Review: Firewind With Fury - The Underworld, Camden, February 9th, 2025

Review: Firewind With Fury

The Underworld, Camden, (February 9^th, 2025)

Reviewer / Photographer: Phil Honley

This is a repeat of the gig I went to last March in the very same venue. Similat deal, Doors at 6pm tonight but not with the 10pm curfew as advertised it seems as set time for Firewind is posted on the door as 8:30 – 10:15. This still suits me fine as reliance on public transport on a Sunday night is key.

The Underworld is packed out for a Sunday night and Fury hit the stage at 7:15 albeit 75 minutes after doors open. Fury is what it states on the tin, a Heavy Metal band, although front man Julian Jenkins begs to differ and he should know. Perhaps the banner on the band’s Instagram page better describes them “The most electrifying heavy metal rock n roll band in the galaxy… possibly even the universe! “

The band had fallen under my radar until I first saw them last year which is somewhat surprising as they have four studio and one live album under their belts; ‘The Lightning Dream’ (2014), ‘Lost In Space’ (2016) ‘The Grand Prize’ (2020), and latest album ‘Born To Sin’ (released March 2022).

The band line up features the tasty voice and guitar of Julian Jenkins, bassist Becky Baldwin (Becky also performs with Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate and was with Hands off Gretel until they went into hiatus post pandemic), Tom Fenn (Also sits behind the kit for Brassick) on drums, newest member Tom Atkinson (Also plays with Vice) on guitar and the powerhouse Nyah Ifill on co-lead vocals. I am not a fan of backing vocals but this young lady shares lead vocals with Julian Jenkins. She also injects a lot of energy into the band in the live environment and it has to be said, this co-vocal arrangement sets them apart from most bands on the circuit.

The band gives us a powerful forty minute set with seven numbers featuring songs from each of the bands four studio albums. First up was ‘Prince Of Darkness‘ from the bands 2014 debut ‘The Lightning Dream‘ and released as a single last year. I look forward to seeing them again in the summer at Maid Of Stone.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Setlist:

Prince Of Darkness
It’s Rock n Roll
Hell Of A Night
Lost In Space
Dragon’s Song
Burnout
The Road Warrior

Firewind, yet another band that had passed me by until I was presented with the opportunity to photograph them here in 2024. A Greek power metal band (that’s right Greek), formed in Thessaloniki in 1998. The group was originally a small project created by guitarist Gus G to showcase his demo, ‘Nocturnal Symphony‘, in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded their debut album, ‘Between Heaven And Hell‘. To date, the band has released nine studio albums and the setlist on the night included many from these albums and also showcasing latest release ‘Stand United‘.

Firewind start their set with two numbers from latest release, ‘Stand United‘ (2024), ‘Fallen Angel‘ and the title track. From the moment Gus G strikes the first chord it is more than clear that I am possibly the only one in what must be close to a sell out audience that has never seen this powerhouse band before. The repeated chant of “Firewind, Firewind, Firewind” continues between each of the sixteen numbers performed here tonight. This was the last night on the band’s current UK tour and they were genuinely overwhelmed by the crowd reaction tonight.

Herbie Langhans is a great front man and what a voice he has, some would say underrated. Gus G is a phenominal guitarist (ex-Ozzy Osbourne) and reminds me of Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, both in stage presence and guitar style. Jo Nunez (ex-Kamelot) is a true force of nature on drums. Add Petros Christodoulidis to the mix with his effortless bass lines and you have a band that is a joy and privilage to see up close and personal.

Herbie Langhans put in a real shift on vocals and it was only fair that the band gave him a short breather and demonstrated just how good they were with the supurb ‘The Fire And The Fury‘. The band included numbers from their extensive back catalogue many of which I was more familiar with than last time around..

Herbie Langhans declares that they have enjoyed playing with Fury both this year and last and invites Nyah Ifill back to the stage to join him on ‘Breaking With Silence‘.

Herbie Langhans brings the main set to a close with the band’s excellent statutory cover of Michael Sembello‘s ‘Maniac‘. It may have been Sunday night but the crowd was never going to allow Firewind to leave the building without an encore and ‘Rising Fire‘, ‘Head Up High‘ and ‘Falling to Pieces‘ brought an excellent night to a close.

(click on photos to enlarge)