KK’s Steelmill – 19/05/22
Another trip down to Wolverhampton and to my favourite venue, KK’s Steel Mill, for a band that I was really excited about seeing; Finland’s Von Hertzen Brothers. They were sure to delight and on a personal level, I was really looking forward to finally seeing them, because despite being a fan, I’ve never seen them live. I’ve even been at the same festival as them and for some reasons or other, missed their festival set, not just once, but twice!
After a solid support set from Ethyrfield the headliners took to the stage. Opening with ‘Day of Reckoning’ from the bands latest album ‘Red Alert in the Blue Forest’ the band launched into a stunning set. A few sound issues had the first couple of songs sounding a bit tinny and very much lacking in bass, but by the end of the second song ‘Blue Forest’ I’m pleased to say the sound was sorted and that huge sound that we associate with the VHB was realised.
What followed was a real sonic treat. The sound was absolutely massive. ‘Jerusalem’ from 2017’s ‘War is Over’ followed and by now the sound was filling the Steelmill. Absolutely awesome. ‘Long Lost Sailor’ follows and is definitely a show highlight. Those opening harmonies were magical. The energy onstage and within the crowd is magnificent, a truly electric moment.
The band were already firing on full cylinders and we were only four songs in and they didn’t take their foot off the gas for the rest of the night! We’re back to the new album for the next song ‘All of a Sudden, You’re Gone’ before heading back to 2015’s New Day Rising album, ‘You Don’t Know My Name’ – a real fan favourite and truly humongous sound.
It wasn’t all pelting along at 100 mph though, I have to mention ‘The Promise’, an acoustic folk spectacular. Again spine chilling harmonies and a thunderous percussive back beat and a build up toward the end which will make any hard rock fan quiver in their boots! Definitely another show highlight! The crowd absolutely loved it.
‘Northern Lights’ was also mind bogglingly good! Beginning with an electronic, ethereal synth and some nice ‘mood lighting’, the band slowly built the song up adding more and more elements as it progressed. Perfect vocals, a real dreamy guitar sound and insane drumming. This song had echoes of Floyd with a dashing of Muse maybe, but maintained its own truly unique sound. An absolutely magical moment.
The show drew to a close, the penultimate song was ‘Coming Home’ with the band declaring the UK and more importantly Wolverhampton in the midlands was where our great music, rock and metal, came from! A furious rendition saw the crowd leaping in adoration and then the finale song well and truly blew away.
As if to demonstrate the bands confidence with their new album, they closed with ‘Peace Patrol’. What can I say? A ten minute epic that had me well and truly consumed by the music, it almost took me to a different place, it was sonic perfection. I was on my own with this glorious music washing over me in another dimension, something I’ve never experienced at a gig before – and no, I hadn’t taken anything, the music was just that good!
As the band took their final bows and invited Ethyrfield to the stage, I was still in a daze and completely in awe. What had I just witnessed? An amazing, truly epic, two hour set from a band that should be filling stadiums. The set was very ‘new album heavy’, but that didn’t matter; the new stuff went down just as well with the fans as the older stuff did. To put this band in a box and say they are ‘this genre’ or ‘that kind of band’ is simply impossible. They can not be labelled and to understand that, you must see them. The Von Hertzen Brothers are quite possibly the best band you’ve never heard of, listen to them, see them play live and you’ll understand! This gig was a real treat and one that I’ll remember for a long time!
