It’s been a couple of years since I last caught up with one of my favourite singers, but here we are again at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow to see the fabulous Blaze Bayley and the Absolva boys on tour with his new album Circle of Stone. We have one support act to enjoy first—Prymå from the South East of England. Their set kicks off with “1:23:45” from their Uncaged 2022 EP, with Gabrielle unleashing her intense vocals over some heavy guitars. The song has a touch of Stone Sour to it, with some great guitar work—a strong start.
They follow up with two more from the EP: the stomping “Suicide Storm” and the groove-laden “Freaky Friday Night,” which was my favourite of their set, showcasing Gabrielle’s brilliant vocals. We also get last year’s singles, “Survival” and “My Cold Shadow,” both bouncy, riff-heavy tracks with intense vocals. Their new single “Dead to Me” packs a punch with harder vocals and intense guitar work. The band were full of energy on stage, making their set even more enjoyable. I’d definitely see them again—if you get the chance, don’t miss them live.
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Now for the main event, Blaze Bayley, a man who never disappoints. His solo albums keep getting better, and Circle of Stone is no exception. Tonight, we’re treated to seven tracks from the album, including the bagpipe-driven “The Call of the Ancestors” and the title track “Circle of Stone,” a goosebump-inducing, guitar-laden masterpiece with stunning vocals from Blaze. The slower “A Day of Reckoning” highlights his storytelling ability, while “The Path of the Righteous Man” showcases tremendous twin guitar work from Chris and Luke, alongside epic drumming from Martin.
We’re also treated to “Rage,” one of my favourite tracks from the new album, which really shows off Blaze’s vocal range and has a fantastic groove. From Blood and Belief, we get the groove-heavy “Alive” and “Ten Seconds.” One of my favourites from War Within Me, “Warrior,” makes an appearance, with its slow intro building into a guitar-driven pace. The epic “Stare at the Sun” from Silicon Messiah is always a joy to hear live.
Blaze dips into his Iron Maiden era too, with the rockers “Man on the Edge” and “Futureal,” one of my all-time favourite Maiden tracks. The setlist covers a wide range from Blaze’s back catalogue, and he never disappoints, whether with his vocals, the band’s playing, or his always-on-point banter. He even paid tribute to the NHS for their swift response after his heart attack, crediting them with his quick recovery.
Blaze Bayley and his band are always a joy to see live, delivering a fabulous night of pure rock ’n’ roll. Get out there and catch them live—and don’t forget to check out the new album. Until next time!
Photos by Gary Cooper
