“We’re here,” reckons Tailgunner’s singer, to put British heavy metal on the map. Whether it’s ever been off the map in the first place, given that Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Priest exist, is a moot point. But anyway, Thomas Hewson and his troops are giving it a damn good go.
If bassist Hewson has a touch of Steve Harris circa 1983 about him, then you’d best believe the music does too.
But from the first “Get your hands in the air,” there’s a wonderful enthusiasm about Tailgunner that is marvellously infectious. “Guns For Hire,” “White Death,” and the rest from their brilliant debut record do exactly what they are meant to: horns up for a good time.
Since MV last saw them, opening for Warbringer, they’ve got a new guitarist and drummer, and they’ve come on leaps and bounds—and considering they were good before, you can work it out for yourself now.
The fact is that while they wave a toy gun about in “Warhead” for reasons unclear, and while “New Horizons” and “Revolution Scream” aren’t offering anything new, you could argue whether they’re meant to.
Rather, when they end with their cover of “Painkiller,” you’re left to think this: you can’t improve on perfection; you can have the time of your life trying to match it.
Tailgunner are the standard-bearers of the new, new wave.
And speaking of Priest…
Armored Saint arrive on stage to the strains of “Delivering The Goods.” The metaphors write themselves.
But never let there be any doubt about whether Armored Saint can deliver the goods. Forty years. The same guys. Okay, they might not be as heralded here as some of their more obvious peers, but you could make a decent argument that they are the best American heavy metal band of all time.
Never mind the history, though; here’s the present. “End Of The Attention Span” from their most recent record kicks it off, and a bit like Tailgunner, they are just so infectious.
If ever a band wanted to be onstage, it’s this one. It is their first time in Nottingham, and evidently, they want to make it count. Whether it’s “Raising Fear”, “Tribal Dance”, or “The Pillar” – which sees guitarist Phil Sandoval turn singer for a bit – it’s all delivered with the skill and passion that only lifers have.
Lifers with great songs, mind. Like “Last Train Home”, which turned into the evening’s first singalong, or old favourites like “March Of The Saint” and the seldom-heard “Over The Edge.”
They have plenty of epics. “Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants” (the other song they play from 2020’s “Punching The Sky” ) and in the Maiden-ish “Aftermath” singer John Bush – one of the best there is – disappears to deliver the song amongst his people.
From here, it’s a race to the finish. “Win Hands Down” does, and would anywhere, and “Reign Of Fire” would be the encore, if AS were bothered with such things. They’re not, instead they merely knock out “Chemical Euphoria” and “Mad House” like it’s no big deal. It is.
“Our first show here,” says Bush as they leave. “And it’s got to live up to”. He’s not wrong, but it’s the words to another song they played that resonate. “Can U Deliver?’ was there ever a doubt?
These Saints are still on the march…..
