The denim and leather clad masses descended upon The Anvil in Bournemouth on January 25th for a Saturday night triple header of fantastic Heavy Metal. January truly is the longest month and there were a stack of Heavy Metal Maniacs ready to cut loose and burn away the post Chrimbo blues!
Live Review
Girder
When this show was first announced at the end of last year, original NWOBHM band, a resurgent Marquis De Sade were due to perform. But unfortunately issues befell them and they were replaced by local Bournemouth metal mob, Girder.
Half British, half Brazilian, Girder play their music with a huge collective smile on their faces. The band consists of Metal Matt on bass, Iron Paul on guitars and the Brazilian one-two of Metal Dress (!) on vocals and Hordak II on drums and they’re all about huge riffs and great times! Musically Girder are all over the place, but in the progressive sense, rather than the headless chicken sense. You can hear the obvious influences of Maiden, Priest et al, but also more unexpected twists. A case in point being the song 6:30 which starts out in a very Candlemass style before going into full metal attack. City Dealer is another rocktastic song that has all the heads nodding and more than a few banging too!
All in all an excellent set on a mere 24 hours notice, albeit with a slightly odd ending seeing Metal Dress doing floor based callisthenics whilst Metal Matt weaved around her with his bass?! I imagine the exuberance of the moment is perhaps to blame! All told, Girder are exceptionally entertaining and everyone here in The Anvil tonight would be back to watch them in a heartbeat. Recommended. Check out their new self-titled LP dropping on Friday the 28th of March.
Setlist:
Headbanger’s Ball
Fire To The Realm
6:30
City Dealer
Metal Changed, Not Me
Girder
Stuka Squadron
Hot on Girder’s heels come the vampiric mercenaries, Stuka Squadron. The Squadrons activities were heavily curtailed during lockdown, but Lord Pyre has assembled a new crew of FRESH BLOOD! The twin guitars of Generalissimo Strix and Klauss Von Orlok weave a heady Maidenesque tapestry, particularly on tracks such as On The Volga Bridge. Chief vocalist, Captain Strange of Bloodworth Hill casts a regal figure in his velveteen overcoat and engages The Anvil in some amusing chitchat, both with the crowd and his infernal bandmates. Example; Cap Strange: “Will this war never end?”
Lord Pyre: “God, I hope not!”
Stuka Squadron put on a very good performance, musically they were absolutely spot on, they have a great look that hangs together really well and most importantly they have the songs; Angel of Mons, Tiger II, the list goes on. They also have a pretty committed fanbase it seems, I was stood next to a group of lads singing along who didn’t miss a line. Hopefully they can move forward with a stable line up and get a new album on the shelves soon. The Anvil is appreciative.
Setlist:
Zebulon’s Inferno
One Man Blitzkrieg
Angel Of Mons
On The Volga Bridge
Tigger II
Toledo Steel
And so our headliners for the evening, the south coast’s own Toledo Steel. For 10 years Toledo Steel have been blasting out windows and blowing off doors with their rock tinged heavy metal. Not many bands do it better, if any! The Steel had been very warmly received at The Anvil back in April supporting the ascendant Tailgunner on their seemingly never-ending Guns For Hire run, but they’re headliners tonight and bang up for it.
They hit the stage and tear straight into On The Loose, vocalist Rich Rutter has clearly warmed up very nicely! Denim, leather and hair thrash as one as they rip into No Time To Lose. A breathless rendition leaves everyone panting for more. Rich greets The Anvil crowd before the band play the anthemic, Rock Nights. Writing’s On The Wall is next followed by the always fun Visions in The Fire. At this point Rich introduces us to Tom, who is playing bass for this evening’s show. Tom only had three weeks to learn the set. Tom rocks.
Next up we’re treated to a new song. Two in fact! Another Chance to Fall is first, a dynamic, technical track. Very good indeed and the crowd really dig it. Into The Arena is absolutely classic Toledo Steel. It reminds me very much of the song that followed it, not because it sounds the same, but because its so damn good! Rich tells the crowd both tracks will be appearing on the new LP which should be released at some point this year, which is very exciting news. After the new tracks we went all the way back to the beginning for an OG favourite, Speed Killer. One of the best Toledo Steel songs and indeed of anyone’s songs! A driving riff and a chorus to die for, what more do you want? Rock? You got it!
Final track time, which can only mean Toledo Steel. As fine a self titled song as you’re ever likely to hear, much of the crowd joins Rich Rutter on the choruses, Toledo Steel, rising from the flames! Normally this would be the end of the entertainments, but the crowd demands more. And Toledo Steel duly oblige! Guitars are swapped for basses, retunings occur and Toledo Steel go out own a high with No Quarter, the title track from their 2018 debut LP. And so it comes to and end. An excellent night for grassroots heavy metal on the south coast.
Setlist:
On The Loose
No Time To Lose
Rock Nights
Writing’s On The Wall
Visions In The Fire
Another Chance To Fall
Into The Arena
Speed Killer
Toledo Steel
No Quarter
The Nwothm 
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