When does the headline band not play last on the bill? When they're Silent Knight.
An unfortunate airline situation that left Orpheus Omega stranded in their hometown of Melbourne meant that the line-up and set times were reshuffled at the last minute, with Perth's power metal supremos opting for the penultimate slot.
Wrath Of Fenrir kicked things off with their trademark intense melodic death metal. With faces smeared in black war paint, vocalist Hans Fan Der Linden led the band with songs of battles and mayhem. Further mayhem was delivered by way of Grant Gatford, who tore through the crowd, Viking flag in hand and swilling beer from an animal horn. Musically and theatrically there is none more metal than Wrath Of Fenrir.
Headliners Silent Knight hit the stage opening with the atmospheric Call To Arms before the sonic blast of title track Conquer & Command, from their new album. Judging by the number of people singing back to the band, sales of the album are already going well. Silent Knight play power metal as it should be: fast, loud and with plenty of rousing choruses. Tearing through a set of songs both old and new, including favourites Empty Threat and Prisoner Of Your World, singer Jesse Onur Oz's vocals shone with the band sounding as good live as they do in the studio.
As Onur Oz was content delivering his impressive vocal range from stage right, it left guitarists Stu McGill and Cameron Nicholas and bass player Cameron Daw to share the centre stage and the spotlight. One place the spotlight should shine brightest is on drummer Paul Wrigley. His double-kick is the metal glue that holds the band together. Set highlights were fan favourite The Final Countdown, delivered at double the tempo with cheesy keyboards replaced by Nicholas' shredding guitar work and finale Power Metal Supreme, because when you're a power metal band you want everyone to know.
Lead singer and bassist Ryan Rafferty led Perth trio Ragdoll to close out the night with their brand of heavy bluesy rock. Rafferty, joined by Leon Todd on guitar and drummer Cam Barrett, found the knob that goes to 11 and delivered a tight set of original material highlighted by the best cover of the Dio classic Holy Diver ever heard.
