It was Sunday night and it was sold out the O2 Institute 2 in Birmingham. Forget sitting in front of the telly, the only songs of praises worth listening to, were the ones performed on this night. And if you ask me, the O2 Institute was a very fitting venue. As this review goes on, you’ll know why.

First onstage were Italian symphonic death metallers Genus Ordinis Dei. What a revelation! As I host a symphonic metal (and folk metal) show each week in The Sanctum, it is always a pleasure to discover new bands in my specialist genre. Genus Ordinis Dei (or G.O.D as advertised on the posters) were the heaviest sounding band on the bill and it can be difficult for a band like that to open a set. However in a baptism by fire, the Birmingham crowd warmed up to G.O.D and got really into them towards the end.

With Nick K, the lead vocalist for G.O.D you can definitely hear his vocal style is inspired by Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe. This interestingly works really well in a symphonic death metal setting. I did get to chat with him after their set, and he told me that this tour is the first time they have ever performed in the UK. After this set, I hope they come back very soon.

Genus Ordinis Dei setlist:

• You Die
• Embracing The Earth
• Flemish
• Red Snake
• Halls Of Human Delights
• Roots And Idols Of Cement

After the changeover, it was time for Danish heavy rock four-piece Forever Still. After the baptism of fire from in the Birmingham O2 Institute, Forever Still emerged as if they had been through an explosion with blackened marks all over them. They rocked the Institute with a lighter sound than the previous band and you could see a number of their Forever Still’s loyal fans were in attendance singing along.

It is tricky for a rock or metal band for a female singer to be heard over the music, but Forever Still’s vocalist Maja Schønning did fantastic. Her range from soft lullaby notes to hard n heavy vocals was beautifully done. You really feel the emotion that in poured into each song, both lyrically and musically.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Maja Schønning’s mic stand. It really is a thing of beauty. The top depicted two hands tied together tightly by rope and the microphone sits nicely between the two hands. This is of course a nod to their latest album Tied Down. It is nice to see a customised mic stand that differs from your standard stick on a base (not that there’s anything wrong with using those ones of course).

Forever Still Setlist:

• The Last Day
• Awake The Fire
• Miss Madness
• Fight
• Once Upon A Nightmare
• Breathe In
• Save Me
• Scars

After the final changeover of the night, the lights went out. It was time for Lacuna Coil to tear the Institute a new one. You could make out Ryan Blake Folden (drummer), Marco Coti Zelati (bassist) and Diego Cavallotti (guitarist) get on stage, then someone joined them searching around with a big handheld torch. Then out of nowhere, the first song (Ultima Ratio) kicks in, and it was singer Cristina Scabbia that was searching around and they were then joined by Andrea Ferro (singer also). This set was a sight to see. They were all dressed as escaped inmates from a sanatorium.

Lacuna Coil’s set featured songs from across their discography including new songs like Ghost In The Mist and The House Of Shame from their latest album Delirium and older favourites such as Heaven’s A Lie and Our Truth. Their fantastic cover of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy The Silence was part of the set too.

Lacuna Coil certainly left their mark on the Birmingham O2 Institute and left the audience begging for more even after the encore. This new look for Lacuna Coil on their Delirium tour seems like it has injected new energy into the band, reinvigorating them.

Lacuna Coil Setlist:

• Ultima Ratio
• Spellbound
• Die & Rise
• Heaven’s A Lie
• Blood, Tears, Dust
• Ghost In The Mist
• The Ghost Woman And The Hunter
• Trip The Darkness
• Downfall
• You Love Me ‘Cause I Hate You
• Our Truth
• Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode cover)
• Nothing Stands In Our Way
• Delirium
• Zombies
• The House Of Shame

Final thoughts:

Everyone was on top form this evening. This was the first time I had seen Lacuna Coil perform live, after years of wanting to them I finally got to and I’m so glad I did. I also walked away from the show discovering 2 new bands in Forever Still and Genus Ordinis Dei and I can definitely say they are 2 bands to look out for.

Reviewed by DJ Scott
Host of The Sanctum

Check out this gallery of pictures that Scott Clarke (one of our photographers) took at the gig.