Cambridge’s Melbourn Rock Club, September 27, 25.

Carol Henson, also known as Lady Gigger, took all of the pictures, and Dave Martin wrote the review.

Rhabstallion/ Sacrilege/ Lord Volture

Back to this wonderful venue, the Melbourn Rock Club for three bands tonight, and a little bit of nostalgia.

Two of them go back to the bygone days of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal during the 1980’s, but first a band from the Netherlands who, although they were established in the early 2000s, play classic heavy metal in the style of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden etc.

Lord Voltureare a five-piece band with David Marcelis lead vocals, two guitarists: Davids’s brother Paul Marcelis and Dennis Moree, and the powerful rhythm section of Simon Guerts on bass guitar and drummer Eric Verheij.

David has a great stage presence and a powerful voice to match; he is definitely heavily influenced by Rob Halford of Priest and has an ear-piercing scream.

Their first song Coming of the Storm displayed some impressive guitar work from Paul; Wendigohad some machine gun drumming – Eric was bashing the holy hell out on those skins.

David quickly interacted with the audience asking them to step closer to the stage. Minutes to Madness was a slower number with a nice hand clapping beat.

The next song had an interesting topic about an extremely cold desert that exists in North Western China. Taklamakan, the name “Taklamakan,” is possibly from the Uyghur language, meaning “you can go in, but you can’t get out,” or some say it’s Turkish for “land of ruins.” It featured that incredible scream from David and some beautiful harmonics from the two axemen.

David had a hard job getting the audience to participate and on Line ‘Em Up he was determined to win them over, so he asked if everyone was shy and he wanted to hear some roars from them so on the chorus he had most of the crowd shouting out Line em up line em up.

His perseverance won in the end and he deserves big props for that.

This band really impressed me with their musicianship, five guys up there who I can see in the not-too-distant future playing arenas and big festivals.

Set List

The Coming of the Storm, Where the Enemy Sleep, Wendigo, Minutes to Madness, Taklamakan, My Sworn Enemy, Will to Power, Taiga , Omerta, The wolf at your Door, Line Em Up, Hearts of Steel.

Links: Website: http://www.lordvolture.com/news.php;

Bandcamp: https://lordvolture.bandcamp.com/album/live-em-up;

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LordVolture/;

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordvolture;

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lordvolture;

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26pfA4EBDwyQ6f8qxNgRCg?si=NdkRTdxaQS6ZOAtv5VyZ3A&nd=1&dlsi=49f3e363f2d141c9;

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PYFHfSFob_i9lJv8Mb0NA

The first of the Nwobhm bands of the 80’s were next, Bill Beadle’s Sacrilege.

It had been eight years since we last saw Bill and his band at a festival in Northampton and it was so great to meet up again after all that time.

Bill and the band came along just at the tail end of the Nwobhm scene in 1982 and were active as a band for about five years or so but like so many of the groups then never really made it big.

Bill revived Sacrilege in 2007 with different musicians, recording newer versions of Sacrilege songs and then started to perform live again in 2012.

Since then, he has been writing and playing new material and is even more committed to keeping the Sacrilege sound and name going strong.

He is no stranger to the Melbourn Club and was happy to be playing here again.

With their riff-laden tunes and that unmistakeable 80’s sound I, like so many others, were really looking forward to this set.

It was also good to see Jeff Rolland, their bassist from that time eight years ago.

Beginning their set with the classic Cry of the Night from their Gates of Hell album with its fast and furious drum intro. Bill always had a blood curdling scream when he sang and let me tell you he still hasn’t lost it.

The Dawn It Lies was next, followed by a singalong on the chorus of Court of the Insane, then Bill cleverly gave the old fans a treat with a medley of old songs, “some you might remember some you might not”, he says with a beaming smile.

Their young guitarist was excellent and along with some incredible solos he shared some great dual guitar moments with Bill.

Jeff as always with his wonderful guitar faces he pulls you can see on photos he disappears into the music.

Bill also dedicated the song Ride Free to Mo, the founder of MoFest, which was a nice touch.

The crowd were really into them now so when they played Get Outta This Place Bill grabbed the opportunity to get them to join in and they all did.

This was a real blast from the past and all I can say is the Nwobhm scene and sound never went away, it just took a long holiday.

Jeff came into the crowd playing and headbanging and the whole band played a great set and really enjoyed it. I know myself and the crowd did: the applause showed that.

Wonderful seeing you guys again. We’ll try not to leave it so long next time.

Set List

Cry of the Night, The Dawn it Lies, Court of the Insane, [Medley,] In Hell, Ride Free, Rock N Roll with the Devil. Get Outta this Place, Pandemonium, I can Hear the Silence.

Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142149617826;

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytK8ge7u4R67JdXduLaxpA

The headliners tonight, and the other Nwobhm band from the 80’s, are Rhabstallion.

They have had the honour to have shared stages with the like of Hanoi Rocks, Diamond Head, and Saxon.

Formed in Halifax despite having developed a big fanbase then, as I said like so many others, they never managed to get the big break and decided to call it quits.

In 2017 they felt they had more to give to the fans and decided to reform,

They still wanted the old Nwobhm style but also to make it more acceptable in these modern times so added three guitars for a fuller harder sound.

In 2021 they returned to the studio to record their comeback album appropriately titled Back in the Saddle, which I reviewed for them and chatting to the guys they actually remembered, which was pretty cool.

They now have a new album released last year called Bat Shit Crazy.

The first thing I noticed tonight was that they are loud, everything was turned up to max. Their lead singer Andy has a raspy powerful vocal and there were some blistering axe works going on throughout their whole set. You could just disappear into some excellent solos.

Stuart on bass smiling and joking with the drummer all night, and Andy working the crowd.

They were loving everything they did: headbanging and singing along.

Their hour long set left nothing behind, mixing it with a taste of their early work and also the two new albums, so new and old fans could hear the music that not only started their career but also the more modern approach.

They are planning a lot more to happen this year and next so you haven’t heard the last of Rhabstallion.

Set List.

Ghost Dance, Stranger Stranger, The Call, Eye of the Needle, Going Nowhere, Strength Within Me, Bat Shit Crazy, Never Say Never, Better Late than Never, Sold my Soul for You, I’ll Die Trying.