Evolution. The first thing that comes to my mind when viewing a tour consisting of Enslaved, Svalbard, and Wayfayrer. A line up that represents phenomenal histories and past accomplishments but also outstandingly bright futures. Most importantly it showcase that ability to morph and metamorphose as all three bands started in one place but very much transmuted into different entities
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What do you call a supergroup made up of members of other supergroups? Well it turns out that the answer is The Winery Dogs. For the uninitiated, this is what Ritchie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy and the legend that is Billy Sheehan do when they are not noodling around with other projects. It is very much a muso's project, pitched at those who like their rock complex, luscious and full of virtuoso flourishes.
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For many years Black Metal has been at war with itself about the sanctity and purity of the genre. There are those that believe anything that deviates from the Nordic template of Satanic adoration is heretical and has no place appropriating the mantle of Black Metal. However, there is another camp that believes Black Metal is a style rather than an ideology and like any musical genre it is ripe for evolution. This section believes Black Metal has a power and evocativeness that goes far beyond an obsession with old nick and therefore can be used to soundtrack any manner of subject matter.
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In my head the fortieth anniversary tour is the preserve of the aging rocker or a fading folk star, but here we are celebrating four decades of metal thrashing madness. Anthrax may well have had more than their fair share of carrier mishaps, but they are still here and, since Joey Belladonna’s return in 2010, they have reaffirmed their place as major players.
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Lets cut to the chase. Soen (and their impressive undercard of Oceanhoarse and LizZard) have managed to between them to attract a more than respectable horde for a Monday. Rebellion is healthily busy, and this reflects well on those of us who like our metal with more intelligence and melody. All three acts seem intent on pushing the boundaries of what our music entails, not in a “lets add a Venezuelan nose flute” sort of a way but in their attention to detail and their desire to add more light and shade than your average screamo outfit.
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One of Metal's many beauties is its blurred edges. Yes, at its heart there is a core that is all metal and nought else. However, as you travel to its furthest borders there are territories that seem to simultaneously exist within numerous other genres. Both of tonight’s acts blatantly use metal as a tool in their artistic endeavours, but would not fit its more conservative definitions or templates. Let’s just say Five Finger Death Punch, this isn’t.
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We have come full circle. Thirty-one years ago (almost, almost to the day) The Black Crowes played Manchester Apollo on the crest of a blues rock wave. Their star wasn’t just ascending, it was hurtling towards the cosmos. They had stolen the show at Donington Park the month before and a year after its release, their stunning debut was finally winning over British Audiences. Fast forward three decades, various reunions, countless line-up changes and an awful lot of sibling squabbling later and they back at the Apollo playing their now revered “Shake Your Money Maker” in its entirety.
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We are still in catch up mode. Evergrey were meant to visit these shores just as Covid first reared its ugly head. They then made another doomed attempt last Autumn as the pandemic’s tailwind still thrashed around the world. But finally, over two years late we are on. However, so much water has passed under the bridge they are now here to promote not one but two new records produced during the global slumber. Selective appeal is tonight’s watch word. Academy 3 is not particularly heaving but everybody here seems to both know and revere all of the three of the acts on offer.
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Tuskar are an utter force of nature. For a duo they make one hell of a lot of noise. Everything revolves around drummer and vocalist Tyler Hodges. His pulsating beats are high up in the mix and Tuskar’s scuzzy doom is predominantly drum driven. In fact the presence of guitarist Tim Hammond seems primarily to ensure Tyler doesn't get lonely up there by himself. Over the years doom has become refined and sanitised.
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