Q5

London Camden The Underworld

Seize the time, or forever ponder what might have been.

This gig should have happened 30 years ago. If Q5 had come over to the UK then, on the back of the buzz surrounding their debut album Steel The Light, then the Seattle band would have packed this venue. As it is, tonight the venue is only a quarter-full. Mind you, that doesn’t prevent frontman Jonathan K from claiming: “There’s a lot of people here!” Either he’s being ironic, or he’s delusional.

The vocalist is one of only two original members left in the band, the other being bassist Evan Sheeley. The absence of guitarists Floyd Rose and Rick Pierce (the former quit a long time back, the latter was fired earlier this year) is particularly felt; without them, Q5 lack character.

Much of the set comes from the aforementioned first album. The songs are played competently, but there’s a lack of meaningful spirit. And the singer sometimes comes across as a Hanna-Barbera version of Brian Johnson. Inevitably, it’s set closer Steel The Light itself that gets the biggest reaction of the night. Just hearing this makes the preceding mediocrity almost worthwhile.

But unfortunately Q5 missed the boat when a real opportunity was there, and have left it far too late to play their first ever UK show. The excitement that once suggested they could be major players has gone, leaving a modest power metal band.