ANVIL - NEMESIS HP - 18.10.2024 - Le Black Lab - Wasquehal (Fr)

A very 80's HARD ROCK line-up at Black Lab, featuring Canadian legends ANVIL and a young but promising local band, NEMESIS HP.

It was with palpable joy and excitement that NEMESIS HP took to the stage, determined to heat up the crowd and get the mood going! Not knowing the band, I was really surprised by their confidence on stage, and even if, from what I could understand, they don't have many gigs under their belt, the performance was very convincing! With their impeccable set-up and tight stage presence, they played one song after another with ease, enjoying themselves and quickly getting the audience to rally to their cause! Musically, the band's sound is influenced by the likes of WASP, SKID ROW and MOTLEY CRUE, and the music is fast, melodic and effective, pushing you into a headbanging session! I really appreciated their energy, and the sense of humor of singer Yanis, who was able to convey the band's genuine enthusiasm and excitement about opening for ANVIL! It's obvious that they were determined to do well, to live up to the expectations of such an event, and they did it in style! Well done, guys!

Short pause ... and “Fuckin'eh!” ... Now it's the turn of the 3 companions, the aptly-named Robb REINER, Steve “Lips” KUDLOW and Chris ROBERTSON, to take over! After a career spanning over 40 years and countless problems, ANVIL are still out there pounding the pavement, and if there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's the almost childlike wonder LIPS feels at being on stage sharing their music!
The set begins, and from that moment on, the energy never lets up! Classics of course (“March Of The Crabs”/“666”), the albums “Forged In Fire” and “Metal On Metal” are well represented, but we also get some more recent tracks (“Bitch In The Box”/“Legal At Last”) and a new track “Truth Is Dying” from the latest album!



It's on, the riffs are raining down, the rhythm is pounding our eardrums - Anvil is ALIVE & KICKING!!!!
There are a few moments of respite between songs, when Lips recounts his anecdotes and adventures with Lemmy, as passionate and hilarious as ever! “Free As The WInd” is dedicated to the Legend, frontman of the no less legendary Motörhead!
As the set draws to a close, Robb delivers a monstrous drum solo! This is followed by “Jackhammer”, dedicated to the memory of ANVIL's recently deceased second guitarist, Dave Allison. Lips finishes the concert playing in the front rows of the audience, as if he had an even greater need to savor the moment of being there and the joy of sharing his music!
Intense, moving and so honest, ANVIL's performance is to be applauded! The 3 friends gave it their all, and the audience returned the favor! A superb evening!

Pics used with kind permission from MESS WITH ME Photography.