After an interval of four years, Bolt Thrower is back with a new album titled ‘Those Once Loyal’ and a tour to promote it. On this tuesday night the band played in the Baroeg in Rotterdam. But before the warmasters themself took the stage, three support bands were given their chance to show what they can do. The club was sold out as most dates on the tour, and so it was really full and hot inside.

The first support band was Necrophagist. I was wondering whether this German brutal, technical death metal band, would be capable of playing their songs live. And the answer is a full yes, despite the not too good sound. This is like fredboard gymnastics extravaganza. The 30 minute set contained mostly songs off their latest album Epitaph, with two songs of their debut, Fermented offal Disharge and Foul Body Autopsy.

Second was Nightrage, from which Tomas Lindberg had quit a short while before – so they got a replacement singer. He wasn’t bad, but Lindberg is a much better singer. Also they couldn’t find a second guitarist I guess (or was he ill?) as the second guitarist from Necrophagist was standing in. This music however, is quite different than that band. It’s quite more straight-forward and melodic. The band didn’t really convince me much, but it was okay. I only know their debut album and most of their set came of their latest album.

The final support act, were the US death metal veterans Malevolent Creation. However, I never got into that band, so I can’t really comment about them except that I thought they were so-so – too simplistic and ordinary for me to enjoy.

Then it was finally time for the main act Bolt Thrower with their returned singer Karl Willetts. The sound had gotten better throughout the evening (or did my ears just adjust) and by the time Bolt Thrower came on stage it was actually quite good. After an intro, the band kicked off with two songs off the new album “At First Light” and “Entrenched” and that quickly established what most people had come for and that the band could still kick ass. Also Karl appeared to be enjoying being on stage again as well. The set consisted of a mixture of old and new tracks, although there was only a single track from the “…For Victory” album, where on the last tour they had about five songs. Is there something to complain about… sure they played only the intro and outro of World Eater and Kiddie made a couple of minor but noticable mistakes. Furthermore, a good, steady performance.

Set list:

• At First Light
• Entrenched
• Mercenary
• World Eater
• Cenotaph
• The Killchain
• Powder Burns
• Where Next To Conquer
• Those Once Loyal
• No Guts No Glory
• IVth Crusade
• When Cannons Fade

-encores-

• Contact – Wait out
• …For Victory