Live Review: Heavy Metal Assault Tour – Academy 3, Manchester
16th February 2024
Featuring: Girlschool, Alcatrazz, Raven
Words: Sam Jones
Photos: Julian Tanner
Alcatrazz is one of those bands where most of the lineup consists of newer members, alongside one or two original members; in this instance the newer generation members bring a great vibe to Alcatrazz as they instantly bring the power to the audience tonight. While Airforce did well to open up the evening, it’s Alcatrazz that personally got me really going as I found myself more on board with their performance. But we cannot forget the older members of Alcatrazz who bring as much effort as their younger counterparts surprising myself with how well they yet play at their ages.
Frontman Doogie White effortlessly commands the audience and ensures we’re engaged right through the full set; listening to him perform you wouldn’t think he’s in his early 60s, it’s no wonder he was considered as Bruce Dickinson’s potential replacement in the mid 90s for Iron Maiden before Wolfsbane’s Blaze Bayley achieved the position. While Alcatrazz do play a more shred-friendly variation of NWOBHM than the rest on the bill, there’s an undeniable friendliness to their aesthetic and a fun that cannot be denied. They even pull two women from the crowd to help in performing the main title of “Don’t Get Mad (Get Even)” which is a lot of fun and another way of keeping the crowd engaged.
Raven are real underdogs of the NWOBHM movement, having made success in the style’s heyday yet, even afterwards, Raven have enjoyed an increasing popularity as they keep going and enduring, bringing their sound well into the twenty-first century. Arguably one of the two bands most people were ecstatic to see announced, Raven easily have as much energy as the last two acts put together which is no small feat considering the brothers John and Mark Gallagher are each in their mid 60s, and yet they’re all over the stage.
This isn’t some older band that chooses to remain rooted to the spot they occupy on stage; John is constantly engaging the audience with his vocals and you easily believe his love for the music they play whilst Mark is playing more ferociously and wildly than people three times as young as he is. From left to right and right to left, Mark Gallagher is giving a hundred precent of his energy to his playing and it’s only complement just as much when John throws us some astonishing high notes, even at his age. But we’d be remiss to forget drummer Mike Heller whose energy is brought to the drums in spades; the passion he brings to his performance complements the brothers’ with ease as he ensures the pace is not only easily maintained but the additional energy is provided to round out Raven’s soundscape. Raven leave the stage amid of flurry of applause, they were sensational.
Girlschool, one of the oldest running all-female hard rock/heavy metal bands of all time, are the last to grace the stage. Girlschool however are a little more reserved than Raven though while the band aren’t as sporadic in their movements and keep things a little more straightforward, the ladies certainly possess a charisma and personality that’s rather infectious and you can’t help but throw out a cheesy smile as they play many of their oldest pieces, particularly from their debut Demolition record.
There’s plenty of banter thrown back and forth between band and crowd as the ladies help give the last set of the night a real party atmosphere and everyone is invited. It may be nearing the end of the evening but it’s actually refreshing to have a band not as intense as some of their predecessors. Joe Stump, of Alcatrazz, even comes on stage joining in on guitar for “Are You Ready?” as Girlschool close out the night with one last performance.
All in all, it was a stellar night as it’s not often you get a single show with so many older bands of the NWOBHM style and it’s a great opportunity to tick off a few bands you may not have done so beforehand. I left deeply satisfied and, if anything, it showcased how metal has no expiry date. It has no age limit, especially considering the multitudes of older attendees in the crowd as well.
Photo credits: Julian Tanner
