Vulkan Arena, Oslo.
29. October 2022
Audrey Horne has been active for twenty years now and has evolved into a solid live band over the years. Throughout these two decades, the band has transitioned from stoner rock to increasingly heavy metal. Their latest album, “Devil’s Bell,” earned them a spot in Metal Archives, known for its strict guidelines on including only metal bands. Audrey Horne has finally qualified as a metal band this year, and rightfully so.
Audrey Horne kicks off with full energy from the get-go, featuring several songs from their new album, including “Animal” and “Devil’s Bell,” which resonate well with the audience. However, most of the setlist consists of songs from “Youngblood” (2013) onwards. Notably, the band surprises the crowd by covering Iron Maiden’s “Phantom Of The Opera,” despite vocalist Toschie’s humorous denial of Iron Maiden’s influence on their music. In reality, three band members have previously played in Paul Di’Anno’s backing band, showcasing their familiarity with Iron Maiden’s repertoire.
Audrey Horne’s original songs also shine during the performance, with hits like “Redemption Blues” prompting enthusiastic sing-alongs. “Waiting For The Night” is equally catchy, bordering on overwhelming with its sing-along potential. With the concert concluding on a high note, Audrey Horne impresses with flying colors.
Meanwhile, Vreid has maintained high activity and productivity in recent years. Their album “Wild West North” from 2001 stands out as one of their best, and the band has excelled on the live front this year. They predominantly showcase tracks from their latest album, with video snippets from the accompanying film playing in the background.
Notable highlights include “Into the Mountains,” “Kraft,” “Lifehunger,” “Milorg,” “Pitch Black Brigade,” and “Welcome Farewell,” covering a significant portion of the band’s career. Additionally, they deliver a fantastic cover of Windir’s “Destroy” and a surprising rendition of the Rolling Stones classic “Paint it Black,” preceded by an introduction where Jarle humorously lists old Norwegian folk singers who supposedly wrote the song. The concert culminates with the black ‘n’ roll anthem “Pitch Black,” affirming Vreid’s continued dominance in the metal scene.
All photos by Diana Blajan.
Hell on Earth Metal Zine 