By Monk and The Dark Queen

If rock gigs were puzzles, then this evening’s probably would be “dot-to-dot”, given the connectivity between the three bands that inextricably linked one to the other. Dynasty drummer Michael Finlay is the son of Baleful Creed frontman Fin, while drummer Dave Jeffers is pulling double duty behind the kit. Talk about keeping it in the family, both literally and metaphorically…

Opening up proceedings, Dynasty are very much the new kids on this particular rock ‘n’ roll block, having made their live debut earlier this year in the renascent Metal 2 The Masses competition, deservedly battling their way through to the final, and proving themselves a force with which to be reckoned in the process.

Dynasty @ Voodoo, Belfast, June 2022

Having watched the youngsters progress through the M2TM competition, I have been impressed by the way in which they themselves have also progressed, both in terms of their songmanship and their stage presence, and tonight was more evidence of their growing confidence and maturity: well, they do have some of the local scene’s heavy hitters helping out in such regards. Once again they play with aplomb and an obvious affection for their classic rock roots, their mix of traditional NWoBHM blended with Strip-style glunk, and with enough dirt under its riffage to grow some decent tasting spuds, demonstrating a sense of the boisterous and brazenness. We’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of these bais in the future…

The Forged Hearts may have been a new name to us when this gig was announced, but in the run-up it quickly became apparent that the line-up contained some very familiar faces indeed, as the band is essentially a re-invention of that previously known as Safire, who had made some not insubstantial waves on the Norn Iron scene in the pre-Covid era. Despite no changes in personnel, one thing obviously has changed – well, apart from the monicker that is – and that is the fact that the band’s sound is much heavier than its previous incarnation.

The Forged Hearts @ Voodoo, Belfast, June 2022

With Dean writhing like a pumped-up serpent stage left, pulling all the classic rock star poses in the process, this is big, crunching melodic rock underpinned by concrete-solid rhythms and topped off with hummable melodies and catchy chorus lines, as evinced by the likes of opener ‘Touched The Fire’ and the cheekily renamed ‘Highway 69’. If you love the likes of Beth Blade and Syteria, then you’re gonna cream you vintage spandex over Saffron and the guys, and fall head over (high) heels at the same time.

Baleful Creed @ Voodoo, Belfast, June 2022

Having billed this as their last Belfast appearance until at least the autumn, as they prepare to hit the summer festival circuit, headliners Baleful Creed were obviously looking to go out with a bang, asthey explode from the traps like a cocaine-fulled hormonal bull, their nostrils flared and their intention clear… and that is to lay down some serious, bottom-ended take-no-prisoners riffage of the type in which they have specialized for the past decade.

With Fin battling continuing to battle health issues, that nevertheless is exactly what they do, as they concentrate on material from “new” album ‘The Lowdown’ in what is a bold and bruising set. They also delve deep into their archives, with the likes of ‘Autumn Leaves’ as Titanic-sinking as usual and ‘The Reverend’ Davy Greer’s surprising set closer of ‘Losing Religion’ equally towering and acidic. Fin is very obviously fucked by the end of the set (hence the bassist taking over), but is the exemplar of a true showman, leaving everything (and possibly more) on the stage in the name of his craft.

Baleful Creed @ Voodoo, Belfast, June 2022

Overall, a gig which proved that while the new generation are definitely, and defiantly, coming up on the rails and becoming serious contenders, their “older” counterparts don’t have much to prove in terms of retaining their positions at the top of the Norn Iron metal tree… just come and get our crowns (sorry, vague BC artwork reference), you whippersnappers…

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