The triple bill in action at Dudley JB's kicked off with Swedish band The Poodles – highly anticipated by most and no-one more than this reviewer, having rated their debut album as my favourite release of 2006 and giving it the first (and so far only) 10/10 of my reviewing career. The band took to the stage with album opener “Echoes From The Past” and what was immediately apparent was how much heavier a proposition they are live than on record. Vocalist Jakob Samuel certainly looked the part in red leather (believe me, it looked better than it sounds!) but he did suffer from the vocals being set way too low in the mix and, at times, he was often straining to be heard. 

After an impressive crowd reaction to the opening salvo, The Poodles launched into the anthemic “Metal Will Stand Tall”, a song which certainly got JBs rocking and, after rousing renditions of “Number 1” and “Shadows”, they treated the crowd to new song “On 7 Seas” (one of 5 already finished for the new album). Their short set was rounded off by the awesome “Night Of Passion”, and even managed to entice Hammerfall's Joachim Cans to join in.  Overall The Poodles delivered a  fantastic set, extremely well-received by an audience of “true metallers” – perhaps not really their target audience but that simply augers well for the future when you can win over a wider fan base.  I cannot wait for their return as headliners and with better sound, but they were everything I hoped they’d be. 

Second on the bill were the veteran Swiss rockers, Krokus. Throughout their career, well into its fourth decade by now,  comparisons have always been made with AC/DC and, with set openers “Heatstrokes” and “Hellraiser”, they did nothing to dispel such notions. However third track, “Angel Of My Dreams”, culled from their latest album, was rather special. I loved the song on CD and it proved equally as good in a live setting – easily the highlight of the set without a doubt. 

Again the JBs audience was extremely receptive to the old-school rock of Krokus and tracks such as “Screaming In The Night”, “Easy Rocker” and closing number “Rock City” are all given the proverbial thumbs up. Krokus certainly left the, by now, packed venue to rousing applause and must be pleased with their return to these shores after so long away. 

And so to Hammerfall. As with all bands in their chosen genre, I guess you either love or loathe them. Obviously in a live arena, where people have parted with their hard earned to see the band, you can expect a high proportion of the die-hards to be in attendance and Dudley was no exception – although there was perhaps a distinct lack of armour and swords, of which there had been plenty in evidence on the previous occasions I have seen them at Bloodstock.

Opening with title track, “Threshold”, from their latest CD fists were pumping from the off.  And the pace didn't stop through  “Templars Of Steel”, the enthusiastic crowd lapping it up, headbanging away. The procession of classic tracks from their back catalogue continued with the likes of “Riders Of The Storm” and “Legacy Of Kings” before it was back to the new album for “Rebel Inside”, a song so much better live than on album. Then, after the awesome “Blood Bound” came an instrumental segue, giving both vocalist Joachim Cans and the audience the chance of a quick breather. Not for long though, as “A Legend Reborn”, “Renegade”, “Let The Hammer Fall” and “Hammerfall” rounded out the set to huge and prolonged applause. 

Encores, of course, were mandatory and they began with brilliant new track “Natural High”, and then after powering through “Glory To The Brave” and “Heeding The Call” the band took their leave once more, but were persuaded back for one last track “Hearts On Fire”. Being the last night of the UK tour, as tradition demands, this descended into hilarious farce as members of both support bands overran the stage to dismantle the drum kit leaving Anders Johansson attempting to play what remained. It was clearly evident that all the bands have got on really well throughout the trek and it was with smiles all round that things finally came to an end.

Simply put an awesome evening of music that should remind people just why, when it comes to live music, it's almost impossible for any other genre to compete with metal for the adrenaline rush and pure escapism such gigs allow.

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