Amon Amarth & Machine Head / Motorpoint Arena / Nottingham
Walking to the Motorpoint Arena felt somewhat unusual tonight, with the announcement of HM Queen Elizabeth II passing, it felt very strange. But I was glad the show was going ahead. I last saw Machine Head back in February 2009, at the same venue when they supported Metallica. I can honestly say that was the loudest performance I’d ever heard (including a brilliant cover of Iron Maiden’s classic Hallowed Be Thy Name) and I was so ready for more of the same.
This is a co-headline tour alongside Swedish death metal legends and with support from The Halo Effect. Unfortunately, I can’t cover The Halo Effect in this review, a mix up at the Box Office, and no guestlist, followed by not being n the list resulted in a delay of an hour and a quarter getting, and I missed their set. From what I could hear from outside, it sounded good, just a shame I couldn’t see it.
Safely verified and in, I headed for the pit ready for the first headliners Amon Amarth. We were to shoot the set from the mixing desk instead which was a shame. However, there were a LOT of pyrotechnics, and they were shooting out at 45 degrees over the pit, so coming home still with a head of hair as a result of the decision to make us shoot from the mixing desk, was with hindsight, much appreciated lol.
With three original band members still, the current line-up is Johan Hegg (vocals), Olavi Mikkonen (lead guitar), Ted Lundström (bass), Johan Söderberg (rhythm guitar) and Jocke Wallgren (drums). The set was heavily influenced by their latest album “The Great Heathen Army”. As the arena lights go out, the crowd roared in anticipation as Iron Maiden’s Run to the Hills played before the curtain dropped to loud explosions and bright flames to reveal the incredible stage set, with giant Viking warriors either side of the stage, dwarfing the band and the huge Viking horned helmet stand in which the drumkit sits. We launch straight into Guardians of Asgaard from the album “Twilight of the Thunder God”.
This is powerful and high energy from the start, and frankly it doesn’t relent ! The pyros are incredible and the intense heat can be felt right back here at the mixing desk. Johan welcomes the crowd and asks if we’re ready for some mayhem, to roars from the crowd, as the band launch into The Great Heathen Army, title track from their new album. The band all in a line headbanging, it’s an awesome sight. The lighting changes to green, and with the painted horde background takes on a feel of the undead army in Lord of the Rings.
As the set continues a circle pit develops during Get in the Ring and the crowd are loving every second. Chanting along, and respnding to every call for a “Hey” from Johan.
Next up is one of my favourite Amon Amarth tracks in Heidrun (Heiðrún) the mythical Norse goat, who consumes the foliage of the tree Læraðr and produces mead for the einherjar (the einherjar are the "army of one", those who fight alone are those who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries). The track includes an incredible guitar solo from Mikkonen.
Then, with the guitars up on the riser a pair of masked warriors appear on stage to do battle. As the one is triumphant, they remove their helmet to reveal it is Johan as he launches into The Way of the Viking from the 2016 album “Jomsviking”.
The pace hasn’t dropped at all….. as the band launch into Put Your Back into the Oar and Johan cries out “Row, Row, Row” and the pit sink down and sit on the floor and proceed to row the Viking Longboat for their commander. It’s a tuly amazing scene on the floor of the Motorpoint Arena !
As the set draws to a close, the band raise their Viking drinking horns and drink to the Nottingham crowd as they shout “skål” and toast their hosts as the crowd chant in response, before launching into Raise Your Horns again from the album “Jomsviking”.
The set ends with an exceptional performance of the track Twilight of the Thunder God. Johan stands centre stage and raises high above his head Mjölnir, the hammer of Thor before bringing it crashing down on the stage to loud explosions and flames.
I’ve not experienced a show quite like it, where the intensity doesn’t dip for one minute from start to finish. The flames, the imagery and amazing and the crowd are in a frenzy as the band finally leave the stage.
Setlist
Guardians of Asgaard
Raven’s Flight
The Great Heathen Army
Deceiver of the Gods
Get in the Ring, Heidrun
The Pursuit of Vikings
The Way of Vikings
Put Your Back into the Oar
First Kill
Shield Wall
Raise Your Horns
Twilight of the Thunder God
After a short break for a break and a chat about how good that set was with the other photographers, it’s back down to the side of the stage ready to enter the pit for Machine Head. Unfortunately Machine Head were without their huge video wall following an accident the day before the show, where the main truss broke ! Most importantly n one was injured and although a replacement had been found, they decided to go without it tonight for safety reasons.
Hanging in front of the stage was a huge black curtain emblazoned with giant red letters which read “Machine Fucking Head”. An agrressive image which fits their style, having been formed in California back in 1991, Lead vocalist and guitarist Robb Flynn is the only original member left, supported by Jared MacEachern (bass), Wacław ‘Vogg’ Kiełtyka (guitar) and Matt Alston (drums). As the crowd wait, Ozzy Osborne rings out of the PA system with Diary of a Madman and as the track ends, the black screen falls dramatically and Machine Head hit the stage, powering straight into Becøme the Firestørm
The crowd are already into a circle pit, and right from the off, fans are being pulled out from the crowd by security ! My god this is loud. I knew it would be from my previous experience here in 2009, but wow !!!!
They continue, straight into Imperium from 2003’s “Through the Ashes of Empires”. I can feel the music more than hear it, with Matt Alstons furious drumming pounding at my chest, ably assisted by the deep heavy bass from Jared.
Now We Die from “Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014) follows, and then into another new track from the latest album Nø Gøds, Nø Masters which the crowd are loving. Flynn is in fine form, snarling out the vocals and dominating the stage with his presence. Jared is wild his long hair swirling round as he blasts out the heavy basslines. Like Amon Amarth before them, there is just no let up from the ferocity of the sound, its just brutal….. in a very good way !
The pace slows slightly, just for a moment as the opening to I Am Hell rings out but the respite is only momentary as the pace intensifies and the ferocity resumes, the crowd again circling in the pit. A brilliant fast and powerful guitar solo from Vogg before the explosions go off. Next up we have Aesthetics of Hate from the brilliant album “The Blackening” released in 2007. The track is dedicated to Dimebag Darell.
Following this touching (but manic and brutal and powerful) track, and some technical issues with his acoustic guitar, which is soon discarded for the usual flying V electric, Flynn pauses to acknowledge and pay tribute to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. A moment away from the frenzy to acknowledge the sadness of the day. The crowd applaud the mark of respect.
As the set draws to a close we hear the unmistakable tones of the iconic Machine Head track Davidian from 1994’s “Burn My Eyes” my favourite MH album. The crowd are punching the air as the unmistakeable sound powers across the arena floor. As we draw the night to an end, Halo engulfs us all and we get another crazily good solo from Vogg before the track slows…. And explodes, literally as the confetti cannons go off for one final crescendo of noise.
And it’s over ! It has been a truly magnificent night of the best loud, frenzied and brutal metal you could ever wish to hear. On my way out into the cool Nottingham night I paused talking to some of the stewards ourside, who asked what it had been like. They told me laughing it was so loud, the arena itself was singing along as the cladding and metal panels buzzed and vibrated outside, it was THAT loud !
A shame I missed The Hlo Effect, but neither Amon Amarth or Machine Head disappointed. MH were the loudest band I’d heard back in 2009 and they retain that title in 2022 no doubt ! An amazing night of metal madness….. and Viking legends !
Setlist
Becøme the Firestørm
Imperium
Now We Die
Nø Gøds, Nø Masters
I Am Hell
Aesthetics of Hate
From This Day
Davidian
Halo.
