A Lesson In Metal
Norther have something to prove tonight. Having only played the UK once before in support of Dimmu Borgir, tonight may well prove to be a decisive moment for Norther - the gig that may break the elusive UK metal fanbase.
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If Norther came to break the fanbase, they shattered it. Everything about their show was excellent. From the bizarre choice of intro music (Namely Russian Lesbian pair T.A.T.U's "They're Not Gonna Get Us") to frontman Petri virtually standing on the crowd during his solos. It's hard to find fault with the showmanship of this band - there was never a time when the crowd were not being interacted with, and each and every member knew exactly how to play music properly and also how to put forward an energetic, professional and overall enjoyable stage prescence - an ability that worryingly few bands seem to be able to do nowadays.
Indeed, it's the showmanship that really elevates this show to dizzying heights of excellence. The track list is incredibly well adapted for the show - Norther have chosen to avoid slower songs like Nothing from the Death Unlimited album in favour of songs that demand an intense reaction from the crowd. Tracks from the recently released Solution 7 EP such as "Day Zero" and "YDKS" display a diverse and unique element of the band that prehaps even their own fans hadn't heard yet, whilst old classics like "Cry" from the Mirror Of Madness album allow everyone to scream along the choruses.
Tonight, Norther have shown everyone how melodic death metal works. From the powerful vocals, to keyboard player Tuomas' mind boggling solo work, Norther lay down the law. Plus, having hundreds of metal fans screaming "Kill! Kill! Kill!" can only be an excellent thing.
To view all photos taken during this set click here. There are 27 available.