Review by Gary and Callum Roebuck
Kicking off all drums and guitars blazing the “West Yorkshire” death rock, goth rock gods and we were set for a 7 song set of goth and roll, strobe lights and eerie smoke.last gig is also the Paradise Lost guys gig as headline High Parasite and Messa were supports
With Tombs make up ie his iconic and haunting “skeleton face paint” on bass and vocals backing Aaron “white suited and tied’ on vocals whereby customary tie was lost before “Concentric Nightmares”, Dan on drums,Jonny on lead guitar and finally last but not least Sam rhythm guitar all blessed in black “Parasite” was an apt choice as the energetic opener for this set of tunes from album “Forever we Burn” released in the autumn of ‘24 and was followed up by the aforementioned “Concentric Nightmares” as an enchanting jacketless Aaron the authentic vocals so disturbed with dancing lights shadowing each move the already healthy Garage crowd were here to spend the night in headbanging,fist pumping heaven what a finale with crashing drums and earshattering guitars before Aaron wasted no time giving us another vocal assualt on “Grave Intentions” and with Dan on drums he really was the driver behind this set on this cramped stage the guys at times were lined in unison twin guitars and bass bellowed out.
Aaron took a breath to announce “Wasn’t Human” with it’s backdrop red lighting and yellow strobes engulfed with smoke set an eerie vision, backed by a masterclass on going round a drum kit Dan can do it with ease,this got a huge energetic round of appreciation from the sell out crowd before “Hate springs Eternal” took us to the last few songs from the set, Tombs took the vocals joined by Aaron and carried on in the same vein this time shadowed in darkness, pale light enshrined us with Aaron finishing off.
Penultimate song “Let it Fail, backed by dancing lights the instrumental and chorus had the audience singing word for word before an another energetic drum onslaught guitar and bass before we were left with just the set closer “Forever we Burn” with dual vocals between Aaron and Tombs finished off with a crescendo of crashing drums, dual guitar and bass backed by flashing lights and an energy most opening acts should look to encompass what a tune to end such a short 30 minutes set.
If you take away one thing from this set it is the anthemic “Forever we Burn” which should be added to any “Goth Rockers” play list – just wow.
Messa – Deliver a “Set Agghiacciante”
After a brief changeover removing and replacing kits Messa the 4 piece from Italy delivered a second support of iconic dark infused, bluesy at times set also as flashing lights and an 80,s vibe opener “Fire on the Roof” kicked off this 4 piece of Sara – vocals,Alberto – guitar, Marco – bass and Rocco – drums delivered an energetic opener with no let up straight into “At Races” followed with brooding bass the rhythm section took hold of this along with Alberto on guitar echoing through the Garage which mellowed before ramping up again with Sara,s haunting sounding vocals, what followed was the latest record and single released in April “The Dress” mellower and Sara silhouetted before releasing an energy vocal the guys played out a set of as I said dark and moody at times and with my love of Gothic rock as a background these guys will be a guilty pleasure for most and I look forward to what the future holds with Marco on keyboards this time before a rollercoaster, flashing lights, drumbeat and throbbing bass/guitar gave us a different dimension to tonight which was warmly received by the Garage.
“Rubedo” opened with a Led Zeppelin like intro before Sara delivered another iconic vocal supported by crashing cymbals,enthralling lighting at times engulfing the band throughout darkness, a cracking bass and lead was delivered with a drumbeat pulsing through your veins this was an excellent tune midset that kept the sold out audience immersed each tune was very well received.
“Imolation” with its mellow lead intro to Sara,s vocals before pulsating rhythm from Marco and Rocco kicked into life with Alberto on guitar ramping up a few decibels before darkness again. Penultimate tune “Reveal” with it’s deep South feel intro started us off before we were then catapulted into the throbbing bass, lead guitar and drums again backing on Sara’s vocals with what was becoming customary tonight with an enchanting voice and a haunting light show, what energy Rocco has on drums as Alberto on guitar led another merry dance on the strings which was warmly appreciated.
Set closer “Thicker Blood” closed the set on Messa their first visit to Scotland being warmly received as we kicked of in darkness again with Marco on keyboards and Alberto opened another mellow vocal ramping up mid song as the guys delivered another mesmerizing tune with smoke engulfing Sara with her long dark hair down her back, deep bass from Marco and with Rocco backing on drums and a crashing light show with Alberto on guitar Slash style locks ended with a crescendo closing finale and 40 minutes of a set that was a couple of tunes short for my liking.
“Grazie, per favore ritorna”
Sara – vocals
Alberto – guitar
Marco – bass
Rocco – drums
Paradise Lost – Ascension –
We await the gods -.
The stage was set the headliner of the night the iconic and legendary rockers from “West Yorkshire” nearing 40 years in the business delivered a set of tunes taking us back as far as the earliest 1990,s albums to the here and now and the already classic “Ascension” this 16 songs set enthralled us from the opening “Serpent on the Cross” from this year we were treated to an opener with haunting interludes and a smoking stage before Nick got the the first interaction with the audience and the headbanging had commenced “let’s see your hands Glasgow” was met with euphoria, well received we then were asked for support clapping the intro of “Tragic Idol” with the band all dressed in the customary rock god black and the vocals were well heard in the audience crammed at the front of the stage.
“True Belief” kept the energy ramped up in Glasgow this fine city was alluded to before the audience told singer what was next and the first first pumping was delivered on unison, moody guitar and deep bass kept the head banging crowd we then had “One Second” a haunting intro amid a smoking stage crashed off into another crowd friendly sing song, Nick had the sold out Glasgow audience in the palm of his hand as the set continued without a break the shadows cast on the stage gave us a Halloween haunting feel, “Once Solemn” and as noisy a Glasgow gig I’ve not heard gave us an astonishing punk rock opening feel with crashing drums and dual guitars and bass being delivered as it was back in the early days and as far back in the audience as I could see it was pure electricity being delivered before a “hey hey hey” returned chorus to the band with crashing drums delivering ontop of a blistering guitar and bass solo to end, again the volume ramped up and Nick alluded to having had long hair at the end.
‘Faith divides Us” started off slower than before with a more rhythmic guitar backing and bass kicking in with another anthemic vocal supported with audience clapping and phones set to light up danced in the venue as note for note each song delivered by the audience this has been one gig right up there as one of the best Garage nights and on a Sunday night of all nights, “Pity the Silence”and Nick commentating ‘cheers to you all” first drink in 20 minutes before we ramped the energy levels up yet again how Jeff on drums keeps the energy going before we mellow and back again and again as the band ramp up the energy with a “woh woh woh” backing from the audience mid song before another astonishing ending instrumental wise gave the audience another headbanging exercise.
“Beneath broken Earth” and again keeping the set alive a smoke engulfed stage was met with pounding drums throbbing guitars and bass before crashing lights were met with the first moodier lyrics in a while as “Ascension” was being reached and we were only 35 minutes in wow what a set these iconic rockers were delivering with Jeff thumping in his drum surround podium behind and above the guys hidden behind a smoke screen a more deep and haunting vocal delivered to end.
“Nothing Sacred” was set off with an enlighting vocal from the crowd before we were met with more of the vocals we’ve become accustomed to from before we were asked to participate again, strobe lights dancing over the stage before darkness engulfed us to end the song.
“Tyrants Serenade” with it’s gothic intro gave into another deep groove laden tune and the audience ramped up the vocals again as mid set rolled on and the adulation from the crowd kept coming with deep vocals to end.
“Requiem” was next and the dark and moody vocals feeling was kept as intro wise we were met with headbanging from the audience before the customary vocals were met with crashing drums and Steve on bass supporting the rhythm and both Aaron and Greg on guitars there was no let up to the legendary energy levels being reached.
Penultimate main set tune ‘Mouth” and we were off again crashing drums, blistering guitar and bass and mid song more lung bursting vocals and that was just the audience, the first cow bells of the night were met as another huge vocal from Nick as the crowd were being treated to a masterclass as word for word each vocal was returned as each song was treated with the same euphoria.
“Say the Words’ unfortunately closes the set and no let up as the audience intro and clapping “hey hey hey hey hey” is met with an energetic intro and the band are off again where the energy has come from is beyond me but you couldn’t charge for it tonight this is one gig that has been off the scale, all gigs have to come to an end unfortunately the crowd are still word for word engulfed in return of awesomeness, let’s go Glasgow gets another “hey hey hey hey hey” outing as crashing lights engulf us again.
What follows after the guys leave the stage after an hour is another overwhelming trio of tunes to end a monster night.
“No Celebration”after a breather is met with the same enthusiasm as the first licks of the opener from “Ascention” an hour ago “here we here we fucking go” is met with dancing stage lights as the guys return and haunting drums, guitars and lighting are returned to as the set returns to the pace set before the closer that preluded this and how the guys have kept this energy is beyond me as I stood at the front of the stage for this full monumental set and we enter the depths of the gig unfortunately all good things come to an end “come on Glasgow” is met with some more “hey heys” and clapping as the band strike up penultimate tune for the night “Ghost’s amid a cracking rhythm and guitars meet Nick on vocals he really has kept the audience in the palm of his hand as another haunting instrumental meets us with dark drums and bass/ guitar to support, this is one tight unit and as far back in the audience as I can see there is no let up in energy, “oy oy oy,s” closes this along with the guys delivering en masse. Heavy Rock, Goth Rock, Dark Rock – call these guys what you want Paradise will not be Lost with these legends still around.
“Silence like the Grave” from the latest album goes to show the guys confidence to end the set as it began with tunes from “Ascension” this closer ends the night and that is that as the night started pure adoration from the sold out Garage.
Guys it was a pleasure being present at this gig and as Ascension goes after nearly 40 years as a unit you haven’t much farther to climb as you’ve been there from the off.
Ascension lifted the Garage roof!
Until the next time – Adios Gazza.
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