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A cardboard cutout of Tom Jones; a stage-invading, sax-playing goblin (at one point, complete with a long blue-haired wig); a large superhero-style prop hammer; songs about unicorns; punters wearing unicorn headwear; copious shouts of “HOOTS” at every possible opportunity…all this can only mean one thing: Gloryhammer are back in town.
Hailing from Harwich, England, opening act Fellowship are a great fit for this tour. Lord of The Rings-meets-Dungeons and Dragons-inspired fantasy metal, there is very much a Twilight Force-feel to Fellowship’s brand of power metal. Fast guitars, galloping drums, and tales of adventure and brotherhood. Great fun, and infectious, Fellowship are an ideal choice to get the party started.
The discovery of the evening are main support, German Zombie metallers Dominum. A band still very much in its infancy.
Led by Dr. Dead, aka hugely experienced producer and songwriter Felix Heldt, (Visions of Atlantis, dArtagnan, Feuerschwanz), Dominum are a revelation. Heldt/Dr. Dead has co-written some bangers with the bands previously mentioned and with Dominum he has finally set out on his own into the murky waters of metal. With Patient Zero (bass), Victor Hilltop (drums), and Tommy Kemp (guitars) alongside him, the good Doctor (dressed like a cross between a Victorian-era undertaker, and Count Orlok – and the only bandmember not to wear a mask) unravels a 40-minute set that flies past in a blur of hook-laden, instantly memorable material that has the audience jumping from the off.
Taking to the stage with the assistance of a walking cane in a dramatic, theatrical fashion, Dr. Dead stands still centre stage as his Zombies join him one at a time and launch into the fist-pumping opening track ‘Immortalis Dominum’. Heldt’s prowess as a songwriter is immediate. Within the first few moments, fans perhaps hearing Dominum for the first time are investing their attention in what is unfolding onstage (‘Danger Danger’ is especially well received).
As the set progresses, the common ingredient is hooks. ‘Frankenstein’, the immense ‘Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones’, and ‘We All Taste the Same’ might be new to most, but the ease with which they are easy to singalong with makes them familiar. On the latter, Dr. Dead makes a good point when he points out that regardless of race, gender, age, personal beliefs, etc, we all do indeed taste the same and are “…simple people just shouting at each other…”.
‘Killed by Life’ has a Celtic-jig touch to it, so that was always going to go down well, ditto the rollicking cover of ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’ that also features on the new album ‘The Dead Don’t Die’. Once the set ends the only thing left to do is head to the merch desk and splash the cash. And then ponder the prospect of a Feuerschwanz/Dominum tour around Feuerschwanz’s UK debut at Bloodstock Festival this August. Make it happen Napalm Records. Please, make it happen.
With the familiar intro of Tom Jones’s ‘Delilah’ still serving as the warning to secure all shit in the overhead lockers, the spaceship Gloryhammer is ready for boarding with the final destination being the Kingdom of Fife. The cardboard cut-out of Tom though, has seen better days and it might be time to trade it in for a newer model.
A Gloryhammer crowd are onboard from the off. Hell, they are onboard from the minute that they step into the venue, and cries of “HOOTS” are heard everywhere, from the stairs leading into the venue to the merch desk, to the toilets: you cannot escape “HOOTS”. It’s no surprise then that the place erupts when the band takes to the stage and opens with ‘Holy Flaming Hammer of Unholy Cosmic Frost’. The first circle pit of the evening is whipped up and there are a few moments when bodies go down, but thankfully pit etiquette is followed and they are picked up. Unharmed and unbowed, they head straight back into the pit which happens to feature someone air drumming.
With the cloaked Michael Barber (Zargothrax) recently switching from keyboards to guitar, Gloryhammer 2025 are an altogether heavier prospect than the keys-tinged band of previous tours, and with Barber alongside fellow guitarist Paul Templing, it’s more of a guitar-orientated proposition, especially evident on moments such as the gonzo version of ‘Fife Eternal’ (which includes a visit from that pesky Goblin). That same pesky Goblin also makes appearances throughout the evening; even going as far as pulling out a saxophone for ‘Wasteland Warrior Hoots Patrol’ and scrapping with vocalist Sozos Michael on a gloriously OTT version of ‘Gloryhammer’.
Sozos Michael had some big shoes to fill when he replaced outgoing vocalist Thomas Winkler a few years back, and he has grown into them in fine style. He plays the part of Angus McFife perfectly and while his ability to ham it up with the best of them is impressive, it is his vocal capabilities that are especially noteworthy. Ear-piercing high vocals that can cut glass, he makes it look simple and always seems to have more left in the tank if needed. His stage presence has also grown considerably and looks at home in front of the throng of Gloryhammer fans massed in front of him.
It’s a fun show with no let-up. No dip in pace (thanks to the stellar work from Ben Turk behind the drum kit), and filled with highlights; ‘Questlords of Inverness, Ride to the Galactic Fortress!’ bringing forth only one punter from Inverness; the Hootsman himself James Cartwright downing a pint as a salute to the crowd and then chucking the glass (plastic, of course) into the crowd; ‘Masters of the Galaxy’ has the pit sitting down and rowing the longboat; the brakes coming off on ‘Keeper of the Celestial Flame of Abernethy’ as the band floors it; and the huge bouncability vibe of ‘Universe on Fire’ is hard to beat – but ‘Hootsforce’ manages to do just that.
Metal always has been at risk of taking itself too seriously; no fear of that tonight. The ‘No Sleep ‘Til Auchtertool’ tour is heavy on silly, fun-filled fantasy with tongue firmly in cheek, one of those “…disengage brain…” moments and prepare to smile and laugh constantly.
All live images – Dave Jamieson
