Artist:  Doro & Blitzkrieg

Venue: Rios, Bradford

Date: 7 November 2006  

Ever since the incarnation of Warlock back in the early Eighties the name Doro Pesch has brought a sparkle to many a metaller’s eye, both young and old.

Warlock may be no more, but Doro rocks on as the undisputed Metal Queen and with her new album entitled 'Warrior Soul' just released, she once again graces our shores to bring her unequalled enthusiasm.

With Motorhead playing just down the road my first thoughts were would this gig suffer because of it, well to be honest I expected a bigger turn out, but those who did buy tickets were treated to a great rock n' roll show by the diminutive Metal Queen.

But first the support act.  Still rocking from the NWOBHM era are the once Leicester based Blitzkrieg, who have more recently planted their roots firmly into more Northern soils, brought the memories flooding back.  And although the only original member remaining in the band is front man Brian Ross, this line-up sure know how to lay down some titanic riff based metal. 

The band showed great promise as the opening salvo paved the way for Ross to make his entrance.  As he came on stage he looked like a cross between Joey Ramone and Ozzy.  The band went straight into ’Armageddon’, a track that was a little bit let down by Ross’s vocals I'm afraid, as they didn’t quite match the glory days gone by.

I was willing to give the vocal sound the benefit of the doubt for the first few tracks, as the sound for support acts is often of inferior quality, but as the band went into ’Hell Express’ and ‘I’m Not Insane’, it was plain to see that the band were as tight as a drum, but sadly tonight the power was missing from the vocals.

It was during songs like the bands classic ‘Unholy Trinity’ and ‘Legion’ that they didn’t quite live up to their NWOBHM days and clearly suffered from a poor vocal sound.

Things started to turn around slightly better as the band went into ‘Escape From The Village’ a more mid tempo metaller.

The song that really got the crowd going was ‘Blitzkrieg’ itself and one that brought a little rye smile to my face when a young guy beside me said ... “their playing a Metallica song!” ... ah the innocence of youth.  The same is also often said when Diamond Head play ’Am I Evil’.

The band rounded things off with a medley of Judas Priest tracks firstly ‘Electric Eye’ and secondly ‘Hell Bent For Leather’, both of which went down a storm and really warmed up the crowd for Doro. 

Now for tonight’s main attraction, as the crowd creeps forward to the front of the stage you can smell the testosterone throughout the venue, as the predominantly male audience waits in anticipation of the Queen of Metal herself, Doro Pesch.

Things get off to thumping start as the band get things underway with ‘Earthshaker Rock’ and from then on in we all knew this is going to be one hell of night.

The set continued with ‘Rule The Ruins’, with the diminutive figure of Pesch ruling not just the ruins, but also tonight’s stage, as the crowd raised their horns in salute to their metal queen.

The first of a number of tracks from the new 'Warrior Soul' album was ‘You’re My Family’, a track that salutes her fans and one which Doro also dedicates to Motorhead's support band Crucified Barbara, who decided to drop in and rock along up front with the rest of us.

Then it was back to the 'Fight' album for a real crowd favourite ‘Always Live To Win’, before delving further back into the back catalogue for the outstanding ‘Burning The Witches’ and ‘True As Steel’.

With the new album never off my CD player since it landed on my desk to review, it was great to hear the new stuff played live.  The set continued with another song off said album, this time slowing things down just a touch with ‘Above The Ashes’.  Then it was soon back to the full blown metal as Doro dedicated this next one to all the headbangers in the audience as the band went into ‘Metal Tango’.

Now it was time to introduce the band of Doro, as each individual took their deserved applause as their name were shouted out, Joe Taylor on lead guitar, Johnny Dee on drums, Oliver Palotai on rhythm guitar and keyboards, and completing the line-up Nick Douglas on bass, not to be left out Nick Douglas did the honors and introduced the one true metal queen, Doro Pesch.

After the formalities were over it was back to the music with the classic cut ‘Hellraiser’, then they swung back to the new album with ‘Strangers Yesterday’.  Now it was time for one of mine, and I’m sure a great many of her fans favourites, ‘Fur Immer’.

Then it was time to slow things down again with the haunting ‘Love Me in Black’ and what a stirring rendition it was.  Thing were then brought back up to speed once more with ‘Fight’, and the surprise package of the set, a ripping version of the Priest track ‘Breaking the Law’.

With the set almost at a close it was time to bring out the big guns as the band finished off with the massive ‘All We Are’.  With fists held high and nigh on every single person in the crowd screaming along deliriously with the band, it felt great to be a part of tonight's show.

The band left the stage momentarily then returned to the stage once more to thunderous applause to continue with some of the bands biggest songs to date.  Firstly ‘Hellbound’, then the equally popular ‘East Meets West’ and ‘Only You’, before almost bringing the house down with a show stopping performance of the title track of the new album ‘Warrior Soul’.  All of which rounded of a spectacular metal show and one that I will remember for many a day.

 

Set list: Earthshaker Rock, Rule The Ruins, Your My Family, Always Live To Win, Burning The Witches, True As Steel, Above The Ashes, Metal Tango, Hellraiser, Strangers Yesterday, Fur Immer, Love Me In Black, Breaking The Law, Fight, Breaking The Law, All We Are, Hellbound, East Meets West, Only You, Warrior Soul

 

 

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