After opening band EDEN’S CURSE had warmed up the Nottingham crowd with a lively performance, it was time for Greek power metallers FIREWIND to make yet another return to UK shores. Gus G. and his merry men put in a typically powerful and precise performance. Having toured the UK extensively in 2008 (including a performance at the Download Festival), the setlist was mixed up a bit here, and even included a brand new song, with the impressive ‘Days Of No Trust’ giving the fans a taster of a new album, currently being recorded. FIREWIND are an awesome band, and the 40 minute set allocation certainly left the crowd wanting more, but considering Gus G.’s love affair with the UK, there surely won’t be long to wait until the next FIREWIND UK tour!

In great contrast to FIREWIND, STRATOVARIUS have only ever played a handful of UK shows in their entire 20 plus year history. Still, with power metal being very much an underground movement in the UK, it was as good a place as any to ease in the band’s new line-up following the much publicised departure of main man Timo Tolkki. In continental Europe, STRATOVARIUS are accustomed to playing to thousands of people, so the intimate surroundings of Nottingham’s 300 capacity Rescue Rooms were sure to provide the band with an interesting challenge, including fitting all their gear on the tiny stage.

In only his second show with the band, new boy Matias Kupiainen put in a superb display on the lead guitar, showing that the countless hours spent practicing the classic STRATOVARIUS material has paid dividends. If superb new album ‘Polaris’ has confirmed that STRATOVARIUS can continue without Timo Tolkki on the song-writing front, then Kupiainen’s performance tonight proved that the band are still one of the most musically gifted live metal acts around. Along with Kupiainen, Jens Johansson was a joy to watch on the keyboards, and powerhouse drummer Jorge Michael is fascinating to witness as he pounds out the full throttle beats.

Unfortunately vocalist Timo Kotipelto was suffering with an ilness, and despite battling through the set, he did drop a few higher notes, and two of the songs (‘Visions’ and ‘Deep Unknown’) on the printed setlist were excluded, cutting the show down to just over the hour mark. At the end of the show, Kotipelto apologised for the short set, and promised that the band would return with a full set another time. Even with the limitations, tonight’s show was enjoyable, and that shows what a terrific band STRATOVARIUS are. Let’s hope that they do indeed return to the UK before too long.

Ratings:

Review by James Allman

Photography by Alexander Shaw(click here)