Millennium Of Blood - The Bear Tavern - Saturday 21st March 2009

Our best turnout yet had assembled to watch the five quality bands on what was potentially MoB's best line-up to date. This gig was also an early birthday knees up for Powerplay's Mr Ed and Red, and a belated bash for Bill and Hayley – hardly surprising then that there was a party atmosphere throughout. The theft of articles from the soundman's van put more than a dampener on the early part of the evening, but returning to the music the first band on were....

Adust. Having secured a deal earlier in the week, it was a pleasure to have Adust play their second gig as a signed band. They also became the first band to play MoB twice having headlined Pink's birthday bash in September. They played a familiar set and delivered it with customary finesse. Methinks their label have a good signing on their hands as Adust combine ferocity and melody with considerable ease. Entertaining as ever, a fine way to start the evening, let's hope their new EP is released soon. Set list; “Enmity”, “Fall Of Man”, “The Evil That Dells Within”, “Prinzessin”, Forevermore”.

Adrenaline were also welcomed back having headlined in October. Their set featured songs exclusively from their recent album and was as solid as a rock. Bassist Spike, in addition to his sterling work on his five string, also provided backing vocals, and a good job he did too. What's most unusual about Adrenaline is the way their songs bounce and have an underlying groove, a rarity in a band this extreme (lurking somewhere between metalcore and hardcore). Set list; “Playing The Role Of God”, “The Bereaved”, “Smile”, “While You Sleep”, “Kill It For Me”, “Relentless”, “Sins Of A Thousand”, “Inertia”.

Hospital Of Death co-headlined my birthday bash in December and attacked their set in trademark madcap fashion. The grin factor went through the roof as their precision thrash was unleashed. They've been in the studio recently working on their second album and two new tracks were aired tonight, both of which sat comfortably and sounded like old classics. Stunning musicianship capped with a typically witty frontman's performance from Rev D made this another highly enjoyable display. Set list; “I Am A Tiger”, “Enter Titanus”, “Eyezerbeams Of Osiris”, “Kicked To The Kerb”, “Death Shed”, “Let's Go Apeshit”, “White The Lightning”.

Voodoo Johnson were MoB's first new-comers and hopefully they'll return soon. Classic rock is a little simplistic to adequately describe what they do, but they oozed class throughout and stuck to originals dropping the usual cover or two. Great songwriting, quality musicianship, powerful vocals, what more can I say? They just keep getting better live and played a blinder. Red and Mr Ed took to the stage midway through (somewhat against their will!) to accept signed posters and birthday greetings – guess that's a couple of months worth of emo to review for the mag then?! Another cracking display. Set list; “Stalker”, “Bad Habit”, “Nowhere Inbetween”, “The Art Of Losin'”, “Another White Lie”, “Inhale”, “Non Believers”, “The Longest Day I Ever Wasted”, “Blow Me (Away)”, “Dirty Angel”.

Kik are in the studio at the moment recording the follow-up to “Rock Scar” and their electronica was a vast difference from anything that had preceded them, either tonight or indeed previous MoB's. The lighting had been getting progressively more intricate as the night progressed, and Kik got the works with LED lights and lasers to go with the smoke machines, so visually they were more than entertaining as they've always had good stage presence. Sound issues blighted their set (more later) but they carried on as best they could. Set list; “Sweet Ambition”, “Twisted Face”, “Define My Love”, “Amphetamine”, “Fall In Love”, “Crack Whore Barbi”, “Gimme The Word, “I'm Outta Love”, “Ecstasy”, “Sting”.

So cracking gig then? Five bands, all more than capable, played their hearts out to a reasonably full room. And an early birthday party too. Well it should have been apart from sound issues which dogged the evening. Only Adrenaline and Voodoo Johnson managed complete sets without sound problems. Feedback at times was at a similar level to a Hendrix gig (judging by archive footage), Kik suffered the most regrettably. To their credit they soldiered on, but the sound they got was nothing short of unworkable. Pity, because it took the edge off an entertaining evening.

As ever here comes the thanks list! Firstly the bands who all played excellent sets. To everyone who helped lugging the PA in and out our heartfelt (and backfelt!) thanks. Despite my criticisms about the sound, Stu and Paul worked their sphericals off, and their “show must go on” attitude after the theft was more than commendable. To the Powerplayers; Allan and Faye, nice to meet you, Mr Ed and Red, happy birthday! Hope you all had fun. To our ever loyal supporters thank you for making this the fullest MoB to date and hope to see a good percentage of you when we return in September. Last but not least the “gig widow” Pink for everything before and during the gig (the latter mainly involved being on the door or phoning the boys in blue unfortunately).

It only remains for me to say thank you once more to everyone, collectively, for their support, and look forward to partying with you all later in the year.