Beast In Black – Firewind / A tremendous show of pure escapism

It was a packed and sweaty night at the O2 Academy 2, Birmingham, for a sold-out night of Power Metal where Beast In Black and Gus G’s Firewind were approaching the halfway point of their 44-date European tour. The bands hit Manchester tonight, then Glasgow and Dublin, before a ride around mainland Europe finishing with two dates in Greece, the homeland of Gus G and Yannis Papadopoulos.

Beast In Black – Firewind

O2 Institute 2, Birmingham – 21 February 2023

Words and Photography: Andy Shaw

Firewind

First up were Firewind, a Greek Power Metal band. Originally created as a vehicle for Gus G, they are celebrating their 25th year and have nine albums and a wealth of experience behind them. Gus G, the former Ozzy guitarist, played some dates in Greece in December with a Paul Di’Anno, a man on his road to recovery.

Firewinds set was a mix of old and new, kicking off Welcome To The Empire and straightaway, they were into their stride. Singer Herbie Langhans is your archetypal frontman with a brilliant voice.

Next were a trio of older songs, Head Up High, Destination Forever and The Fire And The Fury, followed by Ode To Leonidas, then a brand new song Destiny Is Calling.

Many of the songs were interspersed with the amazing guitar virtuosity of Gus G. He was in sparkling form, and his playing was a real highlight of the night.

Finishing the set with the first single from their latest album Firewind, Rising Fire, and a cover version of the Michael Sembello song, Maniac, this was a brilliant set and the perfect way to start the evening.

Beast In Black

Intro music blasted out, and a packed Institute2 was ready for action and a night of pure enjoyment. The stage set was a futuristic one, and the band came on playing Blade Runner from Dark Connection.

Frontman Yannis Papadopoulos entered as if he had strolled off the set of The Matrix, bald head and a long black coat and a voice with such a dynamic range. At the end of the first song, Yannis said, “Hello Birmingham, we are back, and we are Beast In Black.”

The band galloped through Eternal Fire and straight into Die By The Blade. He then asked, “Birmingham, you going to sing with us?” Revengeance Machine, from their latest album Dark Connection, followed. The crowd loved it and were singing along to every word of every song.

Guitarists Kasperi Heikkinen and Anton Kabanen and bassist Mate Molnar were constantly changing positions and took part in choreographed Kiss Style guitar swoops and loads of interaction with the crowd.

Crazy, Mad, Insane was next, and a man appeared in a white lab coat wearing a mask playing a small portable keyboard to accompany them. Yannis stated after this, “You have passed the Crazy Mad Insane test with Beast in Black.”

Sweet True Lies was next, followed by To The Last Drop of Blood. Before the next song, Oceandeep, Papadopoulos asked, “we are going to need your help as we tone the lights down, but need your lights.” The crowd duly obliged, and a sea of phone lights appeared, waving and lighting the room. The band played a beautiful version of Oceandeep, then into Beast In Black, followed by a new song, Hardcore.

The band loved it as much as the crowd. The set finished with Born Again and Blind And Frozen. They soon came back for a blockbusting encore of Cry Out for a Hero, One Night In Tokyo and End of the World.

What a brilliant night of Power Metal. There must be something in the Scandinavian waters because Beast In Black really do know how to put on a show of pure escapism.