Crowbar will be remembered and listened to for many years to come

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

CROWBAR AT KK’S STEEL MILL, WOLVERHAMPTON
PHOTOCREDIT: **HARRY BRAZIER**

The night at KK Steel Mill erupted into life as Silverburn, the first of two opening acts took to the stage. With the first album of James ‘Jimbob’ Isaac’s career, Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation (2023), which he wrote and played all instruments himself. He was accompanied by two other musicians to deliver transcendental set. With psychedelic projections and heavy riffs, KK was roaring with anticipation for what was to come from Silverburn. A well constructed and powerful performance from them laid the path for the next band to take to the stage.

Legions Of Doom, an American doom metal supergroup formed in 2022, consists of a range of well established bands such as Trouble, Saint Vitus and Corrosion of Conformity. With this knowledge of the legends who had just taken to the stage, the crowd was ready and roaring for an exceptional performance. And Legions Of Doom delivered. The set (which the lead vocalist, Karl Agell, announced) was being recorded for a live album to be released at a later date was electrifying, with hypnotic slow, heavy, droning riffs. Some classic brain-soothing doom metal was in demand and Legions Of Doom supplied. They left the crowd full of adrenaline for the moment they’d waited all night to see.

And with no introduction needed, Crowbar took to the stage. The band formed in 1990 in New Orleans, with a mixed sound of Doom Metal with the aggression of hardcore punk, and helped pioneer the ‘sludge metal’ movement, currently lead by Kirk Windstein (the last original member). With 12 studio albums under their belt they had an array of material to pick from, including some of their most well known songs: REPULSIVE IN ITS SPLENDID BEAUTY, Embracing Emptiness, Planets Collide and All I Had (I Gave). A band such as Crowbar have no need to prove their talent on stage, as it comes like second nature to these metal heads.

The slow-moving dark lighting matched the performance perfectly, creating an incredible ambiance. Crowbar gigs are the best gigs, with violent music yet a positive vibe. Kirk also expressed many thanks to everyone that had come to the show multiple times through the set. Even in the mosh pits (which took some time to pick up), everyone was there to have a brilliant time, celebrating the legacy of such an incredible band. Crowbar with their prestigious body of work are a well recognised name in the metal community, bringing the same energy and droning sound they gave in the 90’s. An extremely influential band to many and a band that thousands hold close to their heart. With a firm place in the metal hall of fame, Crowbar will be remembered and listened to for many years to come.