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08.04.2023 The Station, Cannock: The Devout

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  The Station was packed (as it should be) and I was very much looking forward to the Depeche tribute gig. DEPECHE – TAKE NOTE: this is how you should do it!!!  The last time I enjoyed Depeche Mode’s music was probably their 2009 single ‘wrong’ before it all went really wrong indeed, for my ears anyways. Depeche’s catalogue is filled with gems that one hardly ever gets to hear especially the early songs and this is where the Devout did their homework. The trio was amazing and the songs were performed incredibly accurate sound wise and Devout’s set included belters like  ‘A question of time’, ‘Stripped’ ‘Shake the disease’, an awesome rendition of the Vince Clarke penned ‘New Life’ off Depeche’s debut album ‘Speak and Spell’ and The Devout even played ‘the hit that Depeche never plays’: ‘People are people’ as well as many tracks off the ‘songs of faith and devotion’ album and in the acoustic part that Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore always performs during a concert, The Devout’s versio
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KK’s Steel Mill/Wolverhampton: Devin Townsend, support: Fixation and Klone April 4th, 2022

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  It was still a bit nippy outside, but the three bands sure brought some serious heat to the venue. Norwegian 5-piece band Fixation were first to go on stage and while their songs were often reminiscent of early 2000s bands of the rock genre, their eclectic mix of styles made them interesting to listen to. Their self-described ‘melancholic aggression’ wasn’t really all that aggressive which is probably a good thing because the fact that one could clearly understand the lyrics is always a bonus. Especially Fixation’s tune ‘Ignore the disarray’ sounded phenomenal. Great start to a great night. Following on from Fixation, ‘Klone’s offerings were quite different, often progressive rock especially when it comes to their twin guitar work. They played many songs from their 2019 debut album ‘le grand voyage’ and their songs allowed for some evocative images forming in one’s head. I really enjoyed Klone.   While they were rocking it out energetically at the steel mill, musically the
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23.07.2022 The Station, Cannock: Blaze Bayley & Absolva

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  First things first: There is great, there is awesome and there is utterly superb, and Blaze Bayley was 200% the latter. There was a free meet and greet with Blaze upon entering the Station and his girlfriend took the pictures for the respective fan. He thanked us for our support and asked us all individually to join his mailing list but also had more personal conversations with fans. He was very down to earth and approachable and meeting him was indeed a privilege. His support act Absolva were a top-notch band who played songs from their respective albums and mentioned that their first album is already ten years old. Guitar soli wise I could detect influences of Maiden and Kiss but not in a super conscious way. The songs were hard hitting yet melodic with slower pieces worked in perfectly and they were brilliant. I had no idea that Absolva would also be Bayley's band. Blaze Bayley’s stage presence was mesmerizing, and his voice was not just impeccable but stellar throughout
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Megadeth UK, plus support 'Exit Out', 11.02.2022 The Station, Cannock

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  Promoted as a Thrash Metal night with a Slayer and a Megadeth tribute, it became clear quickly that the Slayer tribute band wasn’t there. Luckily ‘Exit Out’ stepped in – a very down to earth four piece with an awesome (blind) drummer (always amazing to see when people labelled as ‘disabled’ follow their passions and succeed) and a guitarist that had just joined the band one day before the gig. Exit Out played anything but metal and soundwise were more grunge (could hear ‘Nirvana’ influences there big time) and a bit of punk than hard rock. But they were really good nonetheless and didn’t have to ‘exit out’ due to musical incompatibility on the thrash metal night. Megadeth UK were freaking awesome – with Dave Mustaine being a giant in the metal community and often hailed as one of the best guitarists ever, it was interesting to witness an effortless performance by Megadeth UK. Of course, all the classics like ‘skin of my teeth’, ‘Hangar 18’ and ‘Symphony of destruction’ were part of
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