It’s has been more than 4 years since Bolt Thrower had done some serious touring apart from the 3 dates in 2008. So it was more than time for this British death metal band to tour Europe again (I know it has been more than 15 years ago they toured outside Europe). And traditionally, they started their tour in their second home-town Enschede in the new, much larger Atak (250 vs 800 people). And not once, but twice! And both were sold out. I went to the second day and skipped the first – driving there for over 2 hours and back, two days in a row is a bit too much, plus it’s a working day so I’d have to take time off. Anyway, as promised when I got in I received my free T-shirt (No Grolsch No Glory) and a free beugel (Grolsch half liter pils – not my favourite, but drinkable anyway).

When I got into the venue, the Germans of Dew-scented were about to start their half-hour of thrash metal. Not the greatest band it the world, as their thrash is quite generic. Not too bad tho.

Then there was the Greek Rotting Christ. I really like this black metal band on their first couple of albums, but the newer music is not my thing. Too many gothic and industrial influences for me, I guess. And tonight they only played newer songs – no Non Serviam or The Sign of Evil Existence, and not even King of the Stellar War. And as I haven’t really followed this band I didn’t know any of it. Some of the faster and melodic sections were quite good and reminded me of Non Serviam, but the industrial parts really put me off. So I couldn’t really get into this show.

Then there was the local support act, no less than Asphyx, and with Martin van Drunen on vocals (ex-Bolt Thrower). The set list focused a lot on older material mixed with a couple of songs from Death the Brutal Way, including the title track, Eisenbahnmörser and Scorbutics. The many classic tracks such as Wasteland of Terror, The Krusher, MS Bismarck, Asphyx (Forgotten War) were excellently executed despite some technical problems with the guitar. Martin’s voice has gotten a bit less extreme over the years, but he was very chatty. A pretty good warm-up for what was to come.

And then there was Bolt Thrower who got on stage after the mandatory intro. After which they started with the classic The IVth Crusade. And the rest of the set was comprised merely of classics (okay they only have classics 😀 ): When Glory Beckons, Mercenary, Powder Burns, Cenotaph, … For Victory, and even one of my all time favourites were played: This Time It’s War. Strangely, and unfortunately the sound was not 100%, the lead guitar sounded a bit compressed and the guitars somewhat low in the mix. Despite that they proof once again to be a true live band and clearly blow everything away even the mighty Asphyx. And heck where else can one see people in wheelchairs stagediving. All the more, the band were apparently very much enjoying themselves. Anyway, after a short break and another intro, the band came back for three more songs: War, Remembrance and – the only Honour Valour Pride song – Pride.

Approximate setlist:

• The IVth Crusade
• When Glory Beckons
• At First Light
• Mercenary
• Anti-Tank
• Salvo
• Killchain
• Powder Burns
• World Eater – Cenotaph
• No Guts, No Glory
• This Time It’s War
• … For Victory
• — Encores—
• War
• Remembrance
• Pride