Having seen various other events in the genteel surroundings of Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, it is my first time witnessing anything remotely resembling metal, so I’m intrigued to see how this evening will play out. Judging by reaction opening act Grand Magus receive, the answer is very well. A power trio in its purest tradition, they create a sound that is far bigger than their constituent parts and immediately bring to mind the likes of The Rods and Budgie at their most bombastic. Having formed back in 1996 (under the moniker Smack) and with this incarnation of the band being together for well over a decade, there’s an obvious chemistry threading the band together and that turns opening track ‘I, The Jury’ into an earthshaking affair. They deliver an eight song set that proves themselves the very personification of heavy metal and their lively performance soon pulls the stragglers in from the bar. As they opened with a song from Hammer Of The North, so Grand Magus close, this time it’s the majestic title track that gets the whole crowd singing in unison and ensures this trio won’t be forgotten in a hurry. If you want to know just how heavy three people can get, you need look no further than Grand Magus.

When Opeth took a left turn and released the Heritage album in 2011 its progressive, jazzy leanings split their fanbase like a record rarely has before or since. However, a band like Opeth was never likely to stay in one place for long and their move into new musical territory has been informed as much by a rotating cast of musicians as by a desire to explore new sonic ground. Yet there’s no denying that in whatever guise the band have appeared they’ve never lost sight of important stuff like the riff, and tonight serves up a hefty selection of those. With dry ice hanging over the stage like an eerie mist, things get off to a rather surreal start with Aphrodite’s Child’s ‘Seven Bowls’ used as an introduction tape but normal service is very much resumed with the following ‘§1’, a thunderous opener that lets the whole city know Opeth are in the vicinity. With the aid of some inventive lighting the stage becomes a haunted house and gives the evening an otherworldly feel; the lighting is an often overlooked aspect of a live show, but here it is used in tandem with the music to create a discombobulating, claustrophobic feel that places us right in the heart of the song. It is a rare gift that few bands have (Iron Maiden is a prime example) but Opeth are in possession of the ability to conjure a theatre in the mind and it turns their set into a three-dimension experience with songs such as ‘Häxprocess’ becoming sepia-toned vignettes.

A neat (and surprising) cover of Napalm Death’s ‘You Suffer’ makes a welcome appearance (we are in Birmingham after all) before final track ‘A Story Never Told’ brings things nicely full circle. However, Opeth return for two well deserved encores, the second of which is a rebel-rousing rendition of ‘Deliverance’, the title-track from their 2003 studio album and ensures that as outro tape ‘Jackie’ (Scott Walker’s version) soundtracks our exiting the venue, no one leaves feeling disappointed.

Opeth Set List:

1. §1
2. Master’s Apprentices
3. The Leper Affinity
4. §7
5. Häxprocess
6. In My Time Of Need
7. The Night And The Silent Water
8. §3
9. Ghost Of Perdition
10. You Suffer
11. A Story Never Told

Encores:

12. Sorceress
13. Deliverance

Grand Magus Set List:

1. I, The Jury
2. Skybound
3. Steel Verses Steel
4. Ravens Guide Our Way
5. Sunraven
6. Untamed
7. Like The Oar Strikes The Water
8. Hammer Of The North