With their new album Everest out on 8 August 2025 and a headline UK Arena Tour in November, Halestorm look set for an exciting 2025. Along with The Raven Age, they stormed Malahide Castle in Dublin, providing the perfect setting for the mighty Iron Maiden.
Halestorm – The Raven Age
Malahide Castle, Dublin – 25 June 2025
Words: Brian Boyle
Photography: Steve Ritchie
Although they don’t fall into the Metal category, Pennsylvania’s Halestorm certainly won over a few sceptics tonight and were cracking value for their undercard bout.
Though no strangers to these shores over the years, their debut Dublin appearance at The Academy a decade ago to 800 punters is a world away from the scale of proceedings tonight.
But a big baying audience feeds this band’s soul, and a cloaked and thigh-high booted Lzzy Hale and her mob went for the throat straight away with a crowd-winning Fallen Star.
Putting it mildly, Hale has an extraordinary stage presence. She chews clean through to the bones of every song like it’s her last. I Miss The Misery, Love Bites (So Do I) and WATCH OUT were peppered out like a seek-and-destroy mission.
Their mesmeric talent bravely allowed them to road-test new material, with the stirring Everest sticking its chest out the most.
Whether she is playing a mini keyboard resting on a Marshall amplifier or tearing the guts out of her Gibson Explorerbird, she is always a rock goddess personified.
At times, it did not feel like you were part of a close-to-capacity crowd, as her knack for making you feel like you are her only care is remarkable.
The empowering I Get Off was a bona fide hair raiser and brought everyone into her world. As did Familiar Taste Of Poison and Rain Your Blood On Me, which were both deeply soul-searching and fine examples of her reach.
Behind her, little brother Arejay was not letting big sis take all the glory. The man was a colossus all night, and his madcap drum solo featuring oversized sticks only added to his impressive shift.
Iron Maiden do not always go for like-for-like support acts, as seen with the likes of Shinedown and Voltbeat.
And judging by a hefty reception following Freak Like Me, it is safe to say Halestorm’s appointment was a shrewd one.
The Raven Age
Supporting Iron Maiden at major venues is now second nature to The Raven Age, so a potential 20,000 at Malahide Castle should be a walk in the park for the slick Londoners.
But being the opening act with a 6pm start on a three-band bill and with throngs of thirsty headbangers drinking Malahide dry, there was far from that number in attendance when they launched into their set.
That said, their big brand of Melodic Metal is well suited to a sprawling space. One of the highlights was Hangman, which was received exceptionally well, even if the vast majority in attendance were The Raven Age virgins.
In frontman Matt James, they really have something special. His brash and overt stage presence does try to reach everyone, and his frequent calls of “make some fuckin noise Dublin,” did not go unnoticed. 
Visually, all donned in black, The Raven Age look impeccable. The stern-faced George Harris did not crack a smile once, instead keeping a mean Metal stare the whole set and ripping up a rhythmic storm.
By his side, the innocent-looking Matt Cox does not look like he would say boo to a goose, but his chilling Metal growl blows that perception clean out the window.
Star of the set undoubtedly goes to lead axeman Tommy Gentry, whose melodic tones kept a largely novice gathering gripped for 45 engaging minutes. 
How high up the ladder The Raven Age get is anyone’s guess, but on this evidence, they deserve to be looking way down.
