Having missed Britain's premier underground Heavy Metal festival Bloodstock for the first time in three years it would be a trip across the Severn Bridge that would fulfil my Metal needs as I ventured to my old stomping ground of the Bierkeller for the opening night of the 'Mad Gods And Englishmen' tour courtesy of legendary British metal band Sabbat.

Firstly though it was left to support band Imperial Vengeance to entertain the metal fraternity with an extended support slot due to fellow support band Cinders Fall having to cancel due to their drummer suffering an unfortunate hamstring incident.  As bass player David Bryan took to the stage in sunglasses and military attire, looking not unlike a member of latter day sleaze rockers Faster Pussycat, I wondered whether this was a peculiar choice of support.  My doubts were soon laid to rest when he was joined by lead vocalist C.Edward Alexander in matching attire before releasing their curious blend of extreme metal.  After closer examination I came to realise that their uniforms were in fact vintage British Military uniforms as the band played a 45-minute slot of material, firmly rooted in the glory days of the British Empire. The bands melancholy style of music may not be everyone's cup of tea but they certainly kept me captivated.

Up next were Nottingham's finest, Sabbat. A band that has always been a victim of their own originality, a band that were always deemed too technical to be labelled Thrash Metal and far too thought provoking to be labelled Black Metal, but lets just forget about labels tonight and let the music do the talking.  The band took to the stage led by charismatic vocalist and true gent Martin Walkyier and literally slay the less than sold out crowd with opening number 'A Cautionary Tale' displaying some mighty fine musicianship.  All eyes were definitely on guitarist Andy Sneep, tonight resembling Grizzly Adams, as he is currently one of the most sought after and respected Heavy Metal producers of our time, and whilst nobody can doubt that in Andy Sneep the band possesses one of the finest shredders to grace a stage, for me man of the match had to be awarded to Simon "Jack The Riffer" Jones who displayed some enthralling guitar wizardry throughout the evening.

The only original member not to participate in the current line is bass player Frazer Craske (currently handling four string duties with Raven's Creed), his replacement in the band being the unlikely former guitarist with English Dogs, Janus Stark and The Prodigy, Gizz Butt.

Gizz proved tonight that whilst he arrived on the scene from more Punk Rock roots he certainly adapts himself well to the Metal genre, and lets not forget long-time drummer Simon Negus who completes the tight as a nuns 'arris rhythm section.

The band ploughed through material from 'The History Of A Time To Come' and 'Dreamweaver' with colossal dynamism much to the delight of the Bristol crowd.  From 'Behind The Crooked Cross' to the prodigious 'Wildfire' the crowd simply lapped up every metal morsel, my personal favourite of the night was the incredible 'Clerical Conspiracy' as the band crushed everyone 'Neath an Iron Hand.  As a reward to the loyal that attended tonight, the band treated the fans to a song never released on an album, a song that was given away as a flexi disc (whatever happened to them?) with fantasy gaming magazine 'White Dwarf', namely 'Blood For The Blood God'.

Unlike my companions for the night I sadly never witnessed Sabbat back in their heyday but having witnessed the band in more recent years at the Bloodstock and Download festivals on tonight's performance they are still very much delivering the goods.  I urge any Heavy Metal fan out there to catch Sabbat live if they play near you, and witness a band not bowing down to any musical trends but simply letting the music do the talking.