KILBURNFLYER

Hard Rock Hell IV was as good as the previous three - a great line up, a great laugh and splendid to meet so many friends from Ibiza and previous events. Highlights not in any particular order:

MSG - great to see Schenker has turned himself around. Got a great band together and he was godlike in his playing. All the obvious MSG songs from the first two albums plus Lights Out and Rock Bottom which UFO had omitted the previous day.

Airbourne - they play with such energy that they are always exciting but first time I had seen them indoors and they were just excellent - probably the band of the weekend - diamond in the rough was their best song.

UFO - Mogg in great voice and they played well. Short set but very enjoyable with Shoot Shoot a highlight.

Di'Anno - first saw him front Maiden at the Ruskin so always a big fan. Voice was patchy and his mobility limited by a back problem but still largely enjoyable. Murders in the Rue Morgue, Phantom of the Opera and Iron Maiden the highlights. No Running Free which was a surprise.

Viking Skull - trad metal done extremely well - will def get some of their material.

Scutty Neighbours - met two of these lads at Sonisphere - was impressed by their raw energy and the confidence of their front man. They really had a lot of fun - both on and off the stage - oh to be in my twenties again - wish them very well. Bought their CD.

Attica Rage - great bunch of lads - new material sounds good. 2011 a big year for them - hope they get the breaks they deserve.

Diamond Head - decent but not the best I have seen them.

Uriah Heep and Helloween both ok - not a big fan of either band but they were fine.

KILBURNFLYER

The second installment of Hammerfest was so much better than the first - excellents bands on all three nights.

Thursday's highlight was a band called SSS who I had never heard before - brilliantly tight crossover thrash band. Especially impressed by the bass player. Since downloaded everything they have done and looking forward to seeing them again.

Friday - Devildriver and Five Finger Death Punch were both extremely impressive but completely blown off the stage by Napalm Death who were just magnificent. Not seen them for years and completely forgot how good they were.

Saturday - Attica Rage put in an excellent performance on the main stage for the first time - great version of Safe Inside and a very brave cover - Fear of the Dark - which they performed superbly. Skindred were magnificent as always and Iced Earth as dull as ever (don't understand why I don't get this lot - I should like them) but the highlight of the entire weekend were Suicidal Tendencies who just owned the stage. Got on it myself for Pledge Your Allegiance which was great fun for an old geezer like me. Sabaton finished the weekend - not particularly familiar with the but very impressed.

Already booked for next year. Now if they can just get Slayer or Megadeth to headline that would do me just fine.

KILBURNFLYER

Saxon at the Forum last Thursday (St Georges Day) was great. Doro in support was great - especially her cover of Breakingthe Law. Saxon did ‘Battalions Of Steel’, ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’, ‘Demon Sweeney Todd’, ‘Ride Like The Wind’, ‘Requiem (We Will Remember)’, ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’, ‘Valley Of The Kings’, ‘And Te Bands Played On’, ‘Hellcat’, ‘The Eagle Has Landed’, ‘Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)’, ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Never Surrender’ and ‘Wheels Of Steel’, with encores of ‘Live To Rock’, ‘Motorcycle Man’, ‘Crusader’, ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming’, ‘747 (Strangers In The Night)’, ‘Denim And Leather’ and ‘Princess Of The Night’ (hat tip to Mr Ling who always writes this shit down as it his job).

Then up early for the 4 hour drive to Hammerfest.

Now the line up was a big disappointment - especially after the last two Hard Rock Hell festivals had so many name bands on the bill - but that didn't make the weekend any less enjoyable. I was introduced to a number of new bands the most notable (good and bad) of which were:

Alestorm - I thought the pirate metal thing would irritate me after a few songs but it didn't. They were really good and I have now bought everything they have produced ready for the next time I get to see them.

Skindred - a really fantastic live act with a brilliantly enthusiastic front man. Some great songs and all in all great fun.

Sepultura - just a load of shit

Attica Rage - met these guys before and had already bought their album but they were much richer live than they are on record.