May is the pre festival merry-go-round and making a brief 3 gig stop is the mighty Black
Label Society. Fresh off the emotional year that was 2025, Zakk Wylde has produced a
banger of an album in ‘Engines of Demolition’ so it’s right that we get a wee taste before
they head out on the festival circuit.
This show is sold out, so queues are massive and to top this off, the merch is late, so
the scene of roadies bundling in boxes of t shirts into the venue as goggle eyed punters
salivate is something you don’t always see every day.
In tow on this brief run are Venom Inc and Dark Chapel, meaning its double time for BLS
rhythm guitarist Dario Lorina who fronts the Las Vegas based melodic outfit
The venue, as well as being blisteringly hot, is three quarter full as Dark Chapel start
their set with ‘Afterglow’ from their 2025 debut ‘Spirit in the Glass’. It’s a rocker, so its a great song to open with and sets the tone for their 6 song set that is strong, including a
cover of Bill Withers classic ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ that hits the spot.
Three piece Venom Inc. are next up, their classic ‘British’ metal sound goes down well
with bassist/vocalist Tony ‘Demolition Man’ Dolan evoking memories of Lemmy, not
only with his vocal delivery but also his microphone set up…
Its a strong nine song set that showcases their two album releases and certainly gets
the crowd going for the main event…
A mash up of Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ & Led Zepp‘s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ is the ingenious
intro tune before Black Label Society hit the stage with the opener ‘Funeral Bell’
The sound is amazing, and Zakk’s choice of kilt is particularly striking with a cheeky
purple and green number hanging from the guitar wizard’s waist.
Wylde has a unique vocal style that shines through, and free from the shackles of being
‘just Ozzy’s guitarist’ makes you appreciate his multi-instrumental talents, this is
brought to the fore in ‘In This River’ with some digital dexterity on the piano.
There’s only thirteen songs on the set, but these are not two minute songs thrown
together in probably the same amount of time, these are emotional songs that have
meaning and coming in at over six minutes, it’s certainly quality before quantity
There is a cracking cover of Ozzy’s ‘No More Tears’ as well as the highly emotional
‘Ozzy’s Song’ from their latest album that is a fitting tribute to the great man as well as
setlist staples such as ‘Suicide Messiah’, ‘The Blessed Hellride’ and ‘Stillborn’ that give
the Glasgow crowd a show to remember, and being left with the most important thing a
show can give you……… wanting more.
BLS Setlist
1. Runeral Bell
2. Name in Blood
3. Destroy & Conquer
4. A Love Unreal
5. Heart of Darkness
6. No More Tears
7. In This River
8. The Blessed Hellride
9. Set You Free
10. Fire it Up
11. Suicide Messiah
12. Ozzy’s Song
13. Stillborn