It’s Friday night and there is no place I’d rather be than in The Brickyard, Carlisle for a night of hard rocking madness. The live scene in this city is mainly cover bands, so when touring bands come to town, I never miss the opportunity for a night out.
First on the bill are Preston four-piece Lythium. Bringing a modern hard rock sound, this Lancashire crew take inspiration from Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, and Foo Fighters. Opening with “Damage”, the band have a subtle confidence on stage. Playing their latest single “Help Me” wins over some of the crowd who have ventured down early. “One Track” speeds up the set with a good hard rocking rhythm. “State of Mind” is a personal standout with punchy drums, big dirty riffs, and a solid baseline; combined with a lower vocal range, it gives the song a fantastic gritty feel. “Shotgun” catches me off guard with a very proggy opening and prog sections throughout. All in all, it was a solid showing from Lythium, starting off the night nicely.
Gwailo are up next. Hailing from the Northeast, you would be forgiven for mistaking them for a 1980s Sunset Strip band. This five-piece has all the swagger of that era, with open shirts held together by a button or two, waistcoats with nothing underneath, stage raisers, and sunglasses. They are clearly living out the 1980s on stage and channelling their inner Bon Jovi, even using a talk box at one point. That being said, it is no knock on this band; they talk the talk, but they also walk it as well, bringing good energy and a nice bit of banter with the crowd. The crowd have warmed up by now and are more into the evening. “Rise” and “Rock and Roll Seduction” are great songs to get the juices flowing. “Live For The Weekend” brings it down with a classic ballad number. “Kings of the City” is a good-time rock and roll song paying homage to rock and roll legends who forged the path. “You Got It” closes out the set on a high with its loud heavy riffs and thundering drums with double bass interspersed throughout. With big harmonious backing vocals, it’s everything you need from a hard rock song.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Time for the main attraction. Unfortunately, it hasn’t really picked up in terms of punters through the door, but that is the way sometimes in cities that are off the main circuit. Nevertheless, Fury launch headfirst into “Interceptor”, which is a hell of an opening song. The volume and intensity have just been turned up to 11. Not relenting, Fury smash through “Prince of Darkness” and “It’s Rock and Roll”. “When the Hammer Falls” is a hark back to the days of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Moving through the first half of their set, the cohesion this band offers is off the charts, everyone complementing each other, especially the dual vocals of Julian Jenkins and Nyah Ifill. Tom Fenn provides the driving force behind the kit, Matt Fletcher brings tight guitar work with face-melting solos, and rounding out the band is the dynamic Becky Baldwin providing her signature bass work. Even though it is a relatively small crowd, Fury still engage and get as much crowd participation as they can.
After an emotional tribute to Phil Campbell, Jenkins, who fronted Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, dedicates “Walk Away” to the Motörhead legend, which stands out as a poignant moment from the night. Closing out the set with the blistering “If You Get To Hell First” really shows Fury flexing their musical muscles and infectious energy. With an encore of “Dragon Song” and “DTR”, Fury manage to whip up the crowd, finishing out the set in crowning fashion. Fury have been on my radar for a while now and they are a powerhouse of a live band, full of talented musicians. I feel it’s only a matter of time before they truly blow up.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Photos by James Hadley
