Bands talk of shows being special and unique, and then precede to play the same set in about a dozen other cities. However, tonight is the real McCoy. This is a one off, never to be repeated gig packed to the brim with emotional resonance. Originally scheduled for 2019, this was initially conceived as a celebration of the life and works of Mike Alexander, Evile's late lamented bassist who tragically left us in 2009. However, it has taken on additional significance, as last year Matt Drake made the decision to step away from the band and music all together. The band (now fronted by his brother Ol) have already forged on without him, but Matt was never going to miss this performance and tonight’s tribute to Mike now also serves as his last hurrah with the band he led for so long.

Rebellion is packed, the bar queue snakes around the building and the atmosphere is one of electric anticipation. This is a thrash loving crowd and accordingly openers Shrapnel are given a warm welcome. I always view a pit as the highest form of praise for a support act and from the off Shrapnel are accompanied by a swirling cacophony of bodies contorting themselves around the floor. This is frantic pounding thrash, and the tracks are tight and taunting. There is much less musical nodding than you get with tonight's headline. Instead, the tone is brash and almost minimalistic. The reception is ecstatic. For some this is because live music is still such a novelty and for others it is because it feels such a buzz to be back inside the confines of Rebellion (even if the toilets facilities are now nothing more than a line of portaloos unceremoniously dumped into the smoking area). Whatever the reason, Shrapnel are treated with a furore usually reserved for headliners. The culmination of the final song is meet with fevered cries of "one more track", a command that the band willingly obey. 

This is an incredibly important evening for Evile, in the main because Mike Alexander was such an important part of the band's evolution, but also because it gives Matt an opportunity to say a proper goodbye. As he comments towards the end of the “Enter the Grave” set, very few departing band members get the chance to say farewell in such a civilised and appropriate manner. The respect and love between him and his brother Ol is evident all the way through the first part of tonight's show and is in many ways part of its utter brilliance. They trade licks and insults, playfully bouncing of each and sharing winks and in-jokes. In fact, Ol tries to gleefully sabotage Matt's parting speech leading to light-hearted chants of twat.

Tonight, Matt is a man who has nothing to worry about apart from enjoying himself. He stands stage centre, drinking in every moment and savouring the whole experience. They tear through their incendiary debut (emulating Metallica, they opt to do it in reverse order), specifically chosen because it was the record that Mike musically contributed the most to. And tonight, is all about the legacy of Mr. Alexander. Midway through the set, Matt gives an eloquent and heartfelt speech about what Mike meant to him and the band. It is a capped by a wonderful moment at the culmination of his eulogy when Matt adds "and Mike would have hated this speech, he would be saying "just get on with it". 

“Enter the Grave” is as guttural and magnificent as ever. Its ten tracks have stood the test of time, in fact they feel even more relevant in today's world, with thrash back in its rightful place as a corner stone of the metal world. As we reach the album’s two crown jewels (the awesome ‘Thrasher’ and the colossal title-track) the emotion gets ratcheted up. Matt (with tears on his eyes) declares that this will be the last time he ever stands on a stage and that having a crowd, like tonight's, singing his words back at him has been both an honour and blessing. With that raw testimony hanging in the air, they charge into the ‘Enter the Grave’. The bodies fly (including the Steve Beciami look alike from the Party Cannon gig) and the fevered audience sing themselves hoarse. This is one of those moments that makes you realise why we all love metal so much. It is communal, it is life-affirming and it is utterly immersive. Nothing else on earth matters, apart from two hundred people screaming 'butchered and maimed, enter the grave'. And then with a final thank your Matt Drake leaves the stage forever. But there is more....

Ten minutes later the now Ol Drake fronted version 5 of Evile emerges on stage. It is a huge gamble on their part to follow such a highly emotionally raw set with another set, but boy do they pull it off. Ol's iteration of Evile felt (initially) a little rusty and out of their depth at last month’s Bloodstock (it was their first show in three years). Not tonight, coming on the back of the “Enter the Grave” section of the show they are firing on all cylinders and Ol seems to be overjoyed to be back as the centre of attention. Whilst we do get the "hits" such as ‘Head of the Demon’, ‘Cult’ and ‘Hell Unleashed’, they carry on the special nature of this evening by airing the little played 'In Memoriam’. A Metallica-esque ballad, it is a harrowing and incredibly personal dissertation of how Mike’s loss effected the band. Talking of the Metallica, the other special moment is a cover of ‘Creeping Death’ (one of Mike’s favourite songs). San Francisco’s finest bring fans together like no other band in our universe and this becomes a moment of mass-karaoke, with every punter front to back screaming lyrics that are now cemented into our collective consciousness. ‘Infected Nation’ brings the evening to a close. As it fades out, Ol reminds us that they are out on tour in February. A stark reminder (if we needed it) that whilst tonight was celebrating the past, Evile’s story is not done yet and on the strength of the second set, the best may well be yet to come.