Firewind Tour
Greek Metal Gods (Firewind) playing the Little Civic? Oh Yes! I’ve already stated elsewhere on my Kiuas review and it needs saying here also. Who the Hell is booking Firewind gigs in a venue like the Little Civic? No offence, Little Civic, I had the greatest time. But Firewind must, in my almost 30yrs of gig going, be the biggest and one of the most professional bands to be playing a venue like this. Please contact me via the website guys, as you can play a local venue to me that is at least twice the size and far nicer. As much as I’m having a go, I must say that I’ve never got this close to a live band
Such was the venue layout that the band had to walk past me and me lad Haz C (thinks its cool to have a name like Gus G) to get to the stage. Firewind, or ‘ Irewi’ as we like to call them locally (when they supported Kamelot earlier in the year, their banner was so big it didn’t fit the stage), are a superb melodic metal band. The set list was very high in favour of their latest offering ‘The Premonition’ and quite rightly so, as its one of the best metal albums I’ve heard this year. Opening with ‘Into the Fire’ the sound was ‘effing heavy, with great big crunchy riffs courtesy of Gus G and very expertly backed up by rhythm guitarist and keyboardist (who’d give Jordan Rudess a run for his money), Bob Katsionis. I don’t know how drummer Mark Cross can play at the level he can for 90 mins night after night. He must need knee and ankle replacements after every gig, awesome drumming! Also need to mention the tight as a nut bass playing of Petros Christo holding it all together
Apollo played the gig as if he were headlining Wembley stadium, whipping the crowd up and getting all involved. In lifting his mic stand above his head it hit the ceiling, and couldn’t quite believe it. He sang perfectly by the way
Melodic metal mayhem continued, with the very Dio-esque ‘Head Up High’, ‘Angels Forgive Me’, ‘My Loneliness’ and ‘The Silent Code’ before playing a ‘kick ass’ instrumental whilst Apollo went for a beer. On his return they stormed through ‘Mercenary man’ and the encores of 80’s fave Maniac, and the song which personally kicked it all off for me, ‘Falling To Pieces’. Even though the gig was a sell out, there must have only been 200 people in the room. It felt like a VIP event, Firewind were that special. Bloody brilliant!
Come on people, get behind this band they deserve to be huge and playing bigger venues. Catch them whilst they are still on tour now!