Well would you believe it, they don’t seem to have been out 5 mins and they’ve completely packed out Corps big room !!

Anyways, supporting them though are a rather good band who deserve a lot of attention with the rather controversial name of ‘Skirtbox’. Now you wouldn’t have got away with that a few years ago would ya – but since dear old Mary Whitehouse popped her clogs it seems like anything is possible!

Hailing from London they have one of the warmest live sounds that I have ever heard in ‘ere room – it’s all truly perfectly audible and rightly so as these guys rock like f*ck in a style that is akin to Skid Row with an ear for Love/Hate. With 2 superb vocalists in tow who both have real in your face slightly throaty but high ‘n’ trill voices, not to mention knockout guitarwork of 80’s Hard Rock & Hair Metal order – yep you guessed it – glambouyant and flambouyant with wailing solos a plenty.

Skirtbox’s material is like a pint of Tetley, ‘it guz down great lad’ (hopefully I got the right beer there – haha) and like a good glass full, they leave you wanting more. Love the song called something like, ‘When it comes to love, I ain’t got no friends’ about making it with your best friends sister. Classic- Come back to Sheffield and make it soon.

Now I thought I had heard loud before in this building but the sheer volume of Airbourne was absolutely blistering – now I thought Motorhead were the loudest – well these guys tonight were f*ck*n’ louder – and I can’t believe I just said that.

This was too much like a wall of sound where you everything just fell into the same block so you could hardly distinguish one thing from another – unlike the Skirtbox, the vocals were just buried in the mass mess of a mix that resembled bad medium wave radio. Shame on the soundman for this – unless they really wanted it to sound like sh*t – don’t make sense if you ask me.

Music- wise this was pure AC/DC without any AC/DC songs – kind of a mix of both eras heavied up a bit with Brian Johnson like vocals in a Angry Anderson like vibe. The entire room just went totally crazy for these Australian born Roadrunner Records Artists – it was literally like a second coming of Jesus Christ with people going.

At one point the lead vocalist/guitarist came offstage while still playing his Gibson SG and grabbed himself a pint from the bar and didn’t seem to miss a note at all! The peeps here loved all this – it really was a crackin show and a half where they must have played their entire album that features their now epic ‘Diamonds in the Rust’ and much more.

There’s no doubt that with such a healthy turnout that these high flyers will make a return to Sheffield – hopefully with better sound next time.

8.5/10

By Glenn Milligan

THE ALMIGHTY + Head Inc. -

Corporation, Sheffield, Thursday, 24th January 2008

I seem to remember these four chaps from Glasgow - well two plus one from Belfast and one from Canada - treading the Corp’s sacred floor some 13 months earlier, and proceeding to blow the balls off the gathered punters with a set that included numbers not played since the days that a chap called Tantrum stood in their ranks. Was that a warm up for tonight’s events because looking back now it did certainly match.

Heralding their arrival onstage are Aussie quartet Head Inc, who sound like a raw version of the Mighty guys themselves - circa ‘Powertrippin’ - albeit with one guitar, then given their vocalist can only just about squeeze in between their drums and the mike stand as it is, that might be just as well. Their impressive sounding mixture of numbers isn’t too unlike another great export from Down Under, namely Rose Tattoo of whom I can’t help but wonder if their bass geezer is an ex member. Squeezing a princely eleven tunes into 35 minutes, they stir up a fair ripple of applause at the front but one believes everyone’s got their noise saved for one band and one band only.

That’s right, The Almighty, and justifiably so more this year as they clock up 20 in the business. Two decades passed since these guys, bar Pete Freisen of course first grouped under the moniker they have been graced with since. And it is a song from ‘Powertrippin’, the ex-Alice Cooper man’s first outing with the lads, that opens up tonight’s almost two-hour long extravaganza.

‘Taking Hold’ brings back teen-hood memories as my first live encounter with them (supporting Maiden in 93) commenced with this testosterone-laden hard rock bruiser and as one of many thirtysomethings watching them today am subject to a considerable goosebump or two.

Strangely moving further into the mid nineties with ‘Unreal Thing’ we then descend on the classics with ‘Crucify’ and the first of the evening’s many giant surprises, ‘Gift Horse’. No looking this one in the mouth intended but it is actually nearly two decades, as announced by Ricky Warwick.

He has grown the hair long again and with the ‘tache make him look like a cross over of Ginger from the Wildhearts and Lemmy, since this gem last came out onstage. Seperated by modern day punk anthem ‘Do You Understand’ comes another treat with ‘Praying To The Red Light’ and we see a collage taking shape onwards from this moment.

For every Freisen-era fave that ensues, one of their jurassic nuggets finds its way in as well. ‘Addiction’, ‘Crank and Deceit’, ‘Over The Edge’, ‘Jesus loves You’, ‘Wrench’, ’JonesTown Mind’ and ‘All Sussed Out’ just about outbalanced in the popularity stakes by the likes of ‘Blood Fire And Love’, ‘Devil’s Toy’, ‘Full Force Lovin’ Machine’, ‘Destroyed’, their two immortal anthems ‘Wild n’ Wonderful’ and ‘Free and Easy’ and encore ‘Little Lost Sometimes’.

The Almighty are reknowned for their band/audience relationships as Ricky emotionally thanks us for twenty years of rock n’ roll with the “Al-f***in’-.....you know what,” and the space during ‘Wild...’ once occupied by his trademark singalong stint is used for introducing messrs Monroe, London and Freisen.

Pete himself, ever the patter-meister, shows us some smart widdling techniques while toying with an effect, mid-set and we get bombarded by Stumpy’s drumsticks more than once during the night, with one lucky bug**** I mean chappie, standing next to me catching one.

A cover of Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’ to round things off - rather unusually - and they are sadly done after 107 minute of sheer class from a classic rock act who I hope don’t intend going away too soon.

Totally undeterred by the rather sqibbly 120-odd turnout (come on, even Gotthard pulled in about four times that many into this room last year –where were you all today?) Ricky Warwick still cherishes the company of those who do actually amass behind the barrier.

An awesome night for all, especially moi as I get a free t-shirt out of it - Stump notices the faded state of the print on the one I am wearing from last year’s tour l and apparently I am not the only victim in this case. Last year’s comeback bash was a proverbial backside-booter enough as was but this.... size-twelve taken in turns with both feet and then some .

Here’s to that 20 years past indeed lads, and another on top.

10/10

By Dave Attrill

Well I had been looking forward to this gig for a few weeks and in all honesty some of it was good and some of it wasn’t. Would have been nice to have seen more in the venue – I supposed many people were at Halloween Parties or something.

Pity I missed virtually all of the 1st band ‘Aynsley & Porn Stars’ who I found out from my buddy Bernard, came from the ashes of Trailorpark Trash – they were rocky enough but don’t know if they have enough to make it though – watch this space I guess – nice silver, sparkly jacket though dude as well as a gorgeous blonde up there on stage as well. Be interesting to hear their album though as they were selling it tonight.

Up next were a local tribute to that Little Ol’ Band from Texas who go by the name of ZZ Eliminator, although these boys come from Wakefield and closer to Texas Homecare.

Nice to see they get a good hour it seems up there on stage and they really do look the part and performed numbers like ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’; Waitin’ For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago’; ‘Legs’ and ‘My head’s in Mississippi’ – albeit a crackin’ set list.

Just a pity that they played some of the numbers too fast at times which lost the dirtyness that ZZ Top always have and vocally didn’t always sound like Billy & Dusty and made the odd slip up in the songs – LA Grange ended a bit funny. I was pleased to see that they did include one of my faves though ‘Tube Snake Boogie’.

I reckon that with a bit more mileage and rehearsal this band could be a real polished outfit – like to see them again in about a years time and see how much they have improved.

I had already heard of the headliners before via a BBC Radio 2 series about tribute bands so I was eager to see what Abbatoir were about – especially with a name like that. I found out tonight – they butcher (scuse the pun) Abba songs by turning them into Heavy Metal numbers that have more in common with the likes of Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath & Dio.

The backing band are absolutely second to none – totally faultless in every way possible but the female vocalists leave rather a lot to be desired at times. It’s OK for the 1st few numbers, but once the novelty has worn off it becomes very apparent that the singing ain’t exactly at Agnetha and Frida standard – they can carry off the forceful strong heavy wailing parts somewhat but when it comes to the harmonies then forget it – the problem being as both voices sounding virtually the same, so basically there aren’t any – which goes against what Abba were about in the 1st place – apart from having some brilliant songs that is.

The set list was damn good and they opened with ‘Gimme, Gimme. Gimme’ followed by classics such as ‘Eagle’ that was very ‘Holy Diver/Heaven and Hell’ in the musical dept – so that’s where Ronnie stole it from!! ‘Summer Night City’ was more like an all-out thrash number and was entertainingly hilarious and other notables included a very heavied up ‘Voulez Vous’ and a thoroughly rocked up ‘Super Trooper’. My question is, What No ‘Dancing Queen’? – that’s like Abba’s biggest number and it was chopped out the set altogether – beats me man!!

Abbatoir could be a damn fine band if only the vocalists were better and also had the bodies of Agnetha & Frida in their heyday. These girls have got plenty of meat on them and are beefed up enough for the Slaughterhouse - maybe that's part of the joke of them being called 'Abbatoir'. You can never tell can you!!

7/10 for ZZ Eliminator & 5.5/10 for Abbatoir

By Glenn Milligan

10/10

By Dave Attrill

Reunion fever sweeping the metal nation of late has brought some welcomely drastic results with. Of the most prominent of those catching it is the classic line up of thrash legends Anthrax. Yes that, you did read right. The line up of Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian are booked to play this very room tonight.

The disappearance of John Bush back to reformed Phoenix metallers Armored Saint, also to appear at this same venue three months time, possibly establishes that this isn’t quite a one-off for the wonga, either.

Ironically, tonight’s guest players feature a chap who until recently fronted another cornerstone act in place of a vocalist who’d left in 1992. Having stood through some other noisy act called ‘Only hell remains’ who open up tonight’s proceedings, it takes little time to recognise that chap standing up there amongst the other four that make up Beyond Fear as ex Priest screamer Ripper Owens roof-rankling tones set the punters punching their air from go. Their own material is as close to the Brummie legends as you’d get without being sued, and that is meant in terms of some not un-Tipton/K.K like shredding from their two stringsmen, one who looks like a very overweight version of Scott Ian himself. Putting in one or two JP faves from his time with them - yes some people still stuck with the Priest through their Halford-less years - a mosh pit almost begins to form at the front, which should as a warning to what to expect when the headliners hit stage centre.

An intro tape – the song from Blue Brothers during the chase scene through the shopping mall – heralds the return of New York’s and as soon as they kick off with ‘Among The Living’ one learns the hard way that having a full drink in your hand at any time during this set was a very foolish stunt - the mosh pit even extends to those round the bar, indicating that nowhere is safe to stand still.

Making perfectly sure of that, Belladonna and boys bruise with classic followed by god-given classic. ‘Figure Of Eight’, ‘Skeletons In The Closet’, ‘Antisocial’, ‘I’m The Man’, ‘NFL’, you name them, they play them. Not one new song tonight, nor any Bush-era (come on lads, a bit of ‘Only’ wouldn’t have hurt)shows up, the band obviously under the impression that they were to be in a room facing 700 total prime-era purists when they thought up this set but the ode to their influences with a sing-a-long burst of Maiden’s ‘Wrathchild’ goes down as any integral part of the show.

Both Joey and Dan are grinning like pigs in the proverbial brown coloured thingy throughout the entire hour-and-a-half duration, no less than fully aware how good it feels to be part of such a powerful musical machine once more. Little as much as we are as they launch into closing encore ‘I Am The Law’ and the entire room just shudders under fourteen thousand feet. Anthrax are still very much the law as was turning up at this show – it sold out – and I hope they don’t ‘f**k about no more’….at least with certain members within their ranks .

A blinding evening of old-fashioned metal we don’t seem to get often enough today.

10/10

By Dave Attrill

Alterbridge/The Answer/Logan –

The Octogan, Sheffield, 17th November, 2005

Now I haven’t been to this venue since seeing Terrorvision back in ’95 which I remember fondly – ten years on and it’s as fabulous as ever in here. The audience have a span of about 40 years as well – plenty of each sex as well.

It was a surprise to find out that Logan were on the bill as well and first up – who I'm sure I saw a few years since supporting Alice Cooper and Dio a few years since if my memory serves me right. These lads are from Glasgow and I can’t believe that they still aren’t signed up yet – how can record companies take no interest in them – the crowd here f*ck*n’ loved ‘em and agreed they would come and see them on a UK headline tour next year if it took place.

A few free albums were thrown out to the crowd much to their delight as well as wrist bands. Stylewise, they have a kind of uplifting Pearl Jam style to them and even the vocalist has an Eddie Vedder edge to him as well. Very enjoyable indeed.

It’s little wonder that the next band were awarded the ‘Best Rock Newcomer’ award by Classic Rock this year as they are absolutely mindblowing – cross The Black Crowes with Led Zeppelin in both looks and style of music and you get the ‘The Answer’ - powerful rock ‘n’ roll swagger from Downpatrick, Ireland. They appear to have come from nowhere but no doubt they’ve been at it in Ireland for quite some time before being signed up by Albert Productions.

Don’t think the album is out yet to be honest but that made no difference to any here – I spotted one or two of their t-shirts already – nice one. Hard to pick a highlight as it was all one big massive one, I did recognise ‘Keep Believin’ though from the E.P of the same name that was released in July. They performed a great song soon to be released as a single called ‘Never Too Late’ that we were urged to buy which will help them out immensely – as if we wouldn’t. Boy, I can see The Answer getting as big as that band who have got two brothers in the line-up who have the same surname as ‘The Witchfinder General’ – you mark may words – it’ll happen !!

Alterbridge as many of you will know are what took place when Creed changed vocalist and style. Not a band I know a lot about but I really enjoyed them all the same – they still have that Creed-like sound but they are miles more rockier and in your face as opposed to a second rate Pearl Jam without the hits.

A good 90 mins was enjoyed by all tonight. Vocally it’s like Axl Rose meets Jon Bon Jovi – superb frontman who can even play a mean guitar too.

As well as cuts from their debut album they even played us some classic rock in the shape of AC/DC’s ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’, a snippet of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Purple Haze’ and a full-on barnstorming ‘Rock and Roll’ by Led Zeppelin – it’s a pity that ‘Cormac Neeson’ vocalist from The Answer didn’t join them for this number.

I must say I’m real glad I stuck out to see Alterbridge – reclon I’ll check out their album now !! It’s reviewed on the A section of CD reviews afterall ain’t it.

A night that featured 3 exceptionally great bands with incredible frontman who all have tons of stage presence – a perfect bill if you ask me.

10/10

By Glenn Milligan

Female fronted hard rockers Speedway get the party warmed up ahead, blasting through a forty minute set of 80's propelled material with not one poor song amongst the nine included. Having apparently been around for a while now, I would have appreciated being able to get hold of one of their Cds at the merch' stall later.

Enter B.A. (not Mr T's A-Team alter ego) and my thirteen -year wait to taste this guy's material live finally comes to. The Canadian legend has once again assembled a full size band and back on rhythm guitar, seems to look a lot more comfortable strapped intro his more commonly associated instrument as he tears into the title track from his well-received 'Room Service' Cd. Prefering to start with more recent material, it's not til five songs into the set that we come to the classics, not that there's anything bad at all about 'Love Is An Open Road' or '18 til I Die', but 'Can't Stop This Thing We Started' is where the singalong starts in earnest for all of the room's 12 ,000 occupants.

A brief mess-about with his six-string preceeds 'Kids Wanna Rock' the first of five tunes off 'Reckless' tonight and he only has to mention that classic 1984 Lp and the crowd are on their feet an' roaring. A three-part acoustic stint follows, packing in Back to You and surprisingly his two biggest hits to date, 'Summer of 69 ' and chart-shattering Robin Hood movie theme 'Everything I Do' though with a few brief electric interludes fitted to keep things lively. Either way, the approval of the admiring throng could be rated as deafening.

Classic duet 'When You're Gone' requires a replacement for Mel C's spot behind the mike, step forward one lovely-looking young lady called Sarah from the crowd. Though requiring a look at the lyric sheet first, the biology student from Doncaster carries off the tune with little fault and earns herself a bundle of t-shirts and signed tour programmes from the man himself after the gig. The remaining half of the set is almost dominated by oldies, 'Heaven', 'It's Only Love', 'All For Love' and of course, song of the night for most, 'Run To You' collaged well amongst another newie or two and other recent faves like 'The only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You' and 'Best Of Me', Bryan ditching his guitar fro the latter and mingling with the public, and does he have trouble fighting them off or what.

Finally after two hours, the Groover from Vancouver has to be off to groove in some other town, thanking one and all for the evening and his pleasure at performing on northern English stages once again, having already played Newcastle and Manchester over previous nights. An indestructible display of performance from a chap in his forties who will lie down laughing every ageist cynic in the face with his undiminished musical/songwriting talents and we will happily join him doing just that. Hearing a couple more numbers off 'Waking Up the Neighbour would have been nice, by the way, though, Mr Adams, especially 'Thought I'd Died and Gone To Heaven' amongst them but maybe next time, old chap. One of the best Sunday evenings in Sheffield ever, I think.

9.5/10

By Dave Attrill

(written on 25th October, 2004 !!! - fastest ever done live review on the site)

Although the pub wasn't even half-full, Ace of Spades didn't seem too bothered. They forced on as though they were Motorhead playing a major venue. Those present loved it - and many seemed oblivious to the famous band members on stage at their local that night. After only the second song into the set 'Over The Top', Glenn breaks a string or two - so an instrumental jam took place between Danny and Alan, which was riveting, in true 'head style. 'Everything breaks, thankfully not my voice", churps up Alan before introducing 'Speed Freak' - alarming Mr. Thompson instantly who breaks into an 'Oh F@*£', but saying this, his playing was spot-on (well nearly - but we are talking full-out machine gun pace - so give him a break).

Witnessing members of Hawkwind, playing the song 'Motorhead' (originally a Hawkwind ditty) is simply ironic, but fitting quite the same. They even placed 'The Watcher' into the set as well - could the night get any better than this - in fact yes it certainly could - especially when the band graced us with note-for-note perfect run-throughs of classics like 'Dirty Love', Metropolis (one of only two slow Motorhead songs, added Alan), 'Stay Clean', 'Iron Horse' and 'Dead men tell no tales'. Finishing the set with the only possible closer, the anthemic, 'Ace of Spades' and encoring with 'Stone Dead Forever' and 'Overkill', Alan's Trio proved that they can equally challenge Lemmy's bunch any day of the week to a Heavy Metal Duel.

It's bit hard not to give this gig a 10 out of 10.

By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

I do get uncomfortable when it comes to bands whose material I'm not adequately acquainted with but after one night of these Brit legends, I think - and -hope - the said situation will be rectified promptly.

Catching the last song by tonight's guest act, TEN, I do get a chance to witness new guitarist Chris Francis's performance as they blast through 'Name Of The Rose' in ever fine form. Come on lads, Vinny Burns never left at all, did he, or has he's just cut his hair and changed his name.

A little while on and enter John Wetton and co and for a couple of hours as we travel through twenty years of one of British melodic rock's biggest success stories. Unbelievably enough, I recognise a good fifty-or-so percent of the tunes performed tonight although the only one I can put a name to straight away is 'Days like These' from the popular seventies-set TV sitcom of same name, plus there's a burst of 'Video Killed the Radio Star' during the keyboardist's stunning solo spot.

For the record, I understand only him and Wetton remain from the day they began business but the twonew members, especially the guitarist know their way around the house. Other new Asia-ites might also be interested to know that Vinny Burns once occupied this position. Whoever plays in the band though is not too much of an issue as music of this quality, giving me practically no cause for complaint. This is purely men's music (from an age point of view, that is) for those mature enough to appreciate virtuoso displays such as tonight's performance.

Even I at 24 years old felt like the 'kid' amongst the crowd almost exclusively populated by punters aged 30-upwards. I rarely become a fan of a band this quickly but it does happen.

9/10

By Dave Attrill