Sorrow falls on Limelight

All too often, anticipation results in disappointment, but I am glad to report that this rule was broken when I finally caught up with the beast that is Sorrowfall on their return to the live arena yesterday.
After six months off the scene, the new look quartet stormed the stage of the Limelight, mixing new tracks with a trio of ‘oldies’ from their 2006 debut album, ‘Prayers Of The Faithless’. The result was a very tight, powerful performance which fully showcased the talents of new bassist/vocalist Sam Best in particular.
Of the new material, I was particularly impressed by ‘The Lonely God’ and the techno-thrash of the mighty ‘Monolith’, which saw the band make much use of harmonies to add another dimension to their sound.
This was confident late 80s/early 90s inspired thrash delivered with panache and passion. I anticipate catching up with Sorrowfall again soon.
A quick word about openers Circadian, added to this RockD bill at the last minute. The power trio cemented their reputation as one of the most promising up and coming young bands on the scene at the moment, belying their youth with a growing confidence that bodes well for their future development.
Alex has a powerful voice, which really came across the improved sound at the Limelight, and perhaps my only criticism is that Eoghan or Joel need to step up to the mic a bit between songs to give them a bit of a focal point (for those of you who don’t know the band, Alex is also the drummer). Having said that, they have come on leaps and bounds since I first saw them at Auntie Annie’s a couple of months back, and are growing in stature, thanks mainly to the expert tutelage of a certain Paul McMordie, who seems to be singlehandedly transforming and developing Norn Iron’s metal scene.

Turning back the years

Pied Piper is involved in the development of a new monthly classic rock club night, under the name of 'Paradise City', which is hoping to launch sometime around early February. The emphasis will be very strongly on classic rock and metal, from 1969 through to about 1995 (although some more recent stuff and new releases will also find their way on to the set lists). We're still negotiating with venues re dates, etc., but we'll keep you posted through this blog, the Paradise City blog (www.paradisecitybelfast.blogspot.com), Facebook and MySpace.

Return of the mad axe man

The enigmatic Michael Schenker will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself when he returns to the stage of the Ulster Hall on Saturday 19 December.
The last time Der Schenk graced the stage of The Grand Dame of Bedford Street, way back in August 1986, marking the debut his then latest project, the McAuley Schenker Group, it (nearly?) marked the demise of one of his trademark Flying Vs.
I was backstage with support act Rogue Male at the time, making light work of their rather large rider, when we heard an almighty kerfuffle from the backstage area. Rushing (ok, staggering) to the scene, we saw Mikey boy’s roadcrew running around like someone had lit a Hallowe’en sparkler in their leiderhosen. Apparently, he had leaned out over the front row, holding said white V aloft for his adoring legions to touch – when some crafty bugger only went and swiped the thing from his grasp!
Here, stories diverge: some say the instrument was hastily retrieved, while others say it came back in pieces. I have a half-drunken memory of bits of what looked like a guitar lying around in the corridors a few minutes later – which would have explained the fireworks-filled trousers!
Maybe someone who was there that night can give me the definitive answer…
Seriously, it’s hard to believe that Der Schenker has been around for almost four decades, having first appeared in 1970 at the age of 15 alongside brother Rudolf in Der Scorpions. They released one album, ‘Lonesome Crow’ before Michael upped and left to join up with UFO in 1973. In fact, upping and leaving became nearly as much of a trademark as that Flying V, as the famously temperamental Schenker walked out of studios, tours and shows and in and out of bands more often than a revolving door over the next three decades.
Michael Schenker returns to the Ulster Hall after a 23 year absence (not from Belfast, but from the UH, for all you pedants), on Saturday 19 December. Tickets are a mere £18, with support from our very own Sweet Savage (hey, Ramie, don’t you owe me a beer? Or is it the other way round?).

Sorrow falls on Limelight

Up and coming young thrashers Sorrowfall headline the latest RockD gig at Belfast's Limelight tomorrow. I was really impressed by their debut album and have been looking forward to checking them out live for quite some time. Tickets are a mere £3.50 and doors are at 5pm (Sorrowfall on about 8).