fozzy live

The evening kicked off with some pretty pleasing punishment from Death Valley Piledriver. The Peterborough-based quintet seem intent on making a big name for themselves and are picking up a lot of friends along the way with their intense take on Pantera / Lamb of God style groove metal. Big riffs, big hooks and potentially, a big future.

On the evidence of this set, the same can’t really be said for Londoners Symphony Cult.  The earnest attempts at melding Lacuna Coil and Skunk Anansie fall flat and the likelihood is that Symphony Cult will find themselves propping up the bargain bins alongside McQueen. The total lack of interest from most sections of the crowd probably says it all.

No chance of any such middle of the road mediocrity from Chris Jericho and his Fozzy pals. Whereas previously the band has been seen as somewhat of a light-hearted side project for the wrestling superstar, Fozzy is now starting to look and sound like a real band capable of mixing it with the best of them.

Unsurprisingly, given his experience of ringside rabble-rousing, Jericho is a confident, larger than life frontman, leading his troops into battle with the brash opening trio of Under Blackened Skies, Martyr No More and Grail.

Perhaps the most impressive thing though is that this is much more than the Chris Jericho show. The rhythm section of Frank Fontsere (Drums) and Sean Delson (Bass) is absolutely rock solid, allowing the in-your-face guitars of Billy Grey and Rich Ward to trade licks, riffs and solos to spectacular effect.

Highlights come thick and fast, the main set flying past in no time before it wraps up with a frantic Let the Madness Begin and a ferocious Freewheel Burning, leaving little doubt that the Fozzy of 2010 is much more than the gimmick it may have been seen as not so long ago.

Word is that Fozzy will be playing some selected European festivals in 2011. If you missed them on this tour, don’t make the same mistake next time.

by Marcus Jervis