LIVE REVIEW: Powerwolf @ SWX, Bristol

The third Monday of January is known as ‘Blue Monday’, supposedly the most depressing day of the year when everyone is back at work, night still falls early and pay day is still not quite upon a number of people, their efforts to spread the last few pennies from their early Christmas income growing ever more desperate. As such, POWERWOLF‘s show at SWX provides a welcome distraction, where even the early start time of 6pm hasn’t deterred punters, the queue snaking around the block and out of sight. But then, power metal will do that to you…

Openers KISSIN’ DYNAMITE could have stuck out like a sore thumb on this bill given their glam and hair metal credentials, but the Germans’ mantra to ‘bring back stadium rock’ is one that everybody can get behind tonight on what is, incredibly, their debut tour of the UK. Sounding as if BON JOVI were influenced by IRON MAIDEN, their abundant energy spreads like wildfire through the audience and whilst songs like Sex Is War and Somebody’s Gotta Do It lack lyrical substance, that really isn’t the point of their output. Instead, it’s just about having as much fun as possible and their forty minute set is akin to eating a full wheel of Camembert in one sitting – incredibly cheesy and overtly glorious. Additionally, in singer Hannes Braun they have a true showman; a Michael Monroe look-a-like with the voice of Myles Kennedy who knows how to get a crowd going in every aspect, donning a cape for I Will Be King and ending atop the shoulders of guitarists Ande Braun and Jim Müller as they close with a thumping Flying Colours. It’s slick, unbelievably catchy and ensures KISSIN’ DYNAMITE will be making a few more trips across the pond.

Rating: 8/10

Since its opening, SWX has fast become one of Bristol’s favourite venues, with a factor in this being the excellent sound that travels through the venue. Certainly AMARANTHE benefit hugely from this; they fly out the traps with Maximize and every single channel, from all instruments to the triple threat of their three vocalists, is balanced superbly. They have big tunes to boot as well, Amaranthine greeted with a sea of mobile phone lights and 365, lead single off new album Helix sounding absolutely colossal, continuing the party atmosphere that KISSIN’ DYNAMITE brought before them. Sadly, two moments let them down: the first is the stand-up comedy routine by bass player Johan Andreassen which, while working in their favour at Bloodstock when they suffered severe technical difficulties during their set, is wholly unnecessary in this environment and could have easily been replaced by another song. The second, more damning instance is when the band’s laptop housing their keyboard backing tracks picks up on nearby Wi-Fi connections, thus immediately playing the notification sound for everyone to hear. It’s amusing, of course, but from an outfit as seasoned as AMARANTHE it shouldn’t be happening at all and hints at a lack of professionalism. Neither is enough to derail a high-octane, infectious performance but it leaves a sour note nonetheless.

Rating: 7/10

It’s time to kneel at the altar and partake in ‘the mass of heavy metal’, although it must be said that POWERWOLF are very much preaching to the converted tonight. There isn’t a single moment where the words emitted from Atilla Dorn’s mouth aren’t shouted back with gusto and with keyboardist Falk Maria Schlegel doubling up as a hype man, there’s always at least one fist in the air pumping with as much effort as the owner can muster. As expected, the set is heavy with tracks from latest album The Sacrament of Sin, but they only account for a third of the overall material, allowing for plenty of fan favourites and classic tracks from their back catalogue. In terms of the new material, Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend is ludicrously brilliant, the bounce of Incense and Iron is enhanced tenfold and power ballad Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone, complete with a snow machine special effect, is spellbinding and captivates an crowd firmly in the palm of POWERWOLF’s collective hands.  Metal doesn’t always have to be moody and serious; when it’s as bombastic and silly as this, it’s virtually unstoppable. Plus, who doesn’t love a good song called Resurrection by Erection, Blessed & Possessed or Amen & Attack?

More than the performance of tonight’s headliners, however, there’s an added sense of occasion. It seems to be an increasing trend that musicians publicly declare ‘rock is dead’ to the world’s media, but the truth is they’re not looking hard enough. One look around SWX tonight proves that it’s more alive than ever, because nobody can ignore or, indeed, fully comprehend the camaraderie and huge family feel that’s bouncing from wall to wall. It’s this spirit and commitment that led METALLICA to name their fanbase ‘The Fifth Member’, for when an audience is as engaged as they are tonight the experience is taken to another level entirely. The participation for Armata Strigoi and a thunderous Sanctified With Dynamite is enough to bring a tear to even the hardest of souls and by the time the band take their bows following Werewolves of Armenia, nearly two hours has passed in the blink of an eye. SABATON had better watch their backs at Bloodstock this year, because when POWERWOLF are on this sort of scintillating form, they will leave everyone trailing in their wake.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Bristol from Normandy Photography here: