EBGBs is tonight packed wall to wall with enthusiastic metal fans here to eagerly celebrate the release of “The Deaf Choir” by tonight’s headliners Devils Henchmen. I believe it may be a sold out affair, and rightly so. The night promised to showcase some  of the best and brightest rising stars of the Merseyside Metal scene and it did not disappoint. 

I am delighted for openers Junta;  there’s a mosh pit from the moment the band start up as swarms of frenzied fans plunge themselves headfirst into Junta’s hardcore offerings. It’s interesting to hear, there’s very definitely a fusion of ideas within this band and there are moments where I can pick up on something that lingers more in the realms of something blackened as opposed to the dominant strain of fast paced punkish riffs. Promising up and comers with a lot of offer, it will be interesting to see where their journey takes them. With a support slot with Liverpool titans Death Blooms next month, I predict Junta will go far.

A band that really captured my attention this evening were Reclaim , who seem to have just burst into life in recent months, kicking down the front door and smashing the back one too for full effect. For those of us who are fans of the Architects/Loathe kind of sound, I suggest you have a listen to “The Doomsday Clock” and put Reclaim on your “ones to watch” list. It’s fast with an underlying groove and some furious vocals.  Last time ROCKFLESH crossed path with Reclaim, it was noted they had so much potential, and just a few short months later their performance has already become significantly more polished, a sign that they are working hard  at what they do and striving to improve with every gig. Another well received set with a flurry of windmilling arms, I spy at least one pint go flying. 

Ogun are a blast from my “Sneaking into the Krazyhouse whilst underage” past and it’s wonderful to see them still being such an important cornerstone of the local metal scene, many years after they first began and after such a long time away from us all too. The Scouse metal legends comeback this past year has been such a welcome one, and they provide the crowd with an incredibly well done, well played music that showcases their competencies as musicians and song writers.   There’s no smoke and mirrors with Ogun and there never has been. Its upfront honest thrash, a loving nod to all the bands over the years that have inspired them as musicians. Every time a new band comes on this evening, the mosh pit gets wider and wider, and for Ogun it absolutely explodes, nearly sending some of the crowd down those awkward steps at the side of the dance floor. 

Side Note – I really liked this one dudes “Ogun Fans” t-shirt. 

Finally, it’s time for the evenings headliners Devils Henchmen. It’s been one Hell of a year for them, with their win at M2TM and subsequent set at Bloodstock festival, and now here they are celebrating the launch of their album “The Deaf Choir”.

What a superb album it is as well, 10 songs of non-nonsense get up and mosh metal. I’m really feeling good vibes from the tracks ‘Think Like You’ and ‘Poison’. 

Its good vibes all round for tonight’s show in fact,  the band bring some truly Big Four energy to the room and deliver a face melting set that proves that less can in fact be more. I feel sometimes there is pressure on new bands to find the new sound, do the new thing, take the music to strange new places and whilst I admire the drive and creativity of bands that do that, I’ve always been exceptionally fond of bands that can take a tried and tested formula, run with it, but give it its own spin, and I feel this is why Devils Henchmen have received such an enormous level of love and praise in recent times. This is a classic sound with a youthful spin, appealing to metal heads of all ages. 

For years I’ve heard so many comments along the lines of “Liverpools scene is dead” and “Theres nowhere to go in Liverpool”. Tonight was a shining example of what this scene actually is; it’s alive, it’s exciting, and it’s shows are selling out. Come and join us. 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Devils Henchmen, Ogun, Reclaim, Junta