Green Lung w/ Boss Keloid – Manchester Gorilla: Live Review

By Dominic Walsh on 26th November 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Green Lung are in celebratory mood as they take This Heathen Land on the road with Boss Keloid in tow for a handful of dates.

BOSS KELOID

Boss Keloid are the finest thing to come of Wigan…EVER! Tonight, they are in great form. Alex Hurst, guitarist and singer, is as enigmatic as ever with his patter with the crowd. Gentle Clovis opens; it is anything but gentle as the gargantuan riffs that Boss Keloid are renowned for wash over the already full venue.

Although a 10th Anniversary reissue of The Calming Influence Of Teeth is on the horizon, the band plump for material from their last two albums. Family The Smiling Thrush sees Smiling Thrush, Orang Of Noyn and Hats The Mandrill added to the opener. All of the songs are intricate and littered with twists and turns that usually end in whiplash, such is Boss Keloid’s ability to switch direction.

2017’s Melted On The Inch was the album that threw Boss Keloid into the wider consciousness. They notched up a performance at Bloodstock and had rave reviews aplenty for the album. Peykruve makes an appearance with added wah-wah and Chronosiam closes out their set in euphoric fashion. There is something transcendental about Boss Keloid’s music. Sure, the intricacies are clever and work brilliantly, but when the band hit their collective groove and open up, they really do create something incredibly towering.

As the band depart in a swathe of hazy blue light, they offer thanks to the crowd and make way for Green Lung.

Pictures by Dominic Walsh

GREEN LUNG

This Heathen Land (review here) is one of our albums of 2023. Green Lung are a band on an unbelievable skyward trajectory. Having witnessed their show at Damnation Festival 2022, and then supporting Clutch last year, it’s great to see them selling out venues like this.

It is a hot and sweaty one tonight. Packed from wall to wall, front to back, with even the doors seemingly breaking a sweat at the back. Green Lung are out to show that they are the real deal; not that they have anything to prove to this crowd. The week has seen them gracing the cover of Kerrang! magazine; it certainly puts an extra spring in the step.

In support of This Heathen Land, the band hit the stage to its prologue before The Forest Church comes rising out of the catacombs, obliterating any cobwebs.

With their symbolic t-shirts on, all five of the band are clearly loving every minute of the show. Unsurprisingly, This Heathen Land dominates the setlist however an early diversion to Woodland Rites provides familiarity. The latter offering chance for the crowd to really warm up their lungs. Maxine (Witch Queen) has Tom Templar goading the crowd at the front. Its tales of witchcraft are distinctly apt namechecking Alderly Edge (a local locale).

The crowd response is huge. With horns aloft through the bright white lights, it looks a little like Dawn Of The Dead at times. Mountain Throne is another track with a local feel referencing the Pendle Witches.

Collectively, Green Lung are a real force to be reckoned with, but individually, each member shines. Joseph Ghast on bass has a distinct playing technique and Tom Templar has some serious pipes on him. He is like a hybrid of Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Tobias Forge and Geddy Lee and he flits between styles effortlessly. The quicker chug of Leaders Of The Blind has fists aloft; John Wright helps drive the track on keys.

“This is the first Green Lung song with no heavy metal riffs in it – let’s see how it goes…” announced Templar. Ghast plays the marching drum and sings with Templar to create a great atmosphere on Song Of The Stones. A swirling, ambient drone rumbles the foundation of Gorilla as the song culminates in a melee of John Carpenter style keys.

Templar recalls the bands early shows in Manchester with an audience of 15 as Green Lung launch into Hunters In The Sky. The drama Templar offers in his voice really brings the song alive. One For Sorrow is dedicated to those who struggle with mental health; “It may never leave…but we always have heavy metal.” Amen to that. The ‘it follows’ lyrics feel synonymous for the dedication and mental health; it’s a completely cosmic doom laden trip.

A triple set of Ritual Tree, Reapers Scythe and Old Gods follows. Green Lung have a real swagger now and their synchronicity is evident.. A little bit like they’re brilliant, and they know it. To see a band like this riding that wave is glorious. Old Gods is a particular highlight with a twin organ/guitar solo. Scott Black lays plenty of killer solos down throughout the evening on his white Gibson guitar.

Oceans Of Time builds up to an epic end as set closer before the band return for Let The Devil In. There are cheers at the intro tape. “Let me see you bang your heads!” shouts Templar, “and let me see your horns!” The crowd oblige as the hulking Sabbath like riffs hit like a battering ram. To end a completely euphoric night, Graveyard Sun sends the band off as Pet Shop Boys It’s A Sin serenades the crowd.

There is nothing sinful about Green Lung. They are right in so many ways. You can only see great things on the horizon for Green Lung. For those in attendance, and those that have been with the band since the start, it is a wonderful thing to see a British band raising the bar and scaling it.

All Green Lung pictures by Steven Boon. You can see more of Steven’s work here.