HALESTORM IN THIS MOMENT/NEW YEARS DAY BATTLE BEAST
ALEXANDRA PALACE, LONDON HOSTED BY A ULU, LONDON
Lzzy Hale heads a trio of rock heroines to storm the Palace
triple-threat of bands that could each arguably pull off the headlining slot by themselves, Ally Pally reins in rock and metal’s queens for the final show of the commanding Mother’s House Of Horrors tour.
Goth metallers NEW YEARS DAY
kick off proceedings with their signature energetic display, delivering their sinister cover of Pantera’s iconic Fucking Hostile to a sea of raised horns. By the time Ash Costello belts the contagious Epidemic and unleashes the catastrophic Defame Me, Ally Pally is infected by their energetic, professional and welcoming live incarnation.
IN THIS MOMENT’S unmistakable theatrics and gorgeous spiritual visuals were built for a stage of this size – every show is a grandiose, unmissable event. Offsetting fresh track Legacy’s heartbreaking sentiment with the dominant classic Adrenalize,
both ultimately blown out of the water by their show-stopping hit Whore,
Maria Brink and co. hold the Palace
in the palm of their wonderfully dramatic hands.
Opening a headline set of non-stop bangers with the blistering Do Not Disturb, it’s no surprise rock royalty HALESTORM immediately ignite tonight’s crowd. I Get Off electrifies the winter night and I Am The Fire glows brightly, breaking the intensity for
Familiar Taste Of Poison to showcase the Pennsylvania outfit’s inherent ability to effortlessly switch modes. Freak Like Me never fails to rile a crowd that come to see Halestorm for a place to fit in; a familiar crowd that feels like home. Firing the powerful Here’s To Us with the same gravitas as Love Bites and
I Miss The Misery, fuelled by Lzzy Hale’s phenomenal riffs and sticksman Arejay Hale’s unstoppable displays, Halestorm close out a storming 2019 with a show to remember. This incredible, empowering female-driven line-up is a rare, gorgeous gem in the rock and metal world.
ALI COOPER
CYHRA
It’s a pity that former In-flames guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who has taken time out from touring, can’t be here tonight but
CYHRA’S energy and optimism shines through. It helps that there are still wellknown faces onstage including ex-shining guitarist Euge Valovirta, Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody drummer Alex Landenburg and Strömblad’s worthy stand-in, Engel’s Marcus Sunesson. But the cherry on the cake is ex-amaranthe singer Jake E, whose confidence, ease with the crowd and far-reaching vocals gets immediate love. A gutsy voice is also the key to BATTLE BEAST’S success. A few years ago, we might have put their fame down to the band’s founder Anton Kabanen and his knack for penning catchy power metal, but without him Battle Beast have transformed into a stadium-worthy band. Noora Louhimo is by far the main draw and her voice is staggering, giving the likes of Bruce Dickinson a run for his money. If it’s not Black Ninja carving an almighty Dio-addled march through the plumes of smoke and pyro, it’s their Bon Jovi-meets-sabaton rock and romps that delight and enthral. Apart from their willingness to entertain, Battle Beast’s triumph comes from swapping past glories for new ambitious sounds that, on the strength of tonight, will make the future theirs for the taking. HOLLY WRIGHT