the wah-wah to within an inch of its life.
You could see that he was having difficulty with his injured finger, and yet he produced a blistering performance. It truly was professionalism personified. Of course, at some point, Breyer and Del Cid were going to perform that most traditional of Metal manoeuvres and play back to back. But they were having fun and that fed through to the crowd.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
“OK, guys, you sing Dial 666, for Crazy Love”. JR had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand as soon as the opening to their second single fired up. The “hairy scream” was like a ringmaster, controlling and manipulating the audience like a tub of Play-Doh.
This was a real crowd-pleaser, and it was very apparent that the band and the thronging masses were feeding off of each other and having a ruddy good time. In fact, one audience member had a bit too much of a good time and was lying flat out at the foot of the stage, after imbibing in one shandy too many.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
Neuronspoiler’s final track of the night was Angel Of Britannia, from their 2020 album Spoiled For Choice. It was a fitting end to proceedings. A rousing, Maidenesque number that had the partisan crowd bouncing off the walls.
Neuronspoiler erupt like Mount Hekla in full flow. The bass and drums are like a highly tuned sports car, the engine does not just purr….it roars. The fretwork between Breyer and Del Cid is up there with the early days of Murray and Smith or Downing and Tipton. It really doesn’t get any better.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
As for the vocals? Well, as said before, there is a new hairy scream in town, and his name is JR Vox. Praise does not come much higher than that.
Ultimately, you need to have The House Always Wins in your record collection, as though your very existence depends upon it. If this album is not a hit, I will personally hire Declan Rice to nutmeg a mermaid at the Emirates Stadium.
Neuronspoiler – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
Death Valley Knights
In support were Death Valley Knights, who performed an excellent set of a dozen fantastic numbers. Featuring Jake Thorsen on guitar and vocals, Voytek Golbiak also on guitar, Hugo Terva on drums and Radek Koval standing in on bass, Death Valley Knights opened with Fenris Endures.
Death Valley Knights – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
This set the stage for a number of fast and furious tracks, including Heresy, Skinwalker and The Grizzly.
The standout track of their set was Wisdom Of Death, which had everything that you could possibly want in a great Heavy Metal song. Thorsen’s vocals were excellent, always on point, and credit has to be given to Golbiak for some fabulous guitar work.
Death Valley Knights – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalk
The drum and bass dynamic was interesting, given that Koval, who seems to be one of the busiest bass players in rock, had to stand in for the night. They were surprisingly tight, which is a testament to how good they are at what they do.
These guys really are to be recommended. They are fun, they have a great catalogue of songs, and they are fabulous musicians. We need more Death Valley Knights.
Death Valley Knights – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalkDeath Valley Knights – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalkDeath Valley Knights – The Old Library, New Cross Gate – 28 February 2026. Photo: Steve Ritchie/MetalTalkThe post Neuronspoiler Bring The Album Launch Fire At The Old Library first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
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Often dismissed as “too country”, and despite headlining arenas around the country, the band are often overlooked by the traditional British rock fan, which in itself is a travesty. A whole treasure trove of a back catalogue missed out by those not willing to try something new. So for 2026 we challenge all those who have not dipped their toe into the Black Stone Cherry waters to try the band out, and what better way to start than new EP ‘Celebrate’?
Despite its label as an EP, the record has seven songs and a run time of twenty five minutes, to give any new listener ample time to get into their new favourite band. Opening with the title track, the listener is immediately greeted with that unique style. It’s rock, yes it has a hint of country roots, but at its heart is a gritty undertone… too dark to be true rock, to heavy to be country. This is uniquely Black Stone Cherry. The song is full of gorgeous riffs, earworms that will live with you long after the EP finishes and a catchy lyric that will last for years to come.
‘Neon Eyes’ starts with a repeating riff, a drum beat joins it before the song kicks in, but the band aren’t running at full speed yet. Chris Robertsons vocals drive this track through to the chorus where their bombastic energy kicks in to the cries of “Neon Eyes, Tell no lies…”. The songs energy ebbs and flows, softly spoken verses lead into the energy of the choruses and then an epic guitar solo to top it all off.
‘Caught Up In the Up Down’, one hell of a tongue twister to say let alone sing, continues in a similar vein. Where as ‘I’m Fine’ highlights both the bands song writing talents and Robertsons unique vocals. This song hangs off his every breath and fades out to his vocal solo outro
To contrast the raucous opening few tunes, ‘Deep’ takes on a softer, more introspective side. Its power lies in its lyrical content and delivery rather than the volume of the guitars and highlights just how many sides there are to the outfit.
‘What You’re Made Of’ ramps up the energy again, driven by a nasty sounding guitar riff that will have those of a heavier persuasion getting a little moist. Whilst they close out the EP with a cover of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman, giving us a take on the Simple Minds classic in a style only they could.
This short recording validates the views of every fan of the band to date. They are a force to be reckoned with and hopefully this opens up the eyes, and ears, of a few more rock fans to just how much of a hidden gem Black Stone Cherry are.
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