With Yngwie Malmsteen playing Dublin for the first time in twenty years, and celebrating four decades as a solo artist, the task of building the atmosphere in The Button Factory was presented to Spirit War, whose early days were as a covers band and the always impressive Andry.
Andry – Spirit War
The Button Factory, Dublin – 31 July 2025.
Words: Brian Boyle
Photography: Mark Stewart
Spirit War
I must admit, when the stage times were released for this gig, I felt massively sorry for French trio Spirit War. With 7 pm doors and a 7.15 pm stage time, Tumbling Weed was coming to mind.
But as they were first on the bill as support to Yngwie Malmsteen, a very lengthy queue had formed from early, with punters keen to get the closest vantage point possible to the Swedish guitar hero.
So by the time Spirit War appeared on the gear-cluttered stage, there was well over half capacity on the floor. With just a mere half an hour, and probably no soundcheck, these boys let nothing stand in their way and completely ripped it up in their allotted time.
Although they were only formed four years ago, they performed like they had been together for years. A mixture of youth and experience, they are led by bassist and vocalist Markus Fortunato, the elder statesman of the band, with the look of a well-travelled Heavy Metal road warrior.
In fact, he is not unlike a classic-looking Lou Gramm, but only after being through a few harsh winters. They unleashed their brand of Classic Metal with Between Dusk And Dawn, and straight away they had the ever-increasing crowd watching intensely.
But with no time to hang about, they swiftly launched into So Cold, then rattled the foundations with Upcrawling. With a quick reference to Malmsteen, they set off again with On And On, featuring Fortunato and guitarist Nicolas Lebrat doing Scorpions-esque swaying, completely lapping up every second.
Speaking of Lebrat, this guy did not drop a gear once. He covered every available inch, darting back and forth with an Irish tricolour hanging out of him, skillfully avoiding breaking his neck.
By the time they wrapped up a rowdy Fight To Survive, everyone in the room was never going to forget who Spirit War were.
Fortunato looked a happy man, as happy as a dog with two willies in fact. A job well done.
Andry
At the risk of being burned at the stake by the woke brigade, I think it is fair to say that when the alluring Andry Lagiou took to the Dublin stage, in a goat horned devil mask and brandishing a whip, her bandmates were never really going to get much of a look in.
I jest of course, but her entrance was a genius idea, and cast an immediate spell over an intrigued audience.
With the floor entrance smack bang at stage right, watching the confused and giddy reaction of the late arrivers was comical, but understandable.
Of course, it had to be titled Mistress Of The Night, which means something different in these parts than what the Greek songstress was singing about. But this powerful opener had the desired effect anyway.
With the bar set very high after that explosive entrance, you could allow for a slight downward shift in momentum. Not a chance of it, Andry has big engulfing tunes in abundance. Now unmasked and sporting some rather spiffing LED gloves, slick modern Metal anthems like Skies, Black Hole and Good Trip To Hell truly showed her live quality. 
As much as you cannot ignore Andry herself, she is backed by a pretty damn fine band. And I will admit that keytars normally make me bring up my dinner. But whatever ivory tickler Fab Jablonski was doing with his, everything stayed down and was rather enjoyable.
Through all the high-octane mayhem, there was time for a good old power ballad. My Love did not entice anyone to raise their lighters or glow in the dark vapes, but plenty did hold aloft their phones to capture a fine performance. 
To say she went out with a bang is not doing her any justice. Saying her foot to the floor version of Deep Purple’s Burn could have cracked the glasses of the ten euro pints in Temple Bar would be more like it.
She came, she saw, and she conquered.
