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  • LAMB OF GOD To Mark “Into Oblivion” Release With Nationwide Listening Parties

    With Into Oblivion, Lamb Of God’s tenth studio album and the first since 2022, set for release on March 13 through Epic Records, the band is marking the drop with a series of nationwide listening parties running March 13 through 15.

    More than 140 independent record stores across the U.S. are taking part. Confirmed locations include Amoeba Music, Waterloo Records, Generation Records, Repo Records, and Plan 9 Music.

    Stores hosting the events will carry exclusive Into Oblivion merchandise. Fans can expect free Lamb Of God swag while supplies last, along with prizes and an indie-only, limited Poltergeist vinyl variant of the new record.

    If you can’t make it out in person, pre-orders are live now. Remaining limited vinyl editions are still available, along with a collectible Into Oblivion CD that comes packaged with a companion zine. The zine includes album art sketches, handwritten lyrics, and previously unreleased studio photos. Additional album-themed merchandise is also up for grabs.

    Details for the Into Oblivion release-weekend listening parties are available through participating stores. Fans are encouraged to reach out directly to their local retailer for specific timing and event information.

    Into Oblivion Release Weekend Listening Parties
    Fans are encouraged to contact their local retailer for event details and timing.

    California:
    Burbank, CA – Run Out Groove Records
    Corona, CA – DBZ Books N Records
    Davis, CA – Armadillo Music
    Escondido, CA – Track City Records
    Los Angeles, CA – Amoeba Hollywood
    Los Angeles, CA – Nivessa
    Napa, CA – Folklore
    Novato, CA – Watts Music
    Orcutt, CA – Paradise Records and Trading Post
    Palm Desert, CA – Dale’s Records and Skateshop
    San Diego, CA – M-Theory Music
    San Jose, CA – Streetlight Records
    Santa Cruz, CA – Streetlight Records
    Ventura, CA – Salzer’s Records

    Colorado:
    Englewood, CO – Sold Out Vinyl Records
    Greeley, CO – Downtown Sound Records & Tapes
    Littleton, CO – Vinyl Valhalla

    Connecticut:
    Fairfield, CT – Vinyl Street Co.
    Milford, CT – Static Era Records
    Torrington, CT – Revolution Records
    Wallingford, CT – Redscroll Records

    Delaware:
    Newark, DE – Rainbow Records

    Florida:
    Dunedin, FL – D & J Records
    Miami, FL – Technique Records
    Orlando, FL – Park Ave CDs
    Sarasota, FL – Salty Dog Records
    Spring Hill, FL – Rockit Records
    St. Augustine, FL – Tonevendor
    Stuart, FL – Vintage Vibes Records
    West Palm Beach, FL – Rust & Wax Record Shop

    Georgia:
    Brunswick, GA – Lou’s Record Store
    Carrollton, GA – The Vinyl Frontier
    Macon, GA – Fresh Produce Records

    Idaho:
    Boise, ID – The Record Exchange

    Illinois:
    Champaign, IL – Exile on Main Street
    Charleston, IL – Positively 4th Street Records
    Chicago, IL – Bucket O’Blood Books & Records
    Chicago, IL – Shuga Records
    Edwardsville, IL – Trusty Chords Record Shop
    Elmhurst, IL – Elmhurst Records
    Evergreen Park, IL – The Record Shop on 95th
    Freeport, IL – Re-Spun Records & Resale
    Morris, IL – Vinyl Revival
    Normal, IL – Waiting Room Records
    Oak Park, IL – Val’s halla Records
    Plainfield, IL – Left Round Records
    Rockford, IL – Culture Shock
    Woodstock, IL – The Records Department

    Indiana:
    Evansville, IN – Atmosphere Collectibles
    Evansville, IN – Space Monkey Records

    Kansas:
    Overland Park, KS – Vinyl Heaven

    Kentucky:
    Bowling Green, KY – Hard Copies
    Bowling Green, KY – Mellow Matt’s Music & More
    Paducah, KY – Timeless Vinyl

    Louisiana:
    Mandeville, LA – 22 Sound Records

    Maryland:
    Baltimore, MD – The Sound Garden
    Hagerstown, MD – Hub City Vinyl

    Massachussets:
    Turners Falls, MA – Music Connection

    Michigan:
    Grand Blanc, MI – Electric Crown Records
    Livonia, MI – Rock City Music Company
    Sterling Heights, MI – Village Vinyl
    Trenton, MI – Slick Disc

    Minnesota:
    Burnsville, MN – South Metro Music
    Golden Valley, MN – Down In The Valley
    Maple Grove, MN – Down In The Valley

    Mississippi:
    Hattiesburg, MS – T-Bones Records & Cafe

    Nebraska:
    Lincoln, NE – First Day Vinyl

    New Hampshire:
    Manchester, NH – Music Connection
    Whitefield, NH – Chris’s Nostalgia Shop

    New Jersey:
    Belvidere, NJ – The Vintage VU
    Lanoka Harbor, NJ – Yearbook Records
    Milltown, NJ – Revilla Grooves
    Point Pleasant, NJ – Clarizio Music

    New York:
    Horseheads, NY – Squatch Den Records
    New York, NY – Generation Records
    Poughkeepsie, NY – Darkside Records
    Syracuse, NY – The Sound Garden
    West Babylon, NY – Looney Tunes
    Williamsville, NY – Hi-Fi Hits

    North Carolina:
    Mooresville, NC – Sell Your Soul Records
    Raleigh, NC – Schoolkids Records
    Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop
    Sylva, NC – In Your Ear Music
    Wilmington, NC – Schoolkids Records
    Wilmington, NC – Yellow Dog Discs

    North Dakota:
    Minot, ND – Budget Music & Video

    Ohio:
    Cleveland, OH – The Vinyl Groove Records
    Columbus, OH – Used Kids Records
    Marietta, OH – First City Records
    Urbana, OH – Broken Melody Records

    Oklahoma:
    Owasso, OK – Screaming Earth Records
    Tulsa, OK – Josey Records

    Oregon:
    Portland, OR – Music Millennium
    Portland, OR – Vinyl Resting Place

    Pennsylvania:
    Bethlehem, PA – Compact Disc Center
    Collegeville, PA – MaTones Music
    Doylestown, PA – Siren Records
    Easton, PA – Spin Me Round
    Hamburg, PA – Everlong Records
    Kutztown, PA – Young Ones Records
    Lancaster, PA – Dreamin’ Human
    Lansdowne, PA – Rock N Roll Knife Fight
    Philadelphia, PA – Repo Records
    Wilkes-Barre, PA – Gallery of Sound

    South Dakota:
    Rapid City, SD – Black Hills Vinyl

    Tennessee:
    Clarksville, TN – AndVinyl Records

    Texas:
    Abilene, TX – Record Guys
    Amarillo, TX – High Fidelity Records
    Arlington, TX – CD Warehouse Records & Tapes
    Arlington, TX – ZT Records – Parks Mall
    Austin, TX – Waterloo Records
    Beaumont, TX – For the Record
    College Station/Bryan, TX – Curious Collections
    Frisco, TX – ZT Records
    Garland, TX – Dead Wax Records
    Huntsville, TX – Volume Music
    Keller, TX – County Line Records
    Klein, TX – Music Town
    Spring, TX – Sound Revolution
    Sugar Land, TX – ZT Records – First Colony
    The Woodlands, TX – Volume Music
    The Woodlands, TX – ZT Records – Woodlands Mall

    Utah:
    Taylorsville, UT – Graywhale

    Virginia:
    Charlottesville, VA – Plan 9 Music
    Fredericksburg, VA – BUMRUSH Vinyl Shop
    Richmond, VA – Plan 9 Music

    Washington:
    Aberdeen, WA – The Tangerine Tree
    Edmonds, WA – Musicology Co
    Everett, WA – Apollo Exos Records & Beer
    Longview, WA – Square Dog Music
    Lynnwood, WA – Silver Platters
    Port Orchard, WA – C-Side Records
    Poulsbo, WA – Rockin Rubys Records
    Spokane, WA – Resurrection Records

    West Virginia:
    Barboursville, WV – Orbit’s Record Shop
    New Martinsville, WV – Kraken Records
    Shepherdstown, WV – Admiral Analog’s

    Wisconsin:
    Appleton, WI – Eroding Winds
    Green Bay, WI – Rock N Roll Land
    Greenfield, WI – Volta Records
    Oshkosh, WI – Eroding Winds
    South Milwaukee, WI – Omen Alternative Music and Media
    West Bend, WI – Beat Goes On Records and More

    Wyoming:
    Casper, WY – Sonic Rainbow

    The post LAMB OF GOD To Mark “Into Oblivion” Release With Nationwide Listening Parties appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

  • Elvenking To Release New EP “Rites Of Disclosure” In May

    A new chapter closes – and a new path begins. With "Rites Of Disclosure," Elvenking unveils the ceremonial epilogue to their celebrated Reader of the Runes era. Conceived as a companion and closing act to the trilogy, the release is not a traditional full-length album, but a special collection that bridges past and present while pointing toward … Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

  • Truckfighters’ Latest Single “Truce” is a Fuzz-Laden Call for Unity Amidst the Chaos

    truckfightersband

    There’s something to be said about the freewheeling nature and devil-may-care attitude that fuels a lot of Truckfighters’ discography. It’s desert rock by way of Sweden (which famously has zero deserts) and it’s usually the perfect music to speed down the highway to. But what happens when that same band gets reflective? What happens when they look at everything going on in the world and decide to make a call for clarity? You get the latest single off their forthcoming album MASTERFLOW, titled “Truce”.

    Officially released earlier today, the track in question is a clarion call for stability in an unstable time. Wars, oppressive regimes, hate among neighbors, it’s all rough. But according to this batch of fuzz rockers, “Truce” was always about finding hope in an unkind world.

    “This song was born out of the strange and unsettling times we’re living in. The world feels upside down, moving in a direction that can be hard to understand — and even harder to accept. Tensions are rising, voices are louder, and it sometimes feels like we’re drifting further apart.

    “But at its core, this song is about hope. It’s about the belief that we can pause, come to our senses, and choose understanding over division. That despite the chaos, fear, and noise, people can still find common ground. Because in the end, we’re stronger when we stand together.

    “This is our reminder — and our call — to stay human, stay kind, and stay united.”

    Though the track itself starts out slow and melodic, you don’t have to worry your little head. They turn up the volume and chug on some tasty riffs for a while there too. There’s something for everyone in this one.

    MASTERFLOW will be released on April 10 via Fuzzorama Records, but you can preorder your copy today. You can also catch them live during their upcoming European tour. Dates listed below.

    TRUCKFIGHTERS TOUR DATES:

    11.04.2026 COLOGNE – Sol Sonic Ride – DE
    15.04.2026 OSLO – Parkteatret – NO
    16.04.2026 BERGEN – Hulen – NO       
    17.04.2026 STAVANGER – Folken – NO        
    18.04.2026 PORSGRUNN – R.I.P. – NO   
    28.04.2026 HAMBURG – Grünspan – DE          
    29.04.2026 GRONINGEN – Vera – NL      
    30.04.2026 AMSTERDAM – Melkweg – NL       
    01.05.2026 DORDRECHT – Bibelot – NL
    02.05.2026 IZEGEM – Headbanger’s ball fest  – BE  
    08.05.2026 COPENHAGEN – A Colossal Weekend – DK
    11.05.2026 VIENNA – Arena – AT
    14.05.2026 BERLIN – Desertfest – DE       
    17.05.2026 LONDON – Desertfest – UK (The Roundhouse)
    25.05.2026 NEUNKIRCHEN – Stummsche Reithalle – DE
    26.05.2026 STUTTGART – Im Wizesmann  – DE      
    27.05.2026 WINTERTHUR – Gaswerk – CH            
    28.05.2026 LUZERN – Sedel  – CH            
    29.05.2026 MÜNCHEN – Backstage (Halle) – DE            
    30.05.2026 DRESDEN – Beatpol –  DE
    04.06.2026 GDANSK – Mystic Festival  PO           
    18.06.2026 CLISSON – Hellfest  – FR       
    27.06.2026 WIESBADEN – Sonic ride IV – DE
    26.07.2026 MILAN – Magnolia Stone fest – IT
    14.08.2026 TAARSTEDT – Angeliter Open air – DE 

    The post Truckfighters’ Latest Single “Truce” is a Fuzz-Laden Call for Unity Amidst the Chaos appeared first on MetalSucks.

  • Winterfylleth Reveals New Music Video “Echoes In The After”

    With "Echoes In The After," UK black metal legends Winterfylleth unveil the second single from their upcoming album, "The Unyielding Season," out 27th March via Napalm Records. Inspired by the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, a landmark near Hadrian’s Wall, and adapted from a poem from Sir Philip Sidney’s 16th-century epic "The Countess Of Pembrok… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

  • Finnish Legends Waltari To Play Special Set With Full Orchestra At This Summer’s Brutal Assault

    The Brutal Assault music festival is announcing an event of unprecedented proportions for its upcoming edition. Finnish musical visionaries Waltari will arrive at the historic Josefov Fortress to perform an exclusive anniversary concert of their breakthrough masterpiece. Joining them on stage will be the renowned Czech ensemble, the Bohemian … Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

  • Wilson Pickett’s British tours in 1965 and 1966

    Wilson Pickett and Major Lance tours in Melody Maker, 6 November 1965, page 5

    In November 1965, British rock promoter Roy Tempest brought soul legend Wilson Pickett over for his debut British tour.

    Judging by the photo below, it appears that Jamaican group The Links backed him on most, if not all, the gigs below.

    The Links, as advertised in the Rhyl and Prestatyn Gazette, 28 January 1966, page 13

    I’ve not been able to find any information on this obscure band other than the fact that Dominica-born drummer Conrad Isidore was a member at one point. However, he’s not in this photo. Garage Hangover would welcome any further information on this group and tour in the comments below.

    Tour dates:

    9 November 1965 – Pontiac Club, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London (Melody Maker) Says debut British appearance

    9 November 1965 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)

    11 November 1965 – Oldham Astoria, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

    12 November 1965 – In-Place, Baker Street, central London (Melody Maker)

    12 November 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (all-nighter) (Melody Maker)

    13 November 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with The Measles, St Louis Union, The Mockingbirds and Tom’s Rig (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

    13 November 1965 – Nottingham (Melody Maker)

    14 November 1965 – Birmingham (Melody Maker)

    15 November 1965 – Brighton, East Sussex (Melody Maker)

    16 November 1965 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Don Jordan (Bucks Free Press)

    17 November 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London (Melody Maker)

    18 November 1965 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

    19 November 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gass (Melody Maker) Originally billed as Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

    20 November 1965 – Chelmsford, Essex (Melody Maker)

    20 November 1965 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with Heart & Souls (Melody Maker)

    21 November 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Paul, John & The Soul Savages and The Links (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

    21 November 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Tony Colton Big Boss Band, Earl Preston’s Realms, The Hideaways, The Richmond Group, The Masterminds, Tiffany’s Thoughts, The Verbs and The Monos (Liverpool Echo)

    22 November 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

    22 November 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Says last London appearance

    24 November 1965 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Melody Maker) Failed to appear as he flew back to US, according to Melody Maker, 4 December issue

    Wilson Pickett in Melody Maker, 4 December 1965, page 4.

     For Wilson Pickett’s second British tour, west London group The Statesides backed him on all of the dates.

    Thanks to band leader Jeff Sturgeon and Dave Brogden, I’ve been able to provide more information on this group and the tour itinerary. Thanks to Jeff and Dave for the tour photos.

    Jean & The Statesides Middlesex Chronicle, 6 August 1965, page 2

    Originally formed as The Statesmen and having recorded as Jean & The Statesmen with singer Jean Hayles, The Statesides comprised Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar/vocals); Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar/vocals); Mike Bloomfield (bass/vocals), Bill Stemp (tenor sax/keyboards); Dave Brogden (tenor sax); and Ian Walker (drums) by the time they supported Wilson Pickett.

    Tour dates:

    11 March 1966 – Flamingo 7pm start for All-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    11 March 1966 – Midnight start – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Dave Brodgen’s diary)

    11 March 1966 – Flamingo, 3am start for All-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker/Dave Brogden’s diary)

     Photo: Jeff Sturgeon and Dave Brogden

    12 March 1966 – 7pm start, Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    12 March 1966 – Midnight start, Jigsaw, Manchester with Karol Keyes and The Big Sound (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Dave Brodgen’s diary)

    13 March 1966 – 7pm start, Ritz Ballroom, Birmingham (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    13 March 1966 – Midnight start, Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail/Dave Brodgen’s diary)

    14 March 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    16 March 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    17 March 1966 – Rag Ball, Locarno Ballroom, Coventry with Manfred Mann (Coventry Evening Telegraph/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    17 March 1966 – The Penthouse, Birmingham with The Cheethas (Birmingham Evening Mail/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    18 March 1966 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    18 March 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    19 March 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with The Paladins and The Night Shifters (Runcorn Guardian/Dave Brodgen’s diary)

    19 March 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Irma Thomas (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    20 March 1966 – Club West Indies, Harlesden, northwest London (Melody Maker/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    21 March 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Statesides (Nottingham Evening Post/Dave Brogden’s diary)

     Photo: Jeff Sturgeon and Dave Brogden

    23 March 1966 – TWW Bristol Television (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    24 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Peter B’s (Melody Maker/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    24 March 1966 – Blaises, Kensington, west London (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    Pickett did not appear at this advertised show

    25 March 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Sudbury, northwest London (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    25 March 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    26 March 1966 – Rawmarsh Club, Rotherham (Dave Brogden’s diary)

    26 March 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Jimmy Brown’s Big Sound (Dave Brogden’s diary/Sheffield Star)

    27 March 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Dave Brogden’s diary)

    If you can add any further information below in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

  • W.E.B. Shares “Morphine For Saints” Live Video From New Live Album, “Darkness Alive”

    Greek symphonic extreme metal practitioners W.E.B. are pleased to present their live video of "Morphine For Saints" from "Darkness Alive," their first ever live album, released last week via Metal Blade Records. W.E.B.'s music has earned high praise for its “drama, extremity and bloodthirst in equal parts… energetic and unhinged.” The formidable… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

  • John Denton: Waiting ‘Till It All Works Out – Single Review

    John Denton: Waiting ‘Till It All Works Out (Modern Sky) DL/Streaming Out Now Young Salford based troubadour John Denton releases Waiting ‘Till It All Works Out, his second track since signing to Modern Sky. John Denton has been making waves with his heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies for a couple of years now and practically […]

    The post John Denton: Waiting ‘Till It All Works Out – Single Review appeared first on Louder Than War.

  • Gravemass Releases Eponymous New Song From Upcoming Debut Album, “This Is The Way”

    Canadian West Coast death metal force Gravemass has released their devastating new single "Gravemass," the next offering from their upcoming debut album "This Is The Way," arriving on March 6th. The track follows the previously released title-track single “This Is The Way,” further showcasing the band’s commitment to pure, unfiltered extremity. … Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

  • A View From The Back Of The Room: Fozzy (Simon Black)

    Fozzy, Tailgunner, & Marisa And The Moths – Tramshed, Cardiff, 17.02.26


    They should be cheering the venue up, pushing their new single and getting everyone ready for their new album, but instead Marisa And The Moths (8) are really, really hurting tonight. A key member of their touring team passed mere days ago, and yet here they are contractually obliged to be warming up a cold room on an even colder night when in all honestly no-one would have blamed them if they had cancelled the tour and focussed on dealing with what is quite frankly an awful experience.

    The show tonight is dedicated to the memory of Dave, and Marisa Rodriguez is struggling to hold it together as she tells the audience straight after the opening number what has happened. Their performance is a radically different one from the last time I saw them, in the sunny days of July when they really warmed up the Welsh Valleys at Steelhouse, and the emotions they are experiencing are challenged into one of the most powerful and soulful performances I have ever seen. Rodrigues, dressed more demurely that we are used to delivers a powerful, gut-wrenchingly and heart felt performance.

    What she loses from the impact all this is clearly having on her voice trying to reign things in, gets torqued and transmuted into a sheer, raw, emotional power. That blend of Grunge and Hard Rock vibe becomes something truly deep and impassioned that leaves many of us with slightly damp eyes. Their professionalism and commitment deserve the utmost respect, and quite frankly the whole place wants to give them a huge hug. They turned a pile of awfulness into something quite special tonight, and we love them for it.

    Tailgunner (10) are seemingly unstoppable. When I first saw them in the tiny sweatbox that is Fuel in 2023, they blew me away with their youthful energy and solid retro NWOBHM delivery, having seemingly stepped out of a wormhole in the space-time continuum from circa 1982. 

    Since then, I’ve seen them quite a few times, and been hugely impressed by the way they’ve scaled that performance up to much larger stages and crowds effortlessly, and all still off the back of their debut record Guns For Hire. They clearly aren’t going to have a problem with a stage this size (or at least the parts of it left that aren’t taken up by the headliner’s gear), but despite being here to push the recently released sophomore Midnight Blitz.

    They still have a few flies in the ointment jar for this leg of the tour, with half of their twin axe attack Rhea Thompson being temporarily substituted for this leg of the tour due to health reasons. She’s a vital core of the band, so the unexpected presence of Jara Solís (of Hunger) on stage is a surprise, but not a concern. Hunger are pure Speed Metal, and Jara can shred with the best of them, so effortlessly and seamlessly steps into the fray. She may not be familiar enough with the material to prowl the boards blindfolded (or the handful of them that are available), but she doesn’t miss a beat, and her performance is top notch.

    As indeed is the whole of the band’s performances.

    I’ve not had a chance to spin the new disk fully yet, but it’s gone a bit more mid-80’s for sure, with more of the more commercial kind of pitch that bands like Judas Priest were aiming for when they aimed for US radio hits back when these things actually made you money – so lots of studded leather as per, plus a load of reverb and gloss, but that also reflects the fact that this is a much bigger and slicker act than the raw upstart of their debut. 

    Their performance is short, given there’s three acts to get through, but the sheer pace at which they deliver the seven songs, four of which are new, is whirlwind fast and seems to be over very quickly. This band is incredibly tight and blisteringly expert at bringing an audience with them, so once again I notch up watching another performance for which the review scale of up to ten is not quite sufficient. I suspect the next time I seem them in this building, they will be headlining it…

    Fozzy (9) are one of those bands that when you mention to people that you are going to see them, tend to sneer and scoff a little. This is something I have struggled to understand. Tonight’s the first chance I’ve had to see a full set from them, as twice now I’ve only caught the tail end of their set at Bloodstock and both times kicked myself for not going earlier. 

    I’ve reviewed a couple of their more recent albums and enjoyed them, and this venue is pretty darned full for a Tuesday night in February, so again I have to query why some folks have a downer on them. I suspect that this has more to do with the influence of social media over lived experiences… That and some of the early antics as a covers band and shenanigans regarding Chris Jericho’s alter ego, which given that he was more about wrestling than rockin’ in those days, with the band very much a side project at the start. Not so now, and it really is time some people updated themselves.

    The band hit the stage bang on 9.30 p.m. and proceed to deliver value for money, and a full ninety-minute set. For a man the same age as me, Chris Jericho is in remarkably good shape. He may have lost some of the bulk as he heads towards his sixth decade, but he’s still toned enough to get away with nothing but a series of ever-changing sequined jackets over his otherwise bare chest, and has a huge amount of onstage energy. 

    The band sensibly split vocal phrases to allow for him to both move and for the flow and mix of the vocal lines to be done as live very effectively, because quite frankly there is nothing worse than a vocal click track in my opinion. In that respect Fozzy are true rock ‘n’ roll in their delivery, and the ethos of ‘if you can’t play it live, don’t record it in the studio’ seems to be in play here tonight apart from a few backing tracks for intros.

    For a band everyone is supposed to deride, it’s a remarkably full house for a Tuesday night, and Fozzy play the crowd like a sixth instrument, such is the love here. Welsh audiences are always wonderfully vocal, and this feeds the band like nectar, with smiles and energy all round. Even when things get a bit random with a mid-set cover of S.O.S. the audience is still lapping it up, and there are few sights so heart-warming as a room full of metal heads singing ABBA tines at the top of their voices.

    On the subject of songs, special mention must be given to the first global performance of the Slug And Lettuce song. For the benefit of our global readership, The Slug And Lettuce is a chain of fairly naff high street pubs here in the UK serving overpriced generic beer, non-descript microwaved UPF meals and absolutely zero atmosphere, but there happened to be one next to Jericho’s Cardiff hotel last night. 

    It’s the kind of branding decision that completely bemuses a Canadian, or indeed anyone outside of the UK where this kind of self-deprecation in marketing happens a lot (the yanks would probably spend a fortune with a global marketing firm and come up with something like ‘The Lucky Lettuce’, but hey, this is the country that gave the world Marmite and it’s love it or leave it marketing approach). 

    Jericho asked the audience if it was a good restaurant, which inspired a singalong with the name, and thus history gets made. Maybe we will see it on an album or EP soon…

    For a quiet school night, this was a blast.