This was a booming, wall-vibrating night of Doom Metal at a sold-out Asylum in Birmingham and a perfect way to spend a Sunday Evening, in the company of Crowbar, Voidlurker and Tumanduumband.
Crowbar – Voidlurker – Tumanduumband
The Asylum, Birmingham – 2 April 2023
Words and Photography: Andy Shaw
Crowbar
Crowbar, the legendary American Sludge Metal band formed in New Orleans, were back in the UK following a support slot with Sepultura last November. It was great to see them back over here, and tonight their set was a celebration of old and new.
Kicking off with Self Inflicted and High Rate Extinction from their self-titled album, which is now 30 years old. The sound is loud, the crowd loves it, and the walls are literally vibrating. Next is I Feel The Burning Sun, and frontman Kirk Windstein is in imperious form with his brilliant vocals and amazing stage presence.
Then the first of three new songs from Zero And Below in Chemical Godz, then back to the Crowbar album with Fixation and Existence Is Punishment.
The rest of the band, drummer Tommy Buckley, lead guitarist Matt Brunson and bassist Shane Wesley, create an awesome sound that the sold-out crowd are moving and grooving along with. Another new one next, Bleeding From Every Hole, then back in time again for To Carry The Load and The Cemetery Angels.
“We are so glad to be back and can’t thank you all enough,” Windstein said to the crowd,” then another new one, It’s Always Worth the Gain. More from Crowbar next, All I Had (I Gave), the crowd loving it, then Planets Collide and Like Broken Glass.
The set finishes with No Quarter, a Led Zeppelin cover, and we stream out into the Birmingham air safe, knowing we have witnessed something rather special. A perfect way to spend a Sunday Evening
Voidlurker
Local band Voidlurker were second on tonight’s bill. Bringing their enticing brand of Sludge Doom Metal, they hit the stage loud and heavy, kicking off with Rotten Seed from their Industrial Nightmare EP. This perfectly sets the vibe for their set.
Frontman Brad Thomas, with vocals and guitar, gives it everything. His vocals are stunning, and he sinks to his knees during a section of the next song Green Ghost.
Andrew Rennie, bass and Mitch Bishop, drums, are a perfect foil for Thomas. The crowd are moshing and the sound is ear-splitting. Next up is SOB then into 2019 single Jeffery Doomer.
The intensity of the music remains, and they finish with Bitchcraft And Misery. A brilliant set from a band who are excellent purveyors of their chosen genre.
Tumanduumband
First up were Satanic Doom Duo and local band Tumanduumband. Before they started, drummer Luke Orchard reached into the crowd with his bowl of fake blood to anoint members of the audience with inverted crosses on their foreheads before taking his place behind the drums, and they started their intro.
First was Throne Of Grief, which set the stall for their set with booming bass from Scoot Cooper and Orchard’s thundering drums at the fore. The Asylum was already packed, and tonight’s crowd were in the Doom zone.
The stage, adorned with skulls and skeletons, complete with dark ambient lighting, gave the venue the perfect feel. Next was Dread Lord, followed by Black Ritual of The 25th Moon, keeping the reverberating music going.
The set ended with Each Birth, then A New Disaster. We will definitely be seeing these guys again. A brilliant set and a great start to the evening.