Mushroomhead / O2 Institute / Birmingham

Aug 20

Aug 20 Mushroomhead / O2 Institute / Birmingham

A trip across to Birmingham for a must see show – Mushroomhead. I first saw them live back in 2022 onboard Thekla in Bristol and had the most amazing time, now they’re back ! Following the release of their new, and heavy heavy album “Call the Devil”.

Joining them on this tour are two new bands to me. First up is Austrian metaller’s Silenzer, who are known for their powerful live performances, having supported the likes of As I Lay Dying, Hatebreed, Stick To Your Guns, Asking Alexandria and many more as well as several national and international tours and festivals. They are Chirs (vocals), Luke (guitar), Dave (guitar), Mexx (bass) and Fabi (drums).

Kicking off their set with Abgrund they quickly grab the attention of the crowd with a mix of powerful and crisp, clear vocals with some wonderfully intense melodic riffs. This is their first tour and only second show in the UK, but you wouldn’t have known it, they were totally at home and engaged brilliantly with the crowd throughout. Maybe my highlight of the set for me was Dämon from the 2022 album “X” which is hard and heavy, and incudes a brilliant cover of the Papa Roach classic Last Resort which has the crowd screaming the lyrics back to the stage.

The set ends with Bury Me Alive and they leave a crowd on the edge of their seats (if they had one lol). A stellar set and a band I’ll be checking out again as soon as I can.

Setlist

Intro

Abgrund (X 2022)

eX (X 2022)

Hurricane

Dämon (X 2022)

Last Resort (Papa Roach cover)

Bury Me Alive

Next up is Czechia masked mayhem in the form of Dymytry, one of the most successful bands from Central Europe.Dymytry have a unique sound that they describe as Psy-Core, and they’ve built up a strong fan base in their home country. Formed in Prague in 2003, they have released 8 studio albums, a mix between English and Czech.

With the addition of vocalist Alen Ljubić they released their latest English-language album “Five Angry Men” earlier this year. Produced by Kristian Kohle at his Kohlekeller Studio, the artwork was designed by Steven Harrison, with Alen Ljubić contributing the booklet photos, who also said of the album “Sometimes you need five ugly anti-heroes who don’t gloss over the ugly reality, but at least present it in good songs”.

Taking the stage in their well used industrial look outfits with red highlights and masks, they are a striking presence on stage and certainly look like “Five Angry Men”. Kicking off the energy packed set with Revolt from the 2022 album “Revolt” followed by its stablemate Stronger. The riffs are powerful and loud and support Alen’s vocals so well, who prowls the stage with confidence.

The new album is the main focus of the set with Enemy List, Everything is Black, Dead Living Dead and the title track Five Angry Men.

Its heavy and as the set flows effortlessly, the crowd are getting more and more into it, and the atmosphere is building

For me though, they leave the best until last, with a dark and haunting rendition of their track Chernobyl taken from 2019’s “Revolter”.

Dymytry are a force to be reasoned with. A powerful, fast and intense sound and a great stage presence, watch out for them – a band not to miss live !

Setlist

Revolt (Revolt 2022)

Stronger (Revolt 2022)

Enemy List (Five Angry Men 2024)

Everything is Black (Five Angry Men 2024)

Never Gonna Die (Revolt 2022)

Dead Living Dead (Five Angry Men 2024)

Five Angry Men (Five Angry Men 2024)

Touchdown (Revolt 2022)

Chernobyl (Revolter 2019)

So here we are, ready for Mushroomhead. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland by Steve ‘Skinny’ Felton the band are best known for their experimental nu metal sound and stunning stage visuals created with masks and costumes that create a creepy post-apocalytical visual. Over the years there have been many changes of band member, but ‘Skinny’ remains the ever present and they’ve released eight full-length albums.

Steve is joined in the current line up by some standout musicians, such as Steve Rauckhorst (vocals), Joe ‘Jenkins’ Gaal (guitar), Ryan ‘Dr. F’ Farrell (bass), Scott ‘Strike’ Beck (vocals) and Robbie ‘Roberto Diablo’ Godsey (percussion). Last time I saw them in 2022 they were without Jackie LaPonza (vocals), but she’s back on this tour and more of that later.

In 2020 they released the album “”A Wonderful Life” which contained the classic tracks A Requiem For Tomorrow and The Heresy.

2024 has seen the release of their latest album “Call the Devil” which sees the return of a much heavier sound. Tonights set is a mix of the classic fan favourites and the best highlights from the new album.

As they step out onto the stage, the energy levels ramp up even more. As you would expect, the visuals are stunning, and the whole live experience is completed with their iconic water drums. Either side of the stage are a pair of floor standing toms. These contain spotlights that shine up through the drum skins and each drum has a pipe feeding water onto the surface. The effect is simply incredible, as illuminated clouds of water spray fill the air.

Starting with 1200 from 2006’s album “Saviour Sorrow” their unique mix of sounds is evident. With two vocalists providing a balance between clear and harsh vocals, they elevate the vocal performance to another level with the addition of a third, Jackie LaPonza, giving them a unique range of vocal sounds. The hits just keep coming, first with Requiem for Tomorrow (from 2020’s “A Wonderful Life”), the brilliant Querty (from 2014’s “The Righteous & the Butterfly”) and the Sun Doesn’t Rise (from 2003’s “XIII”). Each one is better than the last and the crowd and cheering and singing along to every track.

Special mention has be to be given to The Heresy (from 2020’s “A Wonderful Life”), a tour de force, which has some simply incredible vocals from Jackie. It’s a post apocalyptic anthem like no other, and delivered with panache.

The energy levels never drop, with Steve, Scott and Jackie all taking turns in jumping into the crowd, Jackie, standing held aloft delivering vocals. Top stuff !

The new album “Call the Devil” is represented by Fall in Line, a great track that fits in to the live set seamlessly. As the set draws to a close, there’s a great cover of Pink Floyds Enter Spaces which leads into Born of Desire.

The packed house is so hot and the water drums are a welcome delight at the front. Everyone is grinning from ear to ear and the reaction of the band too, as they leave the stage shows, this was a special one for them too.

I’ll never tire of seeing Mushroomhead. The visual aesthetic is brilliant, but mix this in with great song writing and delivery and it is a stunning musical product. Don’t miss out, watch out for their next tour…. You won’t be disappointed !

Setlist

1200 (Saviour Sorrow 2006)

A Requiem For Tomorrow (A Wonderful Life 2020)

Fall In Line (Call the Devil 2024)

Our Apologies (The Righteous & The Butterfly 2014)

Qwerty (The Righteous & The Butterfly 2014)

Sun Doesn’t Rise (XIII 2003)

Solitaire/Unravelling (XX 2001)

The Heresy (A Wonderful Life (2020)

Madness Within (A Wonderful Life (2020)

Seen It All (A Wonderful Life (2020)

Prepackaged (Call the Devil 2024)