PRIMORDIAL are a fantastic band who, despite having a lot of fans over here, don't make the trip over to tour the UK as often as most people would like. Apart from the occasional festival show, fans of the band often have to wait a couple of years before they get a chance to see them, which, although not a long time in reality, feels like an eternity for big fans of the band such as myself. However, this means that when they do play, it really is an event, and they get a great turnout and response from the fans. And tonight is no different; with fellow Irishmen MALTHUSIAN opening for them on this three date mini tour, as well as Manchester's own WINTERFYLLETH acting as the main support, it's pretty much a fact that this show is going to be brilliant before any of the band's have even begun their sound  check.

After the doors open and people begin to trickle in, eyeing up the merch and slowly filling the spacious room, MALTHUSIAN take the stage and kick off the proceedings in style. They have a strong presence onstage, although there's not a lot of banter between band and audience throughout their set. They make up for this by assaulting the few dozen people who have managed to get down this early with a thick, tar-like wall of noise and a ferocious, visceral roar from vocalist Pauric Gallagher. There are some times, when watching a band live, where you can actually feel the music coming out of the speakers, and this is definitely one of them. At points it genuinely feels like you're been struck in the chest by their powerful music. They are an absolutely great way to get proceedings going tonight, and walk offstage having thoroughly gotten the crowd ready for the rest of the evening.

Then it is time for the home town heroes WINTERFYLLETH to do their set. they come onstage to one of the most raucous receptions of the night, and it's clear that the WINTERFYLLETH faithful are out in force tonight. They are, as always, totally on form, and blast through some of their best tracks, spanning all four of their albums. The opener, the title track from their latest record, "The Divination of Antiquity", goes down really well, as do the other two songs from this album that feature in their set. Everyone chants in time with the band during "The Swart Raven", and it proves to be one of the highlights of their set. The material in their set list is heavily drawn from their new record, but has plenty of material from their first three records to satisfy both old and new fans alike. They close their set with a fan favourite, "Defending the Realm", which goes down very well with everyone. By the time that they all exit the stage, it's clear that they will be a tough act to follow at this particular show.
 

Setlist:

1. The Divination of Antiquity
2. The Swart Raven
3. The Ghost of Heritage
4. A Careworn Heart
5. Whisper of the Elements
6. Defending the Realm

After a quick change-over, it's time for PRIMORDIAL to play their set to the expectant crowd. They come on to "Dark Horse on the Wind", one of their excellent contributions to the album "One and All, Together, for Home", which sets the tone for the set with its hair-raising and chilling sound. They open with the title track off of the new record, "Where Greater Men Have Fallen", as well as some other choice cuts off of the new release, such as "Babel's Tower" and "Ghosts of Charnel House", which go down as well with the crowd as their classics. They sit well alongside "Gods to the Godless" and "As Rome Burns" really well, and showcases the stronger parts of the new album very well. The crowd is fully hyped and sing along with every note from start to finish.  As always, "The Coffin Ships" goes down really well and gets a great reception, with Nethemanga delivering a great and emotional performance. If this song doesn't elicit an emotional response from you on some level, or at the very least give you goose bumps, there's something wrong with you. By the time that the closer "Empire Falls" comes around, the band have definitely left a lasting impression on the audience, and walk offstage having thoroughly made this night their own.
 

Setlist:

Intro: Dark Horse on the Wind

1. Where Greater Men Have Fallen
2. Gods to the Godless
3. Babel's Tower
4. No Grave Deep Enough
5. Autumn's Ablaze
6. Ghosts of Charnel House
7. As Rome Burns
8. The Alchemist's Head
9. Bloodied Yet Unbowed
10. The Coffin Ships
11. Wield Lightning to Split the Sun
12. Empire Falls

This was a great gig from three great bands. It's proved that this show, and indeed this entire tour, has been well worth the wait, and has lived up to the anticipation surrounding it in the weeks prior to them playing. This really was a spectacle to behold, and with any luck, all of these bands will be back around this neck of the woods at some point in the not too distant future.

*Photography: Alex Pallis of Nosophori Photography