Butcher Babies embarked and a UK tour in support of their new album “Lilith” which started in Nottingham and ended in the long standing live music venue The Dome, London on Sunday 4th March 2018. With Krogr and Eyes Set To Kill providing support- be prepared for an unforgettable night of music that embodies danger, sensuality and power, and seething aggression!
Tonight’s opener hailing from Italy- Krogr played to a small crowd. They offered a mix of hard rock and full force riffs. Short bursts of crowd interaction woke the place up here and there. Their last song excited a few moshers while most was reserved and showed more interest in the bar. For those engaged in the music appreciated the 30 minute set. They are definitely a band to look out for in the future.
Next to hit the stage was Eyes Set To Kill who immediately had the crowd gripped as they powered through a stunning cover of “Zombie” (The Cranberries). Lead vocalist Alexia Rodriguez was inaudible as the crowd took on vocal duties. Despite a few technical difficulties their hard rock sound infected the crowd. Rodriguez’ stage presence reminded me of Joan Jett with her soaring vocals and impeccable guitar skills. They delivered a fresh, exciting and intense set with death metal vocals provided by guitarist AJ Bartholomew. The crowd was certainly pumped for the mayhem and chaos that was to follow.
All hell broke loose when heavy metal Butcher Babies stormed the stage with set opener “Lilith.” I was captivated by the beauty and shocked by the aggression they oozed that I didn’t realise I was stood bang in the middle of an open mosh pit, ready to erupt! Their stage presence was unrivaled. Vocalists Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey worked the crowd into a frenzy and never broke momentum as Shepherd screamed “we’re here to f*** s*** up!” and in between downing Jager shots for “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers”. They slaughtered the Dome with brutal stage action of constant head banging and wind milling while crazed fans jumped with fists punching the air. Even with Shepherd’s sore throat, the front women bounced between clean vocals and screaming effortlessly. These guys put on an invigorating, tight set full of old fan favourite “Axe Wound” and new tracks “Korova” and “Headspin” which went down like classics. Technical guitarist Henry Flury is worth a mention as he strummed his 8-string Ibanez into another world. The songs translated well live.
Overall, Butcher Babies delivered a destructive stage performance, and the aggression together with the talent and cheeky behavior made it unforgettable as Shepherd alerted security as she climbed fixtures, or a crowd surfer being ejected for invading the stage countless times. The venue was on the larger side which killed the atmosphere the bands had created. Lighting was terrible and the sound bludgeoned your aural receptors, however the show was well executed, full of crushing riffs and rhythm. Support provided by Krogr is well on its way to establishing their name in their own right and Eyes Set To Kill pulled in a decent crowd with forceful riffs and soaring vocals which proved to be a crowd pleaser. The Lilith Tour continues across Europe this month, so catch them in a city near your!