Xandria - Birmingham Review

This past weekend was another pretty lengthy one, including plenty of travelling, problems on the railway, and live music. My last post here covered an excellent Friday night spent in Bristol in the company of Marillion - one of my very favourite bands. Marillion concerts always feels like special events, and Friday was no different, and it was great seeing the band again - even if it was Marillion show number 13 for me! Whatever was going to follow Marillion was likely to struggle in comparison - and the task fell to the German symphonic metal act Xandria, who kicked off their latest, lengthy European tour last week with a run of UK shows. In support of their strong new album Eclipse (which I reviewed here), Xandria's tour is likely one of the longest they have done for a while - at least as a headline act. I have been following the band since around 2012 but, before Saturday, had only seen them live once before - which was back in 2023 when I saw them opening for Delain in London. That show is one that really lives in the memory - with both Delain and Xandria delivering excellent performances. Both bands at the time had recently undergone pretty significant line-up changes, with both of those line-ups still finding their feet after recently releasing new albums. Both of the break-ups which led to the line-up changes seemed quite fraught, too, so there was certainly a strong vibe of 'please still like us' coming from the stage that night. Three years on, though, the current era of Xandria is now going strong - and with plenty of shows under their belts, plus a second album, so any drama seems long behind them. There has been some changes, though, with band leader Marco Heubaum switching from guitar to bass guitar, at least live, and the band operating as a four-piece, but the current era, fronted by Ambre Vourvahis feels well-entrenched at this point - despite the many eras which have already passed in Xandria's history. Whilst the band are not one of my favourites, I would consider myself quite a big fan - so it is perhaps a surprise that Saturday's show was my first time seeing them as a headline act. They have been pretty regular visitors to the UK over the years - but, for whatever reason, I just never made the effort. I remember that they returned to the UK later in 2023 for a few headline shows, with Skarlett Riot in support, which I was certainly interested in - but sadly any plan to get to one of those shows just did not work. As such, when the band's current tour was announced earlier this year, I knew that I had to try again - and the Birmingham show tied in nicely with the Marillion show that I already had booked. The venue, the O2 Institute 2, is one that I like - but it is not one that I had visited too often. I have never really liked the main room upstairs, but this smaller room has always led to enjoyable experiences - and it has symphonic and power metal pedigree for me as I saw both Edguy and Delain there many years ago. It had been a few years since I visited the venue, though, with a 2022 show by The Quireboys, from memory, my last time there. I will be seeing Haken there early next year, which I am looking forward to, so it will not be such a long wait before my next trip into Digbeth. As such, then, it was from Bristol to Birmingham that I journeyed on Saturday - although the train journey was not as straight forward as it should have been. Nothing was running through Cheltenham Spa due to signalling issues - so I ended up having to travel via Reading, turning an 80 or so minute journey into one that took over three hours. I left much earlier than I had planned to, though, so I ended up in Birmingham around the same time as was originally planned - only to learn that the train I was supposed to have taken was one of the first to travel through the affected area after the lines re-opened.

Travel drama aside, which sadly is becoming a regular feature of gigging trips away, it was good to be back in Birmingham - and soon I was waiting in the O2 Institute 2 for the night to start. I seem to remember reports of the band's 2023 shows suggests that crowds were on the thin side - but the Birmingham show was fairly well attended I thought, at least considering the band's small stature here in the UK. A decent bill likely helped to shift some tickets, though, with the Texan four-piece Tulip kicking things off. I had seen Tulip live once before, opening for Serenity in London in 2024 - but I had not really checked them out properly since. I remember somewhat enjoying their set in London a couple of years ago, and my view on Saturday's set is largely similar. Fronted by Ashleigh Semkiw, Tulip are largely a quite modern-sounding alternative metal band - with the occasional symphonic and atmospheric flourish. The riffing from Colin Parrish (vocals/guitar) and Cody Casillas (guitar) was largely grinding and heavy, with little in the way of instrumental showboating. Parrish did throw in the occasional solo, as well as the occasional harsh vocal bridge, but generally the band's riffs were groovy and heavy - with drummer Dylan Gowan, on loan from and doing double duty with the other support act Seven Spires throughout this tour it seems, laying down some tight, muscular post-thrash grooves. Semkiw's quite poppy vocal approach nicely contrasted with this riffy onslaught - and there was quite a lot of light and shade in the band's sound as a result. In truth, calling Semkiw a poppy singer does her a bit of a disservice. There were certainly more powerful and even some semi-operatic moments from her - but generally she just sang in a pleasingly melodic manner, grooving nicely along with the big riffs. Tulip certainly have something of a distinct sound as a result - and I enjoyed their 30 or so minutes on stage again last night. Given that is twice that I have enjoyed the band live now, I probably should do them a favour and actually give some of their material a proper listen.

There was only a short break between the evening's two support acts so, as mentioned before, it was not long before the Boston-based four-piece Seven Spires took to the stage. Gowan had barely had time to have a break before he was called upon again - with the unique and dynamic band delivering 40 or so minutes of technical, heavy, and symphonic music that is quite unlike anything else. Like Tulip, I had seen Seven Spires live once before -  as I caught them in Manchester last year opening for Sonata Arctica. I have nearly all of the band's albums, and enjoy them whilst feeling that I have only just scratched the surface, but live they are a different beast. If their long albums can be quite hard to sit through due to how much of an aural assault they can be, live the band seem so much more direct. This is likely, in large, down to frontwoman Adrienne Cowan - a singer and performer in a league of her own. She is an excellent musician and composer, too, as the band's albums can attest, but live she gets to focus on singing - with a dynamic mix of warm, powerful clean vocals and black metal-esque shrieks her USP. I enjoyed seeing the band live last year, but I remember the sound mix being a bit muffled - but on Saturday they sounded very powerful indeed. Kicking off with the lengthy Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues, the band delivered a headline-worthy performance. Cowan was always the focus, her perfect vocal delivery and strong stage presence capturing every glance - but the rest of the band are just as key. Few can pull of fluid, tapped runs on his instrument like Peter de Reyna (bass guitar/vocals) can - whilst Jack Kosto (guitar) is full of neo-classical tricks to anchor the band's larger-than-life material. There were clearly quite a few fans in attendance, and Seven Spires were likely the band of the night when it came to the audience's reaction. Bands that do something different tend to turn heads - and I am sure that the powerful performance and generous sound mix gained Seven Spires a few new fans. It was good to hear a few different songs to those performed last year, too. Almosttown was an early highlight, with its good mix of gritty power metal and plenty of progressive flair, whilst the somewhat poppy Lightbringer reined in some of the band's usual excess to instead just focus on big hooks. Semkiw joined the band to duet with Cowan on that number, reflecting the two bands' long-standing friendship due to touring together previously, whilst she also showcased some proper operatic tendencies during a brief segment of the lengthy Love's Souvenir - where she followed a particular heavy section dominated by Cowan's harsh vocals with something more angelic. I would have been happy for Seven Spires to play for much longer, but sadly it was soon time for Gods of Debauchery and the end of the band's set. I can only hope that next time Seven Spires return to the UK they do so as a headliner - as hearing more from this excellent band live is something I am keen to experience. The setlist was:

A Fortress Called Home

Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues

Almosttown

Succumb

Lightbringer [w/ Ashleigh Semkiw]

Love's Souvenir [w/ Ashleigh Semkiw]

Wanderer's Prayer

Gods of Debauchery

Given the excellence of Marillion the night before, and Seven Spires' strong set, Xandria felt a little destined to disappoint. Whilst I do not think that they actually disappointed, their pretty typical symphonic metal felt a little one-dimensional to what came before. Given that the turnout was not exactly poor, too, the atmosphere in the room never felt that strong. Seven Spires had received a stronger reception, with Xandria instead receiving a warm, if somewhat muted, one. This was a shame, as I still think that Xandira put on a good show - but sometimes a support act just shines that bit brighter. Focusing on the positives, though, the band played much of their strong new album - kicking off with a powerful one-two punch of Eclipse and Colours. These were two of the heavier numbers of the night, with both featuring some harsh vocals from Vourvahis. I remember Vourvahis really impressing as a live singer when I saw the band before, but I did not feel that she was as strong this time. I think that she was having issues with her in-ear monitors at times, which cannot have helped, but she sounded a bit timid and flat at times - which was a shame. This was especially the case on the older songs performed - particularly those from the era where the band went all-out on operatic-style singers. She sounded strong on the more gothic anthem Ravenheart, but Forevermore later on did not fare so well in my opinion. Vourvahis can do operatic vocals to an extent, but she did not feel as powerful as I was expecting. On the newer songs, though, she largely sounded strong. The EP-only anthem Universal was new to me, but it came across well live - whilst the folky single The Shannon's Home was something of a highlight thanks to its big chorus and jig-like melodies. It was also one of the songs which Rob Klawonn (guitar) really shone on. As he is currently the only guitarist in the band's ranks, with Heubaum now on bass as previously mentioned, he had to do a lot of heavy lifting - but his riffing throughout was strong, whilst his soloing was busy. The folky The Shannon's Home allowed for some big guitar leads, too, and he even ended it with some acoustic guitar playing. That folky vibe was later returned to during Northstar, with more excellent guitar playing from Klawonn, but before that there was time for a few different vibes. The somewhat longer Two Worlds allowed for a slightly heavier, more progressive sound - whilst there was also a ballad in the form of The Last Generation played. The latter saw Vourvahis more at her best, and early on she stood alone on the stage to perform the gentle intro - before the rest of the band slowly joined in. Despite enjoying Seven Spires more, I still felt that Xandria's time on stage passed pretty quickly - and it was not long before a main set-closing version of Reborn received quite a strong reception. As the band left the stage, though, there was an awkward silence for a brief period - before some half-hearted calls for an encore started and the intro of Valentine started playing. A three-song encore followed, although I am not sure the crowd really deserved it, with the operatic Valentine and Nightfall looking back to the past somewhat. These were not Vourvahis' strongest moments, either, but the lengthy Lore that ended the night fit the bill more appropriately - with the dynamic and more progressive number a strong way to end the night. The setlist was:

Syzygy

Eclipse

Colours

Ravenheart

Universal

The Shannon's Home

Forevermore

The Grand Delusion

Two Worlds

The Last Generation

Northstar

Reborn

-

Valentine

Nightfall

Lore

I enjoyed my time with Xandria on Saturday, even if the crowd never really seemed to get that into the show - and with Vourvahis perhaps not at her best. It was good to see a headline-length set from the band after so many years, though - and with a decent-sized Birmingham crowd gathered. The band of the night for me though was Seven Spires - and I hope to see them again soon, this time with more time to allow their unique music to truly shine.

Marillion - Bristol Review

Even though this summer felt busier than some, it was still the case that gig numbers were down compared to the rest of the year. With bands concentrating on festivals, regular gigs tend to drop away somewhat over the summer, and start to pick up properly again around now - ramping up again throughout the autumn and winter. Looking at my schedule for the rest of the year, October and November are extremely busy - so gig reviews will be coming thick and fast over the coming months. September has not exactly been quiet, either, as it kicked off with a strong weekend in London taking in Geoff Tate and Bon Jovi - but this past Friday I was in Bristol for the first time for a few months seeing one of my all-time favourite bands: Marillion. I have been lucky enough to see Marillion quite a few times over the years - and, with the exception of 2020, I saw them live every year between 2016 and 2023. I did not see them in 2024, but I got back on the Marillion live train again last year with the band's set at the, sadly one-off, Kernowfornia Festival in Looe. That was a local show for me, so it was good to see the band live without having to travel a long distance and stay overnight - but it was actually my second time seeing them in Cornwall, having also seen them at Carnglaze Caverns many years ago. Not too long after that festival appearance, the band started announcing touring plans for 2026 - and a pretty lengthy run of UK shows was soon put on sale. Given its proximity to the South West, the Bristol show made the most sense - and, being a Friday, it worked nicely in terms of time off work. Whilst I have seen Marillion live a number of times and in a number of different venues, this was my first time seeing them in Bristol. I saw them in nearby Bath a few years ago, and the band have been regular visitors to Cardiff over the years - but Bristol has not been a regular destination for them since I have been following them. With the Beacon back in business following its lengthy closure and significant overhaul, it is likely one of the premier venues in the South West now, having looked tired and underused for many years, and I have been there a number of times recently. I have not been to Bristol that often this year, but I was last at the venue in January for Epica and Amaranthe's co-headline tour. I was standing on the floor for that show - but this time for Marillion I was sat upstairs, funnily enough not too far away from where I sat when I caught Fish's final tour at the same venue last year. When the band were originally planning this tour, given its length, I imagine that they thought that it would be celebrating the release of their next studio album. Marillion are not exactly known for their speed when it comes to writing and recording new material these days, though, so the tour just became an excuse to get out and play some shows - with the new album still unfinished. This is a shame, of course, but the album will come when it is ready - and I am sure that when it does it will be accompanied by another tour. It is always good to catch Marillion live, regardless of the circumstances, and it does not take much persuading to get me out of the house to see one of my favourite bands. The train journey up to Bristol was a strange one, with stops at some of the smaller stations cancelled due to overcrowding. I have certainly been on busier trains, so I am not really sure what the issue was, but it meant a delay at Exeter - although I only got into Bristol around 20 minutes late which was not too bad. The weather was not great, so after some dinner near the station I hunkered down in the hotel for a while, before taking the short walk to the Beacon - ready for an evening of live music.

Before Marillion took to the stage, the crowd was treated to half an hour of music from the Cornish band Haunt the Woods. Due to them being local to me, as well as forming at the same musical-based youth club that I used to attend, they are a band that I have been somewhat familiar with for years - but I had never had the chance to see them live until now. I do own their latest album, although it has never really grabbed me, but I went into their set with an open mind - as I have had been wanting to check them out properly for years. Whilst I am not sure that the band are 100% for me, as there is a bit too much of an earnest, singer-songwriter quality to their music, which is generally not a vibe I gel with, I nevertheless enjoyed their set - and half an hour passed pretty quickly. There are certainly some similarities between Haunt the Woods' sound and Marillion's, largely in their emotive depth and the way that the arrangements can be layered, but Haunt the Woods are less proggy overall - focusing more on the vocals of frontman Jonathan Stafford, with bigger musical moments a relatively rarity. That is not to say that such were totally absent, with Phoenix Elleschild (guitar/vocals) taking a couple of solos and including a few quite emotive leads into the overall arrangements - but largely there was a more organic, stripped back vibe to the band's sound, with songs usually growing from an acoustic guitar base and ending sounding much fuller. Haunt the Woods have a bit of history with Marillion, having opened for the band before at some of their famed 'weekends' - and Stafford was one of the team behind the ill-fated Kernowfornia. As such, and due to the band's growing presence in and of itself, there were certainly a few fans in attendance - and Haunt the Woods received a pretty warm reception from the off, not having to do too much to generate an atmosphere. This was nice to see, as Marillion do not always have strong support acts in my opinion - with many often feeling like something of an afterthought. The pairing this time, then, was much stronger overall and I enjoyed the band's set even if I am still not 100% sure that what they do is wholly for me. I will certainly give the album of theirs that I have another listen in due course, though, with this set still fresh in my mind.

As always seems to be the case at the Beacon, the night was well-organised and ran to time - so it was pretty much bang on 8:30pm when the lights went down and Marillion took to the stage. Distant Eastern melodies and helicopter sounds, alongside searchlights, heralded the opening number Gaza - with the mammoth political number back in the set after a few years away. I have always loved the song, and from the off the band sounded excellent. The sound mix was very clear without being too loud, so the nuances of the band's complex, layered sound were able to shine through. Marillion have never been afraid of kicking off with a long song, and for the next 15 or so minutes the large crowd was captured by some of the heaviest riffing of the night, delicate synths, Steve Rothery's (guitar) first big solo of the night, and frontman Steve Hogarth delivering emotive, powerful vocals. Unlike some of his peers, his voice remains excellent. He may have lost some of the control over his highest notes, but his power remains - and he was in rude form throughout the band's two-plus hours on stage. He also had quite a bit to say to the crowd. Some of this was enforced, as Rothery was having issues with his pedal board all night. The show was derailed slightly after Gaza whilst it was fixed for the first time, during which Hogarth and Pete Trewavas (bass guitar/vocals) treated the crowd to a partial, stripped back version of the old B-side The Bell in the Sea - but once Rothery was ready the band powered through Seasons End, with Hogarth showcasing his power and Rothery laying down one of the best solos of the night. Overall, the setlist was a good mix of songs that have dominated shows in recent years and some surprises. You're Gone and a new number Ribbons and Lace were rare upbeat moments in what was quite an emotive set. The new song certainly showcased the band's whimsical side, with more soloing from Rothery, whilst a truncated, largely instrumental take on Hotel Hobbies was the only look back to the Fish era. It worked surprisingly well as an intro to Afraid of Sunlight - a song which the band seem to never tire of playing. Treats for the die-hards later came in the form of Enlightened and Built-In Bastard Radar - two rarely-played numbers from the recently reissued marillion.com. The latter was particularly fun, as a rare, bluesy slab of hard rock - something pretty different when compared to the band's core sound. The second half of the main set really upped the levels of emotion, though, with the lengthy, multi-part Care wowing the crowd. The pandemic-inspired song has become a live favourite over the past few years - and the band nailed it, from its fairly funky, industrial bass-driven beginning to its soaring closing section. The piano-led section about three-quarters of the way through is always special, with Mark Kelly (keyboards/vocals) laying down some understated melodies. The Crow and the Nightingale which followed kept a similar vibe going - and the song has become one of my favourites from the band of late. Rothery's guitar playing throughout is always a highlight of any recent Marillion show. A couple of bigger numbers were then left to round things out, with Hogarth letting the crowd sing much of Easter. A medley of pieces from 1994's Brave rounded out the main set - culminating in a powerful version of The Great Escape, a song made for drawing concerts to a close with its soaring crescendo. Even with the various breaks to fix Rothery's pedal board, there was still time for more - and a two-song encore took the crowd back to the past. Both of the songs played dated from the very early days of Hogarth's time in the band, and he strapped on a guitar for the up-tempo pop rock of The Release, another old B-side that the band wheels out during encores on occasion, whilst the dense and soaring The Space... acted as the band's final statement. The Space... is not played live all that often, so it was good to hear it again on Friday - with Kelly's various keyboard melodies and Hogarth delivering one last time. It was a triumphant end to a powerful night of music - and the large Bristol crowd lapped it all up. The setlist was:

Gaza

The Bell in the Sea

Seasons End

You're Gone

Ribbons and Lace

Hotel Hobbies

Afraid of Sunlight

Enlightened

Built-In Bastard Radar

Care - Part I: Maintenance Drugs

Care - Part II: An Hour Before It's Dark

Care - Part III: Every Cell

Care - Part IV: Angels on Earth

The Crow and the Nightingale

Easter

Wave

Mad

The Great Escape

-

The Release

The Space...

Being one of my very favourite bands, Marillion never disappoint - but, given that I had not seen a proper headline show from them since 2023, Friday night in Bristol hit harder than it may otherwise had. A great sound mix and being in a great venue helped, but so did an excellent setlist that included plenty of favourites as well as a few songs I had not seen the band do live before despite having seen them live many times. With work on their new album still progressing, too, I would imagine there is another pretty lengthy UK tour planned around its release - neither of which can come soon enough.

Mastodon's 'Marrow Deep' - Album Review

Given that I cover a fair amount of progressive music on this blog, although perhaps not as much as I should, it may surprise some to learn that I have never written about the Atlanta-based band Mastodon before. Outside of the more traditional progressive metal scene, headed by bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X, and perhaps Tool who essentially sit apart from everyone else, Mastodon could well be one of the biggest names in progressive music. Their roots in the sludge and hardcore scenes, and their strong stoner influences, root them firmly in the metal world, although in a part far away from the more classically-inspired bands that dominate progressive metal, but there has always been a psychedelic and even a jazzy side to Mastodon that ensures a progressive leaning - and this influence has only increased over time. The main reason that I have not covered the band before is that, until recently, I just did not like them all that much. They are one of those bands that I have tried to get into a handful of times over the years - only to mostly bounce off. I came closest around the time their fourth album Crack the Skye came out in 2009. I was familiar with Mastodon by reputation before Crack the Skye dropped, but the album was the first of theirs I heard - and I liked it quite a bit without ever getting truly drawn in. I think I also checked out 2006's Blood Mountain around this time, and 2011's The Hunter not too long after it dropped - but neither felt as strong as Crack the Skye and, given that I still struggled somewhat with Crack the Skye, the other albums were not going to change my mind. Both Crack the Skye and The Hunter were much loved by prog fans around the time that they dropped - and over the years the band have perhaps become less popular with the metal crowd and more popular with the prog crowd. They have certainly gotten less heavy over time - and I think it can be easy to forget now how heavy the band could be. I somewhat enjoyed 2004's Leviathan when I found a copy in a charity shop a few years ago, maybe as it was on the heavier side, but, again, I was not exactly hooked. For some reason, though, a few months ago I decided to undertake a proper Mastodon journey - and I picked up all of the albums that I was missing, and listened to them all in order: from 2002's Remission to 2021's Hushed and Grim. I found quite a bit to enjoy - and my Mastodon fandom has never been higher than it is now. I would still consider myself a casual fan, but I have enjoyed the journey - which has led up to the release of ninth album Marrow Deep, the band's first album in five years. In some ways, Marrow Deep seemed like a good place to truly dive in. It is the start of a new era for the band, as it is their first album without guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds since his departure, and subsequent death, last year. Hinds' departure was the first proper line-up change in the band's history - with every album up to and including Hushed and Grim being written and recorded by the same line-up. As such, Marrow Deep is a notable Mastodon release - and the band's first album as a five-piece. Bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor now form the core of Mastodon - with guitarist Nick Johnston and keyboard player João Nogueira (Terra Prima; Dol Guldur) rounding out the current line-up. Nogueira played on Hushed and Grim as a session musician and had been touring with the band since 2021 - but Johnston is a new face. Whilst the core three wrote most of the songs here, both Johnston and Nogueira also have writing credits.

Sound-wise, Marrow Deep is not too dissimilar from the band's other recent efforts. This is quite a psychedelic release, although the album does rock pretty hard in spots. Keyboards play a bigger role in the band's sound than ever, with Nogueira employing plenty of retro sounds, whilst Johnston brings a perhaps more typically guitar hero style which differs from Hinds' approach. Hinds' voice is missed, of course, but Sanders and Dailor between them sound great - and there are a few guest vocalists throughout that add some additional variety. Hinds had sung less in recent years in any case, so the change is perhaps not as drastic as it could have been. As with most of the band's albums Marrow Deep is quite lengthy - with 12 songs here clocking in at just over the hour. Kicking off with Barbarians Blood (noting the disappointing lack of an apostrophe), a lumbering, percussive drum pattern from Dailor opens the album - over a which a slow-burning, bluesy riff is laid, showcasing the band's stoner influences from the off. As the opening riff intimates, this is largely a mid-paced and groovy number on the whole. The opening riff is quite slab-like, with Sanders soon adding his howling vocals over the top. The opening vocal section resurfaces throughout the track, whilst snappier, quieter sections with juddering guitar patterns and atmospheric keyboards rein in the heaviness. Whilst this album certainly fits nicely alongside the band's other more recent releases, it does feel a bit riffier than some of them. Kelliher has written quite a few memorable riffs for this album - and there are a few in this song alone, with an off-kilter heavier one later backing a flashy, old-school synth solo. A few moments of twin lead guitar showcase the band's self-confessed love of Thin Lizzy, whilst stabbing riffing elsewhere is a bit of a hark back to heavier times. The song is a bit of a mix of everything, then, with the band firing on all cylinders. Poisonous Weapons feels a bit heavier initially, with more of a driving, jagged guitar riff kicking things off - which, again, is repurposed throughout, usually with Sanders singing over the top in his gruffer, yet still clean, delivery. His bellowing vocal style is full of character, whilst jazzy, quieter sections act as something of a respite - with chiming clean guitar melodies, off-kilter basslines, and shuffling drum grooves. Dailor sings over some of these sections, but some are left instrumental - with grinding keyboards also doing a lot of heavy lifting. The vocal interplay between Sanders and Dailor has grown organically over the years - with the former generally taking the heavier sections and the latter the more melodic. That clash of styles works well here, whilst Johnston lays down his first proper solo of the album later on - with some bluesy motifs sounding strong. Picking up the pace, lead single Your Ghost Again is Mastodon at their chaotic best. The fast-paced main riff has that barrelling yet off-kilter vibe that was a hallmark of the band's early days, whilst Dailor's hard-hitting drumming showcases those hardcore roots. There are uncompromising moments here, then, with some of Sanders' most aggressive vocals - but there are also spacey moments with plenty of keyboards which cut in occasionally. Generally, though, this song is heavy - and is less dynamic overall than is typical. There is a pretty hooky chorus, but it remains pretty fast-paced and tough-sounding, whilst Johnston shreds in a more overtly metallic way than is typical of Mastodon at this point. The mix of the faster riffing, big chorus vocal hooks, and a jazzy outro with fluid riffing and busy bass playing is likely to make the track a winner live.

Snakes for Dinner is one of the more instant songs here. Mastodon songs tend to take a few listens to settle in, but I found this one memorable from the off - with some excellent drumming from Dailor early on and some guitar riffing that is, again, a little more metallic than is the norm. The addition of some rumbling organ in the background is always going to draw me in, too. Mastodon have utilised keyboards before, of course, but Nogueira adds a lot to this album in my opinion. The guitars still dominate, but there are so many strong textures on this album - and the ever-present organ here sits nicely against the snappy guitar riffing. Structure-wise, this song is a bit simpler, too, with tougher verses, with vocals split between Sanders and Dailor, alongside a pretty soaring chorus that sees the two singing together to great effect. The chorus vocal melodies really stick in the brain for me, and it is one of the album's true sing-a-long moments - whilst the second iteration is followed by a great, lengthy, retro synth solo. The first of the album's guest vocalists is utilised here, too, with Josh Homme (Kyuss; Queens of the Stone Age; Eagles of Death Metal; Them Crooked Vultures) adding his drawling voice to the ending segment of the song - his voice standing out from the band's two main singers' to add something different. Out Like a Lamb reins in the heaviness somewhat. It opens with a pretty acrobatic guitar riff, but it feels more 1970s in tone, with less of a metallic bent - which the song doubles down on when Dailor starts to sing. A version of the riff sits under his voice, but it is mixed into the background - with percussive drumming and the synths largely dominating. There is a strong psychedelic vibe to the main verses, then, with later verses seeing different synth textures popping in and out, although the song does get a bit heavier again during a lumbering chorus - which sees Sanders take over vocally and some double bass drum patterns. The spacey vibes are later returned to when the opening riff leads a bridge section in its fuller form - over which synth melodies flash. Mellotron is also made use of later on, making the second half of the song sound even bigger - whilst a lengthy guitar solo, followed by a proper distorted organ wig out, leans fully into the band's prog side. In the Ruins continues down a proggy path, with more of a stripped back sound - losing some of the metal and focusing on warmth and emotive vocals. Early Pink Floyd and those dense ballads found on early King Crimson albums feel like a touchstone here, with whimsical, distant vocals floating around the mix early on - whilst a surprisingly busy drum groove and percussive guitar patterns form a sweeping backdrop. Some of the album's gentlest moments are found here, then, and there is a meandering quality to parts of the song - with subtle guitar leads coming and going. As if to be deliberately varied, though, there are also some distinctly heavy sections - which roar into life in a surprising manner, with Dailor unleashing some double bass drum patterns whilst snarling guitars take over. These sections perhaps feel heavier than they are due to the quieter nature of much of the song, but there is certainly a strong contrast between light and shade here - with one of the heavy sections also containing a pretty epic guitar solo. Mastodon songs always need a few listens to fully appreciate, and this one is no different, but the smashing together of two sounds works well for me on repeated listens - and it is a song that has become a bit of an overall highlight for me.

They're Coming for You (this time with a correct apostrophe) is a bit of a riff-fest, at least early on. With the band largely going for heavy, stonery riffs in the main - the opening minute or so of this song feels like 'proper' prog metal. The kinetic guitar playing of Johnston and Kelliher is busy and interlinking - with melodies aplenty in their playing. I love how the riffing varies slowly as the instrumental opening moves along - whilst Nogueira later joins in with his keyboards, adding an extra layer of energy to the song. Even when the busier riffing finishes, and the band settle into more of a bluesy, mid-paced groove, the song still feels quite busy - with Sanders and Dailor trading vocals across lengthy verses that feature intricate drumming, a mix of riffing and sparser moments, and more synths. There is always something new to hear as this song progresses, and it feels like a truly progressive piece of music as a result. The band do not want to sit still at all here - with a few heavier sections kicking in later on, with Sanders bellowing the vocals with real power. Neo-classical keyboard runs and another pretty lengthy guitar solo add a lot to the song - which is another overall highlight for me. Golden Spires has a buzzing opening riff that somewhat feels like it comes in from a distance. It repeats a few times over some percussive drumming - before the band lunch into a bit more of a chaotic verse that ups the heaviness and has something of an old-school vibe. There are certainly shades of albums like Leviathan during the heavier moments of this song - and there are times when Sanders' vocal style approaches the tone of the late Hinds. As with most of the songs here, though, this is quite a dynamic number - with Dailor taking the lead vocally during some spacier sections that flourish thanks to layers of synths and a great bass underpinning. The contrast between light and shade is perhaps not as pronounced as it was during In the Ruins, but the song goes for a similar approach - even if the two approaches feel a bit more cleanly integrated this time. This has been Mastodon's way of working for a long time at this point, though, so the collision of worlds should not come as much of a surprise - with Johnston once again delivering with a couple of memorable guitar solos later on. Moth and Bone opens quite slowly, with some distant guitar melodies - before a fairly organic acoustic guitar pattern cuts through the haze, against a shuffling drum groove. In terms of a a proper old-school prog sound, this song is one here that delivers on that approach in a big way. The shuffling drum beat is just a bit left-field to allow for a prog groove to settle in - whilst Nogueira really shines here as he adds his retro synth melodies over the top of the warm acoustic guitar backing. Vocal harmonies and the synths add to the warmth, but the song does grow from this sparser base. It does get heavier, although it never feels truly heavy. The tougher guitar tones here feel more retro in nature, and the vocals are never as aggressive as they can be - staying melodic as the synths still cut through. The contrast between the light and shade is another strong example of such here - even if the whole song retains a retro feel. Even the heavier moments, including some later sections that feature double bass drumming, feel less metallic and more old-school, hard-hitting prog rock - with the vibes conjured up early on by the acoustic guitars and synths never truly leaving.

The last three songs all feature guest vocalists - with A Vampire's Demeanour (another correct apostrophe) up first. Nate Newton (Jesuit; Converge; Old Man Gloom; Doomriders; The Ocean Collective; Cavalera Conspiracy) and Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) add their voices to the track - which is heavier overall than the last few, returning instead to the more hard-hitting way the band opened the album up. Vocally, the song feels a bit more aggressive than has generally been the case up to this point. There is more of a hardcore vocal approach taken throughout - with Sanders, Newton, and Blythe using harsh and screamed vocals to sit nicely against the heavier and sludgier riffs which make up the bulk of this song. As such, this song feels like a real hark back to the band's early days. Mastodon have rarely been this consistently heavy for sometime, and the heavy riffing and grinding grooves of the track should please all old-school Mastodon fans. There is little of the prog and the light and shade largely seen elsewhere here - but as a flat out metal track that turns the clock back somewhat I think the song succeeds. The Vanishing opens with quite a lengthy bass intro, provided by Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath; Ozzy Osbourne; Heaven & Hell; Deadland Ritual). Butler played a number of bass intros of this nature on Black Sabbath's early albums, and this song sees him harking back to those times - his fuzzy, acrobatic playing opening what is actually quite a progressive number. The bass intro seems like it might give way to something heavy and doomy, but actually a popping drum groove and spacey guitar melodies soon take over - whilst dreamy vocals from Dailor dominate. In terms of old-school prog, this is another that really harks back to the 1970s. Black Sabbath could at times be rooted in prog, so the bass intro is not totally out of character, whilst meandering guitar riffing, occasional dancing guitar leads, and warm synth melodies constantly weave in and out of the mix - building a dense song that is easily the most atmospheric thing here. I really like the more straight ahead lead guitar approach that Johnston has brough to Mastodon - and his guitar solo here showcases why. It feels quite heroic at first, before settling into some legato runs that fit nicely with the core vibe of the song. There are some slightly heavier sections, which feature brief harsh vocals from Joe Duplantier (Gojira; Cavalera Conspiracy), but largely this is a song that revels in soundscapes and an old-school sound. The album then comes to a close with The Three Fates, the longest track here at just under eight minutes. Neil Fallon (Clutch; The Company Band; The Bakerton Group; Dunsmuir) is the final guest vocalist here, with the song having something of a three-part vocal approach as a result. In many ways, the song feels like bits of everything that has come before. There is heavier riffing early on, but it is not as heavy as some of the examples here - but the song meanders through various sections. There is something of a strange spoken word section during part of the song, under which the band groove away in a retro fashion, and there are also some quite lengthy instrumental sections here that return to jazzy influences - particularly when considering Nogueira's keyboard playing. There is a sparse guitar and keyboard solo interplay section late on which feels pure jazz - although it does later expand into something more metallic and sweeping. It is definitely the song with the most instrumental experimentation - and it helps the album to end on a technical and progressive high. Whilst there was a journey to get here, Marrow Deep feels like the first Mastodon album I have truly digested. I enjoy much of it, and it is an album that continues to impress. Maybe this will be my true gateway to Mastodon, but even if I remain a casual fan I will be grateful for the proper introduction - and given the line-up change it is great seeing the band still sounding so powerful and so like themselves.

The album was released on 28th August 2026 via Loma Vista Recordings. Below is the band's promotional video for Snakes for Dinner.

Kamelot's 'Dark Asylum' - Album Review

Given how much new music I listen to each year, which is significantly more than I get the chance to review here, it can sometimes be easy to get blasé when it comes to new album releases. Most weeks see at least one new album of interest drop - and in choosing to review many of them, taking in the near-constant stream of new music can sometimes feel a bit like a second job. I have never made any money from this blog, and every album that is covered here I have paid for. I have never been sent anything to review, with the exception of releases by a couple of small-scale bands a number of years ago that I was somewhat friendly with, so this blog is 100% my own personal outlet for what interests me musically. With all that being said, it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of what an event a new album release can be. Even bands that I love can get lost in the shuffle sometimes, especially when four or five new albums drop on the same day, and it is quite rare that I treat a new album release as something of an event. There are a handful of my very favourite bands that do still receive such treatment, though. Mostly Autumn and Marillion are the obvious two, and given that both are currently working on new albums I hope to have that experience again soon, likely in 2027, but the US-based, multi-national power/symphonic metal act Kamelot are another. I had already started listening to both symphonic and power metal before checking out Kamelot, as I am pretty sure my love of Nightwish and Epica pre-dated my love for Kamelot, but they were likely the first band that I listened to that fused both sounds together - alongside that gothic melodrama that has always set Kamelot aside from most power metal bands. No other band truly sounds like Kamelot, and those that come close have likely done so deliberately. Serenity are the band that has likely come closest in the most authentic manner - but Kamelot remain in a league of their own, even if their sound has somewhat shifted over the years. I think that most would agree that they are no longer pushing the envelope of what their sound could be. though, instead settling back on a long-established core sound and a knack for writing great songs. There are still some minor shifts, with the band occasionally diving into heavier territories, but generally the Kamelot core sound is safe and sound - and their particular brand of melodic and lush bombast can be heard on their recently-released fourteenth studio album Dark Asylum. Following three years on from 2023's The Awakening (which I reviewed here), Dark Asylum continues on the more upbeat and overtly melodic approach of the previous album. The Awakening felt like something of a course correction, following the darker and more mechanical The Shadow Theory (which I reviewed here). Whilst I like The Shadow Theory, it is one of the band's weaker efforts overall in my opinion - and it lacked much of the heroic nature of Kamelot's core approach. The Awakening brought it back after a five year gap - and, if anything, Dark Asylum has doubled down. In terms of pure hooks and choruses, Dark Asylum may well be one of Kamelot's strongest releases. It does run out of steam somewhat towards the end, but the first three-quarters of the album contains some of the most overtly-memorable songwriting that the band have committed to tape. On the whole, though, that does come at the cost of the band's progressive flourishes. Most of the songs here are on the short side, with straight forward arrangements, so those who enjoy their knottier, layered numbers will not find much of that here. Those who love guitarist Thomas Youngblood's soaring lead melodies, keyboard player Oliver Palotai's sweeping orchestrations and flashy synth solos, and frontman Tommy Karevik's smooth, dynamic vocal melodies, though, will find a punchy Kamelot album that, more than ever, focuses on hooks.

It is also the band's first concept album since 2012's Silverthorn - although I am not 100% what Dark Asylum is about, aside from the fact the story seems to take place in RavenHill Asylum. An understanding of the concept is not required to enjoy this album, though, as the hooks do more than enough heavy lifting. As is typical, the album gets underway with a largely instrumental scene-setter in Sanctorium. There is some semi-whispered spoken word to kick things off, before swirling orchestrations see that classic Kamelot symphonic sound take hold. It soon segues nicely into lead single Ashen World, though, a song that really grabbed hold of me from the first time I heard it. As much as I liked the last album, I am not sure its opening song was one of its strongest cuts - but Ashen World is modern Kamelot at their best. Youngblood's soaring guitar lead is instantly memorable, whilst the bombastic, staccato stabs of the rhythm section get the blood pumping - before drummer Alex Landenburg lays into his double bass drums. As is often the case with Kamelot, the song is a mixture of pace and smoother moments - and once Karevik starts to sing the track is more mid-paced. The smooth verses feature vocal melodies that include a few subtle twists to keep things interesting - and Karevik continues to really impress. As was the case on the last album, his vocal melodies here are often brighter - seeing some more of the side of his voice that he used to use with Seventh Wonder. I love the smooth verses here, and the melodies really stick in the brain - before a heavier and faster chorus kicks in, with double bass drumming and urgent, anthemic vocals. Later verses are more bass-heavy, with bassist Sean Tibbets shining, but they are still somewhat smooth - with the contrast between them and the chorus a strong one. Ignacia Fernández (Decessus) later adds some growls to a bridge section, 'harmonising' somewhat with Karevik, continuing the band's trend of using an up-and-coming guest vocalist on each album - before a shredded guitar solo and a final chorus bring the song to a close. The album's title track follows, with the song slowing the pace somewhat and being more of a hard-hitting mid-paced number throughout. The song opens with some juddering guitar riffing, although the guitar and drum patterns morph to become a bit more off-kilter as the intro moves along. It is epic and memorable from the off, before the main verse here feels heavier - with more of a snappy rhythm guitar presence and some piano counter-melodies. There is just generally more of a toughness throughout, with later segments of the verses picking up the pace - whilst the chorus is smoother, with warm vocal melodies, plenty of orchestrations, and driving guitars. Despite this core sound remaining, there is a piano break, which includes some higher-pitched vocals before the second chorus - as well as another excellent bridge section. Both guitar and keyboard solos are included this time, with the song being another pretty instant highlight for me. Whilst not a pure ballad Sanctuary is slower and more deliberate, with more gothic overtones. Fernández adds some growls again here, whilst Clémentine Delauney (Whyzdom; Serenity; Visions of Atlantis; Exit Eden) also adds her voice to the song - duetting more traditionally with Karevik. The opening of the song, with its slower pace and gothic choirs, hits hard - whilst the verses are more piano-based, seeing the heaviness stripped away. Karevik sings the first verse, whilst Delauney takes the second - with the two joining forces for the chorus, whilst Fernández adds some growls here and there. The chorus is another moment here with subtle vocal twists that elevate the song above the norm - whilst the more deliberate pace and emotive vocal interplay make what could, in the wrong hands, be a bit of a dreary number another excellent cut.

Following the brief orchestral interlude Nocte Veritas, One Last Masquerade kicks in - with yet another guest vocalist in the form of Tobias Sammet (Edguy; Avantasia). The guest spots are largely frontloaded here, which is a bit strange, but they all add something positive to the album in my view - and Karevik and Sammet previously duetted on last year's excellent Here Be Dragons (which I reviewed here) by Avantasia. Even though Sammet has not had a hand in writing the song, he certainly could have - and if I had been told that the song was recorded during the Here Be Dragons sessions I would have believed it. Whilst the verses are murky and much more Kamelot-coded, the main opening riff really feels like something Sammet could have written (think Twisted Mind) - as could the chorus, which is less theatrical and gothic, instead more playful and traditional crunchy European power metal. Despite this, the song does not feel out of place on the album, it just makes Sammet's presence feel at home - and there is enough Kamelot here to make the song work. The band slow things down on the following song, with the ballad Ivy, My Dear the gentlest piece here. Written by Karevik and regular behind the scenes collaborator Michael 'Miro' Rodenberg, all of the band's usual bombast is replaced here by delicate piano melodies, acoustic guitars, and folky strings. There is no metal at all here really, despite some more percussive moments, with Karevik allowing his emotive, delicate vocals to dictate everything - whilst subtle flourishes from the acoustic guitar and the strings occasionally add depth. The song never builds towards something bigger, and its gentle nature works well - sitting nicely alongside the more stripped back Kamelot folky ballads of the past. Immediately returning to something more upbeat, single Godlike Alchemy is a great example of Kamelot's poppier side. The opening guitar leads are full of that heroic nature that has been a part of the Kamelot core sound since the 1990s, whilst the song dispenses of much of the gothic drama that the band often operate within. As such, this is one of the band's most overtly poppy power metal tracks yet. It is bouncy and pretty feel-good overall, despite the strings and orchestrations being pretty dense - with Karevik really channelling his Seventh Wonder vocal style, and even throwing in some pretty high-pitched melodies at times. The chorus sticks in the brain after only a single listen, and the rest of the song hangs around it. This one might be a big sugary for some, but I like it as something of an explosion of fun. The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm) is much more typically Kamelot, though. It remains full of hooks, but there is a lot more of a gothic feel this time. Fast-paced, the song opens with some more excellent lead work from Youngblood, before snappy riffing backs a faster verse, with gothic piano melodies ringing in the background - as Karevik is more emotive vocally. The faster Kamelot songs generally feel more upbeat by default, and there is less of their brooding nature on display here - but there is still a darkness when compared to the previous song, with a chorus that is both dark and hooky, with more of those slightly off-kilter vocal melodies that elevate things. Kaleidoscope is similar, although the pace is reined in somewhat - with precise double bass drumming backing another big guitar lead, before a strident verse takes over with dancing stings and tough guitar accents between Karevik's melodies. Compared to some of the songs here, this one feels less memorable - but it is still a pretty strong effort. The chorus is much more gothic, meaning it takes a few more listens to fully appreciate, and there are some heavier moments here with some pretty venomous double bass drum patterns.

For me, the rest of the album is largely not as strong as what has come up to this point. Enigma (Think of Me) may be my least favourite song here, and the ballad just does not really have the hooks to take hold. The opening is quite heavy for a ballad, but the verses feel a little dirgy - with a rumbling bass presence and the piano mixed too far into the background. Karevik often excels during slower numbers as he has such an emotive delivery, but the verses here do not feature his best efforts in terms of melody. The chorus is an overall improvement, as it is a little tougher and Karevik's melodies are stronger, but overall the song still does not really latch on - and, in some ways, it seems caught in between wanting to be a proper stripped back ballad and a more gothic, mid-paced number. As things stand, it has the benefits of neither, with the song overall a rare misstep in my opinion. Cassandra's Disease gets things back on track, though, and it is a song more in-keeping quality-wise with what came before. In some ways, the song sounds like what the previous one could have been had it been heavier and more of a proper rocker - as Cassandra's Disease is more overtly gothic, with mechanical riffing early on creating genuinely headbanging vibe. Slow-burning verses are still packed with weight thanks to Youngblood's guitar playing - whilst the chorus is a winner on the level of many of those heard earlier on, with yet more off-kilter vocal melodies. The number of excellent choruses on this album is what has kept me coming back over the past few weeks, and this is the last of the really big ones - with the song a late-album highlight thanks to its grooves and hooks. Beneath the Moon (Tunglið) is a strange number, totally sung in Icelandic by Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir and Sólveig Sara Leupold (the former of whom actually sang on 1999's The Fourth Legacy). The main musical hooks come from Lea-Sophie Fischer's (Eluveitie) violin, too, so there is not much Kamelot to be heard really - and Karevik is absent. I am not really sure why this song has been included. It sounds nice and folky, but it has nothing really to do with Kamelot sound-wise. I can only assume that it is part of the overall concept. It is really short, too, at just over two minutes - so the whole thing feels very strange. The last proper song here is The Puppet King, which immediately gets back to sounding like Kamelot after the previous Icelandic adventure. It is pretty fast-paced early on, although the main verses are more mid-paced overall - building towards a fast-paced chorus. Unfortunately, though, this is one of the few songs here that does not really excel chorus-wise. Overall, the song is just a bit generic - and does have a bit of a feeling of being filler, even though there is an excellent bridge section later on. It is also short, too, at just over three minutes - which is odd given that it is essentially the album closer. There is no epic finish here, then, which is a real shame - and the band have dropped the ball a bit when it comes to rounding things out. Sanctum Requiem is true closer, but it is a piano-based instrumental outro which does not link back to The Puppet King that well to give the two together the feeling of proper closing statement. It is a real shame, really, as had the album had a proper, epic closing number then Dark Asylum could have been one of Kamelot's best albums. As things stand, it is a strong effort, with some of the band's best individual songs for a while, but it is let down by a neglected back end that features undeveloped songs and strange inclusions. A number of the songs here will be excellent live, though, and due to the anthemic nature of most the album I can see myself coming back to it a lot - with one of my favourite bands delivering, for the most part, again.

The album was released on 28th August 2026 via Napalm Records. Below is the band's promotional video for Ashen World.

Marilyn Manson's 'One Assassination Under God - Chapter 2' - Album Review

It is always great when a musician that has perhaps experienced something of a career lull returns with a bang - releasing a new album that makes people sit up and take notice again. Whilst I would not call much of what he released prior to his last album bad, I think that it is fair to say that 2024's One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1 (which I reviewed here) was generally considered to be Marilyn Manson's best album for quite some time. I had quite enjoyed the rawer, stripped back, bluesy sounds that he forged on 2015's The Pale Emperor (which I reviewed here) and 2017's Heaven Upside Down (which I also reviewed here), but they were unlikely for everyone. At the time, though, they felt like a bit of a breath of fresh air. Ironically, I think that it is fair to say that Manson's true golden age closed out with 2003's The Golden Age of Grotesque, and some would not even include that album in his generational early run of classic albums, and, for me anyway, The Pale Emperor and Heaven Upside Down were his strongest releases since that classic era. 2007's Eat Me, Drink Me saw Manson trying something poppier and more synth driven, with mixed results, whilst both 2009's The High End of Low and 2012's Born Villain were quite tame rehashes of the classic Manson sound. The Pale Emperor felt fresh, then, but Manson's star had faded quite significantly by then - and his live shows no longer received the reviews that they had. 2020's We Are Chaos (which I reviewed here) moved back towards his classic sound again, but the album has not really stuck with me despite enjoying it at the time. It was released during the pandemic, so it never really got all that much attention - and Manson's career was essentially put on hold shortly afterwards due to a string of sexual abuse allegations. Whilst he has never formally been charged with any crimes, various controversies still dog him to this day. He has settled out of court with at least one alleged victim, which could mean anything, and due to the age of some of the accusations they were not pursued by the prosecutors. We will probably never the know the truth, and Manson remains a controversial figure - with the stigma of the numerous allegations likely to remain. Despite this, though, he remains defiant - returning to his career in 2024 with a well-received tour and the aforementioned One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1. Despite liking those 2015 and 2017 releases quite a bit, One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1 was much better - and really the first truly classic Manson-sounding album since The Golden Age of Grotesque. It retained characteristics from the newer albums, too, so felt like a proper mix of old and new - with Manson renewing his creative relationship with Tyler Bates, who co-wrote and produced the 2015 and 2017 albums. I really enjoyed One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1, as well as the UK tour I saw him on last year, so I was really looking forward to what would follow. The 2024 album's title suggested more was to come - and last month One Assassination Under God - Chapter 2 was released. Recorded at the same time as the first part, Manson, Bates, and drummer Gil Sharone (Stolen Babies; The Dillinger Escape Plan) are responsible for everything here. This album hits nowhere near as hard as the previous one, and it is clear that it was intended to be more experimental and atmospheric compared to the harder rock edge of the last one. It is likely to be Manson's last collaboration with Bates, too, who has since left the Manson machine, perhaps under something of a cloud, to be replaced by a returning face from the classic era in Tim Skold.

I struggled with this album somewhat at first, and it is still a bit of a disappointment compared to the previous effort, but it has grown on me over the past month or so. The opening cut Unalive is one of the stronger tracks here, and it does somewhat hark back to the previous album. Swirling synths open up the song, before a strange keyboard melody, percussive drumming, and bluesy guitar leads take over. Manson has been sounding much stronger vocally of late than he has done for quite some time, and that is replicated throughout. He starts singing slowly here, against the strange keyboard melody as a lumbering drum pattern kicks in, whilst injections of heaviness act as something of a chorus - seeing Manson's more screamed approach against some stabbing, heavy guitar chords. These moments showcase more of the classic Manson aggression, but sadly those moments are fairly rare throughout this album - and even much of this song continues in a fairly low key manner, with rumbling bass playing and mournful vocals. That being said, though, there is quite an industrial mid-section later on - with effects-heavy vocals and screaming guitar melodies that do up the overall heaviness somewhat. The song in and of itself is well paced and put together, though, and it is certainly up there in quality with the songs on the last album - so it is one of the overall highlights here. Don't Answer the Door opens with some dark, chiming guitar melodies - under which a pulsing synth bass note rings out and Manson starts to sing in that semi-whispered manner that he has often adopted. The intro is quite effective, and it feels as if the song is going to explode further from this spooky intro - but the main song itself is pretty restrained. The opening guitar melody remains, albeit against a fuller, post-punk backing - with sparkling synth melodies and a driving bassline. There is no urgency to the song, though, and it somewhat creeps along. Manson sounds strong vocally, but the pace feels too deliberate and slow to ever get the blood pumping - although there is a slightly heavier mid-section that does include some tougher guitars, although this section is short so acts as a point of difference rather. This is the sort of song that would have worked well as a slower number in the middle of a heavier album, but as the second song in it rather does kill the early momentum whipped up. Front Toward Enemy is more energetic, though, and there are shades of the classic Manson sound here. Early on, the song gets underway with some thrashy, industrial guitar tones - stabbing away at pace as Manson screams rhythmically above them. This heavy section later resurfaces as a chorus, and there are some other generally tougher moments here - whilst the verses are the point of difference this time, with a snaking bassline and interesting drum groove the main backing for Manson's vocals. Whilst I had not heard the song before, it was actually released back in 2024 as the B-side to Raise the Red Flag. There are certainly similarities here with the last album - and it is a shame that one of this album's better cuts had already been released, even if in a limited capacity. That being said, this energetic and angry song remains a highlight here - with guitar tones that really hark back to the classic days and plenty of that Manson caustic nature that made him so popular in the first place.

All the Vilest Things is a song going for a much more expansive and cinematic sound. It is also one that somewhat returns to the more organic sounds of the 2015 and 2017 releases - as the verses have a strong acoustic guitar backing that is not something very commonly found on Manson's albums. Dirgy and fairly slow-paced, the song has a strong ballad feel - with emotive verse vocals, backed by the acoustic guitars and chugging bass playing, and spacey synths doing quite a lot of heavy lifting during the chorus. I do like the keyboard playing throughout the song, as it is surprisingly melodic and has shades of a progressive rock approach. I noted that the last album had occasional shades of 1998's Mechanical Animals, and this is another song that harks back to that approach. The synths are reminiscent of that album, as is the slightly rounded-off guitar tone - with something of a guitar solo thrown in later on which helps to elevate the song further. It is certainly a grower, as it was not a song that stood out initially - but I really like the overall expansive approach, even if there is little of the classic bombast and anger from Manson here. None of the Suns is strangely groovy, with a bit of a classic rock strut on show from the off. An ever-present bassline sets a kinetic and groovy tone from the off, whilst Sharone lays down another pretty interesting drum beat. The classic rock vibes here are in the groove, really, as this is not a song that ever really feels all that heavy. There is an energy to it, largely thanks to the rhythm section, but there is little in the form of big riffing here - with the guitars often stripped away. When they do join in, they tend to be laying down mournful leads or occasional rhythms - with the bass instead the main driving force, whilst the synths also flesh out the arrangement. This is also another song with a bit of a 1980s post-punk influence - but this time it is presented in a more energetic manner, even if the song overall is still relatively restrained. Lucifer's Tear continues on in a similar manner, although it ups the pace somewhat - with a bit of a Sisters of Mercy-esque groove and energy throughout. Like the last song, too, there is no real heaviness here. The chorus does feature more of a classic rhythm guitar backing, but it is not all that heavy, with the bass once again the main driving force - whilst the guitars lay down old-school gothic clean guitar melodies. The energy of the song largely comes from the snappy drumming, then, as well as from Manson himself who has more of a spitting vocal approach this time. Faster, snappier vocal melodies are a big feature of this song - whether during the gothic verses or the somewhat more rocking chorus. The song's main pace and groove never really lets up, either, regardless of what is in the background - and I do like this consistent approach even if I wish that parts of the song were heavier.

The Arsonist slows the pace right down, going for a mournful and creeping approach - with chiming, dark guitar melodies and some fuzzy bass playing. Despite the slower pace, though, there are some moments of heaviness here - and the song overall has a real darkness to it. This is, at least, until the chorus - which is surprisingly bright. The chorus again reminds me of the approach taken throughout Mechanical Animals, with those 1970s-style vocal melodies and guitar leads, but the rest of the song is darker and much more overtly industrial. The drumming feels much more processed and programmed at times here, whilst juddering, heavier sections see darker guitar chords and slightly more aggressive vocals that are a bit of a contrast compared to the slower-moving and more atmospheric main bulk of the song. It is quite a varied piece, then, which is welcome - and some dark piano playing towards the end fades the song out nicely. Lead single Exit Wound is a bit more overtly rocking, with a loud, industrial drum beat kicking in early off - over which some aching, distorted guitar melodies are soon overlaid. In many ways, though, this song is very much classic Manson in approach. There is a good mix of melody and aggression here, with some strident and confident vocals - crooned in a powerful manner against a driving verse bassline. There is also some heaviness here, with some true riffing during parts of the song - adding a classic heavy metal sound at times with snappy power chord patterns that are pretty hooky and stick in the brain. This riffing gives way to a pretty hooky chorus, too, that is quite anthemic and sure to go down well live. This song is more akin to the sound forged on the last album. It is clear that Manson wanted to try something a bit different with this second part, leaning more into his atmospheric side - but this song is overtly rockier, with stronger initial melodies that latch on from the off. It is one of my favourite cuts here as a result, and hearing Manson sounding this vital is always a good thing. The album then comes to a close with Enantiomorph, a song that opens slowly with some distorted and mournful spoken word - as some strummed guitar chords fade into view, only then to be replaced by some deliberate piano notes and some white noise drumming. In many ways, the song is the culmination of many of the other slower moments on this album. It really is a slow-moving, mournful piece that goes for a more emotive and atmospheric sound and there is no weight to this song at all. Occasional screaming guitar leads mixed into the background are the closest the track gets to a proper distorted sound - with much of the song being mournful bass playing, percussive drumming, and layers of synths. Manson sounds strong vocally, and there are some organ sounds mixed in later on which work well, but this sort of sound is generally my least favourite of Manson's sides. It does have a closing vibe in the sense of songs like Coma White, and it is clear Manson was trying something similar here, but the song is nowhere near as memorable as that example - and the album does end on something of a dreary note as a result in my view. As I said earlier, this album has grown on me but it does lack the power of the previous album. That was likely intentional but it just feels less vital overall for me - and some more riffs here would have been welcome. With Skold back in the fold it will be interesting to see if they revive their previous creative partnership - so it will be fun to see where Manson goes next.

The album was released on 14th August 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. Below is Manson's promotional video for Exit Wound.

Kris Barras Band's 'Monsters We Made' - Album Review

Whilst not many of its bands have yet broken through into the big leagues, with the possible exception of Those Damn Crows who are genuinely pretty big these days, the current British rock scene is in pretty rude health at the moment. I might not fall for every band, but it has been great over the past decade or so seeing some new bands really start to make it. Pretty much all of the young British rock bands I was following in my teens no longer exist, so to see so many succeed on a number of levels of late is great - even if it still frustrates me that many of my long-departed favourites really struggled to find an audience. Members of the current British rock scene often fall into one of two camps, though, neither of which I am a huge fan of: overtly bluesy and retro; and very much overly inspired by 2000s US radio rock. I like bands that fall into both camps, but some mine their respective influence too deeply for me - although I have become more a fan of the latter over the years, hence my fairly recent appreciation of Those Damn Crows, as well as my fandom of bands like Stone Broken and The Fallen State. Another act which somewhat falls into that category, at least of late, is the Kris Barras Band - a Torquay-based four-piece fronted by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kris Barras. Given that he lives fairly locally to me, I had heard of him long before I really took any notice - and it was not until seeing him open for Black Stone Cherry in 2021 that I actually became a fan. His early work is quite bluesy, which somewhat put me off checking him out as I am not always the biggest fan of pure blues, but the 2021 show saw him on the cusp of heavier things - as would be demonstrated when Death Valley Paradise (which I reviewed here) dropped the following year. Death Valley Paradise saw Barras consolidating his backing band, casting aside much of his blues background, and writing a pretty hard-hitting modern rock album. The Kris Barras Band were doing quite well for themselves before Death Valley Paradise, but the album took them to the next level. They are not on the same level as Those Damn Crows, but Barras is now a pretty known name across the UK - and is able to play just about anywhere and pull a decent crowd. It helps that he has remained busy, touring pretty regularly and keeping on top of things when it comes to new music. 2024's Halo Effect (which I reviewed here) built on the sound of Death Valley Paradise, throwing in some more prominent synths and upping the overall modernness of Barras' sound. Whilst 2025 was largely a quiet year for the band publicly, Barras and fellow Kris Barras Band member Josiah Manning formed the band Hollow Souls to allow the former to have an outlet for his older, bluesy sound - releasing a self-titled EP (which I reviewed here) and undertaking a very extensive UK tour. Barras' two main styles now have their respective main outlet, which is nice, and 2026 has seen him return to his modern hard rock sound with Monsters We Made - the sixth overall Kris Barras Band album. I think that much of the album was recorded last year, so its release has been a long-time coming - especially given the fact that Barras and his band had to drop off a tour with Smith/Kotzen earlier this year due to health issues that quite seriously damaged his voice. The recovery took a while, but Monsters We Made kept him going - and now the album is out, and the band's next tour kicks off in October. As such, what started out as quite a poor year for Barras will hopefully finish on a much more positive note.

The Kris Barras Band line-up here is the same as it was on Halo Effect, with bassist Fraser Kerslake and drummer Billy Hammett joining Barras and Manning - the latter of whom played guitars, keyboards, and produced the album as always. Manning also co-wrote some of the songs, whilst regular songwriting collaborators Blair Daly and Zac Maloy also chipped in. Sound-wise, the album is to be expected - and it follows nicely on from Halo Effect. For me, though, it is not as memorable as the previous two albums - but there is still a lot to like here. Kicking off with its title track, the album gets underway in pretty fine fashion. A barrelling mid-paced riff, over which a screaming guitar lead is laid, opens the song up - with the riff later forming a part of the song's chorus. As has been the norm of late for Barras, the songwriting here is snappy. All of the songs are on the short side, with a focus on riffs and choruses. The guitar tones are modern and heavy, even if there are sometimes shades of Barras' love of the blues in his leads, whilst Kerslake's bass takes on more of a dominance during the verses - thanks to some bass-driven sections that sit beneath some effects-heavy vocals. The song builds towards its chorus, then, with the chorus seeing Barras let rip a bit more vocally - laying down some anthemic hooks against some more riffing and a bed of synths. It is a chorus that is sure to work well live, before a relatively lengthy guitar solo section starts slowly before climaxing with some high-octane sweep picking. Beautiful Lie opens with a distant riff and some percussive drumming, but the song overall is similarly heavy and mid-paced to the opening number. Juddering synths add some texture, whilst a tough guitar riff drives everything, giving parts of the song a bit of an industrial feel - whilst some more overtly pop melodies are utilised in the verses. Barras' vocals feel more melodic here, with some kind of synthy effect added to them at times - whilst Kerslake once again shines with some busy bass playing. Structure-wise, the song is similar to the previous one, too, with a build towards a big chorus - although the chorus is perhaps less rollocking here, instead going for a poppier sheen with some smoother vocal melodies. It certainly sticks in the brain, and it is one of the choruses that stood out from the off, whilst the guitar solo section is much snappier this time. Perhaps my favourite cut on the album, though, is the punchy single Riot of One. This is a much more aggressive and metallic song overall - with a harder driving sound and less of the poppy, synth sounds utilised elsewhere. Tough riffing and occasional off-kilter guitar leads are big hooks here, whilst the verses are much more guitar-focused - with Kerslake not really getting to show off this time. In terms of its chorus, too, the song may well be the album's most anthemic. It is a hard-hitting, shout-along moment with gang vocals - so it will certainly go down well live. Interestingly, Barras recorded the crowd at the Hollow Souls show I was at last year in Tavistock shouting the song's gang vocals - so if those were the recordings which ended up being used on the album then I feature here. A fast-paced, shredded solo brings the song to a close - and the piece is likely to become a long-standing live staple.

After three pretty hard rocking songs, Unspoken opens more slowly - with acoustic guitar melodies and Barras singing in a quite sombre manner. This is not exactly an acoustic ballad, as its stature does grow, but it certainly has strong ballad vibes throughout - despite some screaming bluesy guitar leads later on and some chugging guitar rhythms. Barras often excels at writing these sort of songs, as he is able to inject a lot of emotion into his voice. He may not have the biggest range nor the most powerful voice, but he is a strong singer in my opinion - and these sort of songs really see him excel as there is a grounded realness to his delivery. The chorus pops thanks to his approach and some subtle vocal harmonies, whilst the mix of acoustic guitars and tougher rhythm guitars throughout have an organic depth which is not always present in Barras' recent work. An emotive guitar solo is later included, and it is a moment that harks back to some his older work - whilst keeping the overall tone in-keeping with the now. All Falls Down gets back to the album's core, harder rock sound - with a distant-sounding riff opening things up, before Hammett starts to lay down a percussive drum pattern to form the basis of the verses. The mechanical drumming and the use of synths gives the verses a bit more of a spacey sound, with the guitars dropping away a little, but this only makes the later chorus pop. Overall, it is not the album's strongest chorus - but the hard-hitting guitars that return and a few decent vocal melodies ensure that there are hooks to latch onto. In terms of Barras' current sound, though, the song is very much 101. There are songs here that are much more interesting in my opinion - but the riffing and decent chorus do a fair amount of heavy lifting, and I can see the song being a headbanging addition to the live set. Alive opens with some distant, effects-heavy vocals, before another tough riff kicks in. There is something a bit more edgy about the main riff here, with some of those industrial influences perhaps on show again, but the overall arrangement is very similar to that of the last song. The percussive drumming during the verses is almost identical, with lots of tom work to create a more booming sound, whilst the guitars again kick back in during the chorus. Unlike the previous song, though, the chorus here is less memorable. Sequencing the two songs back-to-back just makes it clear how very similar they are - and Alive feels like the less interesting brother of All Falls Down. Alive does win in terms of its guitar solo, though, which is much more shreddy and memorable. Otherside reins in some of the barrelling heaviness of the previous song, with a screaming, melodic guitar lead opening things up against a more restrained, mid-paced rock backing. The song is not a ballad, but it is certainly less heavy than most of the album to this point. There is a potency to its chorus, which is pretty hard rocking despite a more cinematic feel, but the verses are much more stripped back - with clean guitars and piano melodies dominating the crunching rhythm section. These verses allow Barras to deliver some more emotive vocals - as does the chorus, even though the latter is a little on the heavier side.

Fake opens with some big, strummed guitar chords - and, after a count in, a fluid guitar melody, that acts as a core hook throughout, comes in. The overall vibe of the song is about halfway between the more organic feel of the last song and the band's core, harder rock sound. It is more hard-hitting than the previous number - but it is certainly not as heavy as the band can be. Clean guitars are once again used during the verses, alongside heavier guitars and the potent rhythm section, but the song overall feels quite grounded - with that main guitar hook having something of a heavy country feel to it. There are heavy country vibes to the chorus, too, thanks to some sing-song melodies and subtle vocal harmonies - whilst the later guitar solo keeps the melodic vibes going, with the song overall being another strong one. Rewind picks the heaviness back up, opening with a pretty fast-paced melodic riff - with the song overall being one of the album's crunchiest moments. The song remains pretty mid-paced, despite the speed of some of the riffing, whilst there are early 1990s grunge vibes on show at times. The multi-tracked vocals of the verses have slight Alice in Chains vibes, whilst the overall production feels a little dirtier overall - despite everything still sounding big and clear. The vocal effects are just a bit murkier overall, and the guitar tones are a bit darker - but that does not stop the chorus from being hooky, with slightly brighter melodies and another guitar hook beneath the vocals. The guitar solo is more overtly metal, though, with more shredded motifs. End of Me opens with another pretty hard-hitting, mid-paced riff, but this ends up being something of a ruse - as the song is much more melodic and organic overall. Warm synths back the riffing as it progresses, before the band drop all pretence of heaviness for the verses - which are some of the most melodic and chiming on the album. Clean guitars and a gentle beat back Barras, in full-on storyteller mode here. His husky voice really works well here, and as the song builds towards its chorus he only sounds better. The chorus is a big heavier, but it still has a strong melodic and organic feel - with wordless vocal hooks interjecting the main lyrics, creating a powerful call-and-response approach. Later chorus renditions feature big guitar leads, too, building from the song's excellent guitar solo. The track is likely one of the best here, and it stands out due to it sounding a bit different. The album then comes to a close with Levitate, another pretty hard-hitting rocker. Returning to the core Barras sound one last time, the song feels a bit more up-tempo than some of the other tracks here. There is a real energy to the piece, then, as well as a strong sense of groove that is not always present. There is something pleasingly kinetic about the verses, which return to that mechanical vibe somewhat, whilst the chorus is hard-hitting and hooky - largely thanks to some snappy vocal melodies and another underpinning guitar lead. A shredded guitar solo with a double bass drum backing later cements the song's more metallic feel - and the tough, pacy song is a great way to sign things off here, with the track likely to become another live favourite. Whilst I said that I do not think that Monsters We Made is quite as strong as the two that came before it, especially Death Valley Paradise, it remains a very good effort - and Barras has further solidified his sound here, expanding the synth experiments and delivering some of his most metallic guitar soloing to date. The songs are perhaps growers more than they were in the past, and my opinion of this album has already increased over the past month or so. My opinion is only likely to strengthen - and I am looking forward to seeing Barras live again in his hometown of Torquay later in the year.

The album was released on 14th August 2026 via Earache Records. Below is the band's promotional video for Riot of One.

Bon Jovi - London Review

Following yesterday's piece, which detailed an excellent night with Geoff Tate in Islington on Saturday, it is now time to talk about, arguably, the main event of the weekend just gone. In truth, Geoff Tate is someone I listen to much more, but big stadium shows always feel like main events - and Sunday saw me head over to Wembley Stadium to catch Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and sellers of over 130 million albums: Bon Jovi. I do not remember exactly when I first heard Bon Jovi, but listening to 1986's Slippery When Wet was likely one of my first exposures to 1980s hard rock and metal. Bon Jovi are certainly far from being my favourite band, and I can go for months at a time without hearing a note of their music, but they likely did act as something of a gateway between the classic rock acts I started out enjoying in my early teens and the hair metal I started to consume more in my late teens. Slippery When Wet remains a classic, of course, and the band's discography is pretty flawless up to, and including, 1995's rawer These Days - but I think that it is fair to say that the last 30 years, at least in terms of recorded output, has been quite varied. As someone who has recently listened to every Bon Jovi album, in the lead-up to the weekend's gig, I can confirm that there is a lot of very mediocre and bland material to be found on the 10 albums that have now dropped since These Days. There are a couple of standout albums, particularly 2005's Have a Nice Day and 2007's Lost Highway, but there are plenty of quite forgettable releases - alongside some genuine stinkers like 2020's 2020 (which I reviewed here). The band's most recent release, 2024's Forever (which I also reviewed here), is certainly no Slippery When Wet, but it is no 2020, either, and it is album number 16 that prompted frontman Jon Bon Jovi to rev up the engines on the old touring machine again - and get back out on the road after a few years away. The main reason for this break from touring was that Bon Jovi underwent surgery on his vocal chords in 2022 - and needed time to recover. His deteriorating voice has been something discussed in rock circles for many years at this point, but I think things reached breaking point on the last Bon Jovi tour earlier that same year. I remember that some of the reviews of those shows, the band's first since 2019, were particularly scathing - and I think Bon Jovi knew that he was really struggling by that point. The surgery fixed years of damage to his vocal chords - and two years after their last album it was time to get the band back out there for something of a controlled 'tour', which included numerous nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City and a few dates in the UK. This short tour ended in London, with three nights at Wembley Stadium. Before this past weekend, I had seen Bon Jovi live once - back in 2019, also at Wembley Stadium. I initially was not keen to go again, given I had been pleasantly surprised with the band and Bon Jovi's voice last time and wanted to keep those memories safe, but after I saw how relatively reasonable the ticket prices were I decided to go and see them again. It ended up working out well, with Geoff Tate then being added to the weekend later on, and I had a great overall time in London - even if, sadly, I was staying in different hotels over the course of the weekend to save money. The day of the Bon Jovi gig, I had a bit of a lie in and then some lunch in Walthamstow - before heading over to the East End. I had some time in and around Brick Lane record shopping, before checking into my hotel just set back from Whitechapel High Street. There was a bit of time to kick back before heading out to Wembley, taking my seat in the massive stadium, and waiting for the action to start.

There was one support act, with the swelling Wembley Stadium soon treated to around 45 minutes of music by the British singer-songwriter James Bay. I had heard of Bay, of course, since he is quite a big name, but I did not really know anything about his music. I had expected not really to enjoy his set, but I went in with an open mind - and ended up enjoying it more than I expected to. Some of his songs were a bit bland, exhibiting that quite earnest, downbeat singer-songwriter vibe I had expected - but there were other songs which felt quite upbeat, and there was a slight southern rock, bluesy groove to some of his material. He never truly rocked out, but there was some energy to some of his songs - and he exhibited some pretty good guitar playing during some numbers, too, including some pretty fiery guitar solos. One thing that I have sometimes noticed about support acts at stadium shows is how anonymous they can often be. A lot of people just do not care that a support act is on at gigs like this, and the support act falls flat as a result. The Pretty Reckless did not allow that to happen when I saw them open for AC/DC at Wembley Stadium two years ago and, despite bringing a different vibe, Bay did not either. He came across very well, spoke to the crowd a lot, and seemed to bring people along with him. Of course, he is no unknown - and there were audible cheers when he introduced some of the songs he was going to play. Clearly, then, there were fans of his in attendance, and enough to generate something of an atmosphere. As such, it was quite easy to get drawn into what Bay was doing - and I enjoyed much of his set from my seat way up in the upper tier of the stadium. The final song that he played even generated quite a decent sing-a-long with a crowd that was pretty huge by that point - and I certainly came away from the set with more appreciation for Bay than I expected. His set felt like a true part of the show, in a way that support acts do not always, and it got me in the mood for what was to follow.

Stadium shows always kick off early, and it was only just after 7:15pm that the screens flanking the stage flickered into life - and soon the current seven members of Bon Jovi entered via door at the back of the stage, taking their places to launch to a version of With a Little Help from My Friends. Given the song's lyrics, and Bon Jovi's long-standing vocal issues - this opening felt like him both having a little joke at his own expense and reaching out to the audience. Would they still be with him after his surgery and recovery - and the answer was yes. I was pleasantly surprised by him in 2019, and I felt similar again this time - even if I felt he sounded stronger in 2019. He is only 64, though, which compared to some of his peers is young. It is strange how many of the singers of the 1980s have fared worse than those of the 1970s in terms of vocal longevity - and I have seen much older singers sound closer to their heyday than Bon Jovi, including his own idol Bruce Springsteen. This is not meant to be a dig, just an observation - but his compromised voice did not stop him and the band delivering a high-energy set that lasted for over two and a half hours. Setlist-wise, the 22 songs played was largely a greatest hits affair - but newer numbers and deeper cuts were included. It was different enough from the 2019 show to make it worth the effort - and it actually took until song five, You Give Love a Bad Name, for a bona fide hit to be wheeled out. The smooth Beautiful Drug and a lengthy crowd workout version of We Weren't Born to Follow filled the early portion of the set - but You Give Love a Bad Name had everyone on their feet, with producer John Shanks (guitar/vocals) on lead guitar duties. Phil X (guitar/vocals) handled most of the leads, but Shanks chipped in on occasion - and the band overall were tight and professional, even if the vagabond energy of Richie Sambora is missed. Only one song from Forever was played, with lead single Legendary being a surprise highlight. Bay joined the band for it, duetting with Bon Jovi, whilst the country strains of Whole Lot of Leavin' saw Bon Jovi strumming his acoustic guitar as the band swirled around him. He took a few opportunities to talk to the crowd, showcasing that much of that showmanship and charisma remains, but there was refreshingly little mucking about - with the music largely doing the talking. Particular mid-set highlights for me were the riffy Have a Nice Day, which had not been played at the other UK shows, and the epic These Days - which included some great soloing from X. It is always a good sign when the night is flying by - and it was not long before It's My Life and Livin' on a Prayer were wheeled out back-to-back, although this was perhaps not wise as it made it obvious that they are basically just the same song. This felt like the beginning of the home straight, with proper anthems like Raise Your Hands and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead keeping the energy levels high. I have seen complaints about the sound at the show, but from where I was sitting everything sounded fine - and the mix was quite clear in my view. David Bryan's (keyboards/vocals) playing was generally audible, and his barroom piano drove I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - whilst another somewhat deeper cut in the form of Hey God was a powerful late set inclusion. Hugh McDonald's (bass guitar/vocals) bassline then introduced set-closer Keep the Faith, with the funky number a powerful ending statement. Following a couple of minutes away, though, the band returned for a four-song encore. I'll Be There for You has never been a personal favourite, but I am sure that many loved hearing it - but Wanted Dead or Alive really did hit the spot, with X nailing the southern rock vibes during the solo. Bad Medicine then turned into a band showcase, with percussionist Everett Bradley sharing the vocals with Bon Jovi and Bryan unleashing a lengthy organ solo late on. This would have been a fine closer, but Tico Torres' (drums) big fill heralded the smouldering Always to wrap up what had been an excellent night. The setlist was:

With a Little Help from My Friends [The Beatles cover]

Beautiful Drug

We Weren't Born to Follow

Lost Highway

You Give Love a Bad Name

Born to Be My Baby

Legendary [w/ James Bay]

Whole Lot of Leavin'

Bed of Roses

Have a Nice Day

These Days

This House Is Not for Sale

It's My Life

Livin' on a Prayer

Raise Your Hands

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Hey God

Keep the Faith

-

I'll Be There for You

Wanted Dead or Alive

Bad Medicine

Always

I may not hold Bon Jovi in as high regard as others do, and I am not sure that they have genuinely wanted to be a proper rock band for many years at this point, but Sunday night in Wembley was a reminder of why they are such a legendary act. Even this fairly casual fan had a great time for the second time in the band's company - and it is hard to know whether there will be many more opportunities to see them live. I am sure that Bon Jovi wants to carry on, but his voice will not hold out forever - and despite statements to the contrary this short tour did have something of a farewell feel to it.