Artist: White Wizzard

Venue: The Corporation, Sheffield  

Date: 10th November 2010   

Formed in 2007 out of bassist and band-leader Jon Leon’s boredom with all the ‘angsty’ and ‘screamo’ metal that was dominating the metal scene at the time, White Wizzard are the perfect response.  Unashamedly drawing their influences heavily from 80’s metal gods such as Maiden, Priest and Dio, they are living proof that old-school metal doesn’t just have to be about older bands.  It is all the more disappointing then, that the turnout tonight isn’t particularly great and you’ve got to assume that it’s largely due to the crap weather but I fear that it’s got a lot more to do with apathy and this is the most disappointing thing of all. 

Older metal fans can bitch and moan all they like about a lack of ‘real’ metal bands around today but when one is served up on a silver plate for a very reasonable ticket price, where are they? Newsflash guys, the bands are out there – you’ve just got to make the effort to get off your apathetic, lazy arses and actually go out to find and support them otherwise (and here’s the complicated part, so pay attention) they won’t be able to tour as much and will end up just playing one show in London, which will no doubt give you something else to whinge about!

Thankfully, this doesn’t affect the band’s enthusiasm and, reinvigorated by yet another line-up change which Jon Leon insists has now finally got the people in place that will carry the band forward for many years, White Wizzard rip through a 10-song set of denim and leather-fuelled metal kicking off with future anthem ‘Over the Top’.  Although the band have battled through several line-up changes in their existence, based on tonight’s performance, it’s hard to argue with Jon Leon’s claim that this is the definitive White Wizzard line-up. 

Despite a less-than-perfect sound which hampers the vocals somewhat, new singer Peter Ellis fits in perfectly and certainly emits more energy and stage presence than his predecessors and there’s a clear cohesion between the band members on stage that wasn’t there when they were last in the UK supporting Edguy back in March. 

As well as cuts from their brilliant debut full-length ‘Over the Top’, the band treat us to rarely-heard tracks from their previous EP’s such as ‘Celestina’ and ‘March of the Skeletons’ and new single ‘Shooting Star’, written in tribute to the legendary Ronnie James Dio provides a genuine tear-in-the-eye moment.  ‘Iron Goddess of Vengeance’ is as epic as the brilliant title suggests and given that no self-respecting metal band would be without a song about driving fast, White Wizzard don’t disappoint and the band finish on the now classic ‘High Speed GTO’. 

Hopefully a better sound and a better turnout will greet the band next time as they most definitely deserve it.  If you want new and fresh old-school metal in 2010, then look no further than White Wizzard.

Setlist: Over the Top,  40 Deuces, Celestina, Shooting Star, Out of Control, Iron Goddess of Vengeance, High Roller, White Wizzard, March of the Skeletons, High Speed GTO.

Review by: Adam Grindrod

 

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