16 June 2007 (gig)
29 June 2007
Hirsute Canadians Priestess clarify from the get-go how "fucking pleased" they are to be opening for Megadeth tonight. And this sincere humility helps to win over the audience, who act like excitable dogs waiting for their metal masters. But the four-piece also prove to be fantastic anyway, cracking on with the serious business of rock and no pissing about in between.
The band cut their supporting teeth on the road with Motorhead and Black Label Society and it is soon obvious why these jaunts amassed a following for them. Their short set comprises a solid back to back collection of hard, retro rock with a heavy metal bias, and dual vocals, powered by frontman Mikey Heppner’s mighty chords, boom from the stage. Priestess mix shiny melody with sanded riffs, so singing along comes as easy as head banging. And with hairstyles like theirs, you couldn’t even resist anyway.
Promoting album 'Hello Master' they unleash raucous highlights including 'Lay Down' – worthy of its inclusion on video game 'Guitar Hero III' - 'Talk To Her' and 'I Am The Night, Colour Me Black', each one laced with pounding percussion and testosterone-fuelled marathon riffs.
The extra helpings of guitar breaks from the fret-fiddlers do add staying power to the set but surely can’t compete with the band’s staple feature, the classic, crowd-pleasing drum solo, which is pretty daring really in a half hour support slot. As the guitarists leave the stage, the gradual realisation of where sticksman Vince Nudo’s going with his continued beats escalates to whistles and eventually arms in the air appreciation, a salute which is rightly repeated at the end of the show.
When warming up for a massive main act, a passive presence combined with impressive performance is all that’s needed and is something Priestess seem to have nailed on their fast-track course to headline status themselves.
