The Razor's Edge - Gig of the Year 2024
In terms of live music 2024 has been up there as one of the best years for both quantity and quality. Here at The Razor's Edge our team have brought to you coverage of as many of those shows as possible. Trying to pass on in words and pictures what an experience those shows were.
Now we discuss our favourite shows of the year. Which show made each staff members top pick?
Cat Finch - Editor in Chief
Another great year for live music, but the one show that stands out above all is the opening night of Metallica's European tour in Munich. Not only was it the eve of my 50th birthday, and it was one of the best heavy bands on the planet, but mother nature decided to enhance the experience. As the last third of the set kicked in and the boys played through Fuel the heavens opened and the lightening started, by the time they reached Master of Puppets the storm hit its crescendo, as no doubt you have seen in the viral videos, it was a magical site. Its not often you get a backdrop like that to an already excellent show.
Tim Finch - Deputy Editor / Photographer
Theres been so many great shows this year I could have chosen from, from Metallica in munich, AC/DC at Wembley Stadium and Sepultura's farwell tour. But coming out on top is the performance of Clutch at Bloodstock. A show that moved me more than any other, with the Maryland outfit finally breaking their Bloodstock cherry. The band may have omitted some of their classics for the festival set, but nothing beats having a sing a long with Neil Fallon in the heat of an August afternoon.
Dan Barnes - Writer
Rules are meant to be broken, so my No Maiden directive has been set aside for this year and my Gig of 2024 is when Paul Di’Anno, wheelchair-bound, took to the stage at Blackpool’s Waterloo Music Bar in August. Okay, so Paul was suffering a few voice issues at the start of the set, but hearing the original voice on Sanctuary, Charlotte the Harlot and Wrathchild was a treat. Forgotten Maiden classics Murders in the Rue Morgue, Remember Tomorrow and Phantom of the Opera retain their power to raise the hairs on the back of the neck and Paul’s statement that he intended to be back in 2025, showcasing his solo material was enough to get the appetite whetted that The Beast was in fine form and looking to the future.
Alas, Paul passed away suddenly on 21 October, less than two months after the Waterloo show and the subsequent Stonedead performance, due to heart complications. Rest in Peace, Big Man.
Tom Atkin - Photographer
This was a definite challenge for me, I have never been to as many live shows in one year as I have this year, And all of them hold a place in my heart for various reasons. However, Korn, at Halifax Peace Hall takes the top spot. Korn was one of the first bands I saw live many moons ago, and this year I got to shoot them. On their 30th anniversary tour. Everything about those sentences still gives me warm fuzzy feelings inside. That aside, the show itself was absolutely incredible, all of their hits, performed flawlessly, the band gelling together in a way that I think has just gotten better with time, and the atmosphere was just spot on. The venue as well! It was a 6 hour drive for me to get there, but the venue is absolutely stunning, the sound in that place is spot on. Well deserved top spot for me!
Martin Hingley - Photographer
American Idiot played in full! I’ve been to a lot of gigs this year, but the chance to hear my all-time favourite album in its entirety was always going to be special.
Although the crowd around me were clearly only there for the big hits, Green Day’s performance was still incredible. It didn’t stop me from enjoying myself and finally getting to hear tracks that hadn’t been played live in nearly 20 years. As always, I left as a very happy fan, having experienced a slightly different Green Day show and getting to hear songs like Whatshername and Pulling Teeth performed live for the first time in what felt like forever.
Sam Jones - Writer
Live music is my drug; it’s what keeps me going when things are difficult or work is strenuous, but a good show reinvigorates me; a great show reminds one what it feels like to be alive. After scrolling through the numerous, numerous shows I’ve done this year the one that truly stands out for me is Frozen Soul’s headlining show at Rebellion, Manchester, all the way back on Valentine’s Day.
The Manchester community was out in force, and with a little up of Frozen Soul, Creeping Death, Foreseen and Disengagement (Phobophilic had to drop out), it became a night to remember fondly. All the support acts were great but Frozen Soul were absolutely on form that evening. Anyone wondering how they can go from being an opening support band for Dying Fetus just a year prior, to a headlining slot, was rapidly assured as to their prowess. Delivering crushing riffs, encouraging stagediving and crowd participation, riling up the ferocity and the pits breaking out, Frozen Soul annihilated the venue. By the time their set was done you felt breathless, for all the air had been removed from the place, turning a February evening into a sweatbox. When Frozen Soul return to the UK there’s no doh t tickets will fly out, now that their name is firmly established as one to be revered. There were other shows that came close, but Frozen Soul won. Absolutely.
Matt Noble - Writer
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
For all the bands I've seen live this year, it's hard to put King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's stop in Wolverhampton this May beneath a single one of them. A two-hour technicolour run of pure entertainment and musicianship, delivered with Aussie charm, completely set The Halls alight. The crowd fed back every drop of their energy and they attracted a true mix of concertgoers, owing to their diversity and versatility, but also their sense of fun and knack of writing killer songs that can be equally catchy and experimental.
They flitted between genres and styles throughout, but tied everything together with their identity of being top notch musicians and songcrafters. Of course they've got endless albums and you'd be hard pressed to know the whole setlist, but that's part of the fun. 18+ minutes of 'The Dripping Tap' was an early highlight, and the rock n' roll boogie of 'This Thing' turned the pit into a dancefloor. Ending on a few metal leaning numbers, particularly from PetroDragonic Apocalypse, really had them shake the venue to its foundations and raise the energy to beyond boiling point as means of ending the night on a high note. Truly memorable.
Patrick O'Reilly - Writer
More than just a slam metal fest this show provided so much more. From old school death, to death grind by way of slam this show had it all. Real quality bands playing quality tunes. With new giants of the genre Fulci showing their potential and true masters like Disavowed showing why they are so revered in the genre this fest will go down in my memory as one of the best.
Richard Oliver - Writer
Some shows just epitomise the spirit of heavy metal - dark, loud, sweaty and with an insane hungry crowd. This was that show which was the final set of Incineration Festival taking place in the cramped and crowded confines of The Black Heart. Bütcher were an absolute force of nature playing with severe amounts of intensity and passion with their over the top approach to speed metal ensuring that bodies and beers were flying everywhere. The temperature in the room was sweltering which only added to the intensity of the show but by the time that Bütcher left the stage, the crowd were staggering out of the venue drenched in sweat and bewildered after the crushing heavy metal might they had witnessed. It was exactly how a metal show should be and it was utterly glorious.
Julian Pepper - Writer
As I say every year, I have the privilege of seeing so many good bands live during the year. A bit like with the albums, I had to remind myself who I’d seen this year to assist with determining my favourite gig of 2024! Growing up as a thrasher in the 80’s I fell in love with Metallica and still regard them as my favourite band to this day. I spent a fantastic weekend in Warsaw with great mates where we saw them play 2 superbly memorable no repeat sets. I also caught great gigs from the likes of Slomatics, Green Lung and Gatecreeper, which were all excellent in their own way.
My gig/set of the year goes to Bongripper, who played Desertfest London back in May. This was the first time that I’d seen them live and was totally blown away by their crushingly heavy instrumental onslaught. Playing just 3 songs in an hour long set, this was a set that transfixed me with its hypnotically heavy sounds from the off. Culminating with the legendary “Worship” from their seminal “Satan Worshipping Doom” album, this was set that will live long in the memory!
Daniel Phipps - Writer
To Violently Vomit @ Offal Fest
So legally this band was billed as To Violently Vomit but if you ask me, if three members of Disgorge are present and they play a set entirely made up of Disgorge tracks it was Disgorge that graced the stage at Rebellion in Manchester in July. Diego Sanchez aka The Riff Wizard who jokingly said the band were saving “the easy songs for last” and the crew took the stage and provided a lesson in precision for the best part of 60 minutes.
Gareth Pugh - Writer
Cirith Ungol @ The Underworld, Camden
My gig of the year is an easy one, the last ever UK show for the legendary Cirith Ungol, at the Underworld Camden, admirably supported by Night Demon, with Jarvis Leatherby and Armand Anthony doing a double shift. It was a Monday evening in September and well worth the long journey from darkest Mid-Wales to the big smoke. Even with only two original members it was still an amazing show, and one of the best I have ever attended, up there with Faith No More at Edward’s No.8 and Dark Angel at the Wulfrun Hall. Robert Garven’s drumming was superb, and Tim Baker still sounds like a demented banshee. Just a wonderful evening.
Matthew Williams - Writer
I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some incredible gigs this year, seen many bands for the first time and pushed my own musical boundaries over the past 12 months. Such brilliant performances from Midnight, Clouds Taste Satanic, Minima Deutsch, Mr Bungle, Wet Cactus, Nails, Galliano and many more. However, the clear winner for me this year was when I stepped into Gorilla in Manchester on 12th July to watch Amigo the Devil. The performance was a masterclass in how to mesmerise an entire audience, from a man armed with a banjo and songs full of clever words, who had the crowd singing along with ease. We witnessed a genius at work, who gave us a night that we’ll never forget. He’s an American who gets irony, has verses full of humour and his storytelling ability is second to none. Those in the venue were captivated from the first to the last second as he has this wonderful ability to make people laugh and cry through his music. His songs are never far from my head, so to witness him live was a joyous moment of unadulterated brilliance and in Amigo’s immortal words… BINGO!
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