After hammering their name into the UK further supporting Kamelot earlier in the year, Firewind return to London for a headlining show in support of The Premonition album with another power metal band making waves in the UK: Kiuas.

Opening were UK hard rockers Dear Superstar. Having to win over the entire congregation, they played traditional hard rock with, unusually, metalcore accents. Indeed one entire number was completely metalcore. Whilst an odd choice for a power metal concert, Dear Superstar did manage to keep the audience conscious with active crowd interaction and a libation of port wine.

Kiuas’ ovation began before the entire lineup was on the stage. Commencing action with ‘The Decaying Doctrine’ from their newest output, The New Dark Age, the audience were instantly rallied up through a frenzied Finnish power metal performance. Reawakening well-known numbers such as ‘Warrior Soul’ and ‘Across The Snows’, the band were on optimum form even with a stand-in keyboard player humbly providing the adequate soundscapes comfortably Closing with ‘The Spirit Of Ukko’ again from their debut album with the same name, the band left the audience roaring and begging for more.

Firewind’s introduction was rather dramatic, leading into ‘Into The Fire’ from their latest full-length album. With Gus G.’s impressive guitar dexterity and Bob Katsionis handling his keyboard and guitar simultaneously, the show was one to watch attentively. Frontman Apollo Papathanasio’s vocals were on prime form and managing the earlier Firewind material he did not record on was of no issue to him; ‘Kill To Live’ sounded as pristine as the original. The setlist was predominantly constructed of songs from The Premontion, such as ‘Angels Forgive Me’, ‘Head Up High’ and ‘My Loneliness’. The striking ‘Allegiance’ and emotive ‘Falling To Pieces’ were squeezed into the encore alongside the new ‘Maniac’, with the audience singing jovially into the night. This was certainly an enjoyable power metal show of a memorable magnitude.

Reviewed by Elena Francis

Photography by Nick Pope