It's Friday night in Wolverhampton, and whilst the rest of the city may find themselves in Pop World or 'Spoons, the metal heads have congregated at KK's Steel Mill for tonight's spectacle, Gloryhammer. The room is filled with battle jackets and some even dressed in chainmail or Roman soldier get-ups.
Sticking with the cosplay appearances, the first band tonight, Fellowship, donned a Middle Earth-inspired outfit. With a short but tight set of Melodic Power Metal, the band won over the crowd very early on, especially with their rendition of the Disney classic, 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?'
Next up were Dominum, who upped the theatrics by bringing in undead masked members and a cane-welding frontman. They ripped the room with songs that embraced the undead themes many metal heads love such as zombies and Frankenstein. Tracks such as 'The Dead Don't Die' and 'Don’t Get Bitten By the Wrong Ones' went down a treat, as well as a nod to their German roots with a cover of 'Rock You Like A Hurricane'.
Finally it's time for the main event. As is tradition with Gloryhammer, a cardboard cut-out of Sir Tom Jones is placed on the stage before the hit track "Delilah" bursts through the PA, everyone singing along as if this was a Tom Jones gig in itself. Soon enough the band make their way onstage, with the chants of "HOOTS" being thrown at the entrance of their bassist "The Hootsman". Diving straight into 'Holy Flaming Hammer of Unholy Cosmic Frost', we are taken on a cosmic blaze of neon lights, medieval regalia, and thunderous power metal anthems that transported the audience into their fantastical sci-fi universe.
By this time, they were performing to a packed venue and the intergalactic warriors delivered an unforgettable spectacle filled with theatrical storytelling, soaring vocals, and triumphant melodies that had fans raising their hammers to the sky in joyous unison.
Vocalist Sozos Michael, embodying his role as Angus McFife, commanded the stage with charismatic bravado, effortlessly hitting sky-high notes while engaging the crowd in anthemic singalongs. His ability to channel the over-the-top, yet entirely sincere spirit of Gloryhammer’s lore was nothing short of mesmerising.
Comedy plays a major part of the show, with tales of dangerous waters to get to the show tonight (a ferry from Dublin) and the song, 'Questlords of Inverness, Ride to the Galactic Fortress!' being dedicated to "our friends up the A9." During 'Wasteland Warrior Hoots Patrol,' a green goblin invades the stage to give a saxophone solo.
Overall the band definitely give you a night of entertainment, while it may come across as silly, you can't deny they are masters of their craft.
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