Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever... So goes the Black Label Society motto, an emblem of their brand of 'empowering' metal. I was into really heavy metal in my early teens, and even played in a few bands. However, at around age 15 the mentality of a gig not living up to expectations unless you leave bleeding strangely dissipated. BLS were just not heavy enough for me then ('cock-rock' being my favoured derisive term), and it has always struck me as paradoxical that the heavier and more technical metal bands become, the less time they waste beating their chests (which frontman Zakk Wylde regularly did in this instance), and showing off their skull tats.

As much as I prefer the less aesthetic-based aspect of the genre, BLS have undoubtedly hones their image of power to an impressive degree. Their rig was of a magnitude that the Corn Exchange is unlikely to see again for some time, consisting of a backline of 20 Marshall stacks and a drum 'throne' raised up on nine monstrous bass cabs (which I am nonetheless sceptical were actually functional, lest the drummer's bowels gave way). All of this certainly looked the part, however I don't think that the Corn Exchange can really handle so much volume, and sound quality was somewhat diminished by the venue's cavernous reverb. Zakk's vocals were particularly hard to discern, although this was probably not an issue for more erstwhile fans.

The guitars fortunately cut through the reverberating maelstrom, and true to Zakk's reputation (having won pretty much every guitar award going), his solos were both more complex and freer than on record. Their stated preference for bassists who are guitarists by trade seems anathema to the age-old saying that guitarists make poor bass players and vice versa, however in this case the occasional guitar-style bass-shredding beefed up their pinch-harmonic laden sound to great effect. Drummer Craig Nunenmacher played with suitable vigour, and exhibited all the mandatory rock stick-tricks to boot. He even recovered from a mistake during a trick by battering a cymbal with his bare hands, a true exhibition of at least Strength, Determination and Merciless (if not 'Forever' - whatever that means).

In short, BLS are clearly consumate showmen, and their power-based, slightly macho ethos and sound makes for a surprisingly engaging and uplifting metal experience. Zakk's playing in many ways epitomises the modern 'rock' guitar solo, and in this he did not disappoint. It's just a shame that the perennial curse of the messy-sounding metal show should hinder both a great band and venue.