O2 ACADEMY, BIRMINGHAM - 11th February 2017

HRH Metal

In the month that the Second City said farewell to it’s favourite Heavy Metal Son’s, it’s only fitting that Chic Festivals should bring its HRH Metal weekender to the birthplace of the genre that launched a plethora of musical careers spanning the past 5 decades.

HRH Metal is the latest genre specific event from the camp that brought us the original HRH and Hammerfest weekends and for it’s first one it’s assembled some of the best unsigned and underground metal acts in the country to rub shoulders with some real heavy hitters such as headliners Sodom and Skindred.

The event kicked off at on the Saturday at the O2 Academy complex right in the heart of the birthplace of Heavy Metal, in fact less than half a mile away from the legendary Crown pub where Black Sabbath played their first gig!

All three rooms at the O2 would be used over the two days...

So back to stage three I trotted to catch another local Birmingham band who have been working tirelessly this last couple of years. No youngsters these though, Vicious Nature have a long history with members from the likes of Marshall Law and Cerebral Fix and that pedigree and experience shows with a top drawer performance of pure heavy rock. Anthemic songs that encourage the crowd to get involved and fast melodies that keep the headbangers happy. Another triumph for stage three.

By TonyGaskin.

Today finds me in Birmingham, to cover one day of the inaugural HRH Metal, being held at The O2 Academy just by the city centre. It’s a cold dank day which actually transfers from the outside in as far as the temperature is concerned. Once inside The O2, I’m met with high spirits and everyone up for a good time.

It’s nearly a pity this didn’t start yesterday, such is the spirit of the place.

For HRHM, all three rooms have been made available, so we have a main stage of course, Room 2 called… Room 2. and then the third room subtitled “The Best of Brum,” dedicated to the local bands here.......

It’s quite a schedule, with twenty-one bands scheduled to play today. A huge amount of photographers here so this will be a well publicised gig… and from 3pm it gets busy… very busy......

Popping down to Room 3, Vicious Nature rocked the house; several of their loyal followers in the crowd sporting their T-shirts and many more, knowing the words to all of their songs. Definitely a well known local band and great rapport with the crowd.

Words by Jase Media.