More Please... Doro Pesch Rocks Islington (till 11pm)
Published
Whoever organised this gig with such a long time before any band hit the stage really underestimated how quickly people would want to escape the bitter wind-chill outside. Seldom is a crowd so keen to be warmed up. Openers Archer started off with a song at a pace borrowed from Paice, so it was a surprise when most of their other songs turned out to be thrash with Diamond Head-like vocals. It made for good headbanging, but I can't recall a single riff or lyric the day after. Would like them to find their sound and succeed as it would be a shame if 3 guys capable of growing such epic manes had to go look for jobs in corporate America, but they haven't got there yet.
In contrast, you know exactly what you're going to get with Doro Pesch. Riffs to make your neck require Tiger Balm? Check. Abundance of hits? 'I Rule the Ruins', 'Metal Racer', 'All We Are', 'Für Immer', 'Burning the Witches' - I could go on. Audience participation? In spades. Soaring vocals from Doro herself? Yep, she's still got it, as she notably proved on the demanding 'Without You'.
The gig would have benefited from being longer, although this may have been one of the peculiar vagaries of Islington Council's live music policy: it was a turn-up for the books that they let it go on until 11pm. Also, since the material from 'Raise Your Fist' fits in so perfectly with the classics, Pesch's impassioned vocals meshing especially well with Bas Maas' inspired riffing on 'Revenge', one cannot help but wonder when they are going to record the next instalment in this success story. Still, we came to the gig for a rip-roaring night of heavy metal and we definitely got it. God save the Metal Queen!
