After having a couple of heavy nights out the two previous evenings watching the best of new British talent, namely Four Wheel Drive and Saint Jude, there was no way was I going to go out again on a cold Sunday night. My liver needed a rest. So what do I do? I go on Facebook and find out that Rogue Male are playing a low-key gig and two different friends have asked me along. Refuse? How could I?

It's been 25 years since I last saw Rogue Male in action. That was when I was a young seventeen year old happy enough to be given free tickets to see them on the then new Channel 4 music programme E.C.T. This was a short-lived heavy metal programme that had no presenters, just four live acts given ten minutes each to horrify the country. . On the day in question Rogue Male were on the same line up as Torme, Girlschool and Waysted.

During their brief-ish history Rogue Male released two albums on the Music For Nations label, 'First Visit' in '85 and 'Animal Man' a year later then just as quickly as they appeared the band imploded in '87. In 2009 singer/guitarist Jim Lyttle made a new album 'Nail It' with the help of the boys from G.M.T, namely messers Bernie Torme, John McCoy and Robin Guy, they put the name Rogue Male on the tin and got some good write ups in the process.  Unfortunately good write ups did not then follow an almost disastrous gig at Hard Rock Hell III that almost put the final nail in their coffin, but here in 2011 Rogue Male are well and truly back.

Back in '85 the band looked like something from a Mad Max movie, now they look like four horsemen who walked out of an apocalypse. Jim Lyttle used to have a pointed quiff perched on his bonce, now he has turned his head upside down and has a baldhead and a pointed nib for a beard. Original guitarist John Fraser-Binnie is back in the band, the man still has his blonde locks. Some say he looks like Brian Tatler from Diamond Head, some say he looks like KK Downing from Judas Priest, and some even say he looks like the tranny bus driver from Brighton, all joking aside it's great to have him back and up to his dirty tricks (geddit).  Completing the band is Pete D who like I earned his stars 'n' stripes as a young fan there that day at E.C.T. and holding it altogether is drummer Paul Westwood.

Tonight Rogue Male are playing a low-key support act to regular covers band Metal Works, but there's only one band I'm here for.

The sound is immediate and the band play a full on assault from word go. The band are in you face and cranking out riffs as if being fired from a Reising M50 submachine gun, this is all out war. Songs from the recent 'Nail It' sound incredible with this line up, 'Cold Blooded Man' and 'Street Credibility' are just as good as anything from their first two albums.

From 'First Visit', I've forgotten how powerful 'On The Line' was and 'Dressed Incognito' has a dirty grinding riff. From 'Animal Man' the forgotten anthem 'Take No Shit' still rings true today if not more, this song is drenched in anger and if the protesting stoodents need a chant then this is it.  The band loved every second and the lucky ones here early tonight loved it even more. The sound reminded me of an early W.A.S.P when they were still prepared to fuck like a beast but unlike Blackie and his hired hands Rogue Male are still the same animal they always were.

Revving it up on a 'Crazy Motorcycle' the band ended skidding dust into our ears, before coming back for only time for one encore.  Debuting a track called 'Liar' which correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe to be a new number and what a cracker it is, bring on album number four.

Rogue Male shoot their load all over me tonight. Not many bands will have Rogue Male as a support act in future when they're this good and I'm so glad the band is back for a second visit.

Now all hail the mighty return of Rogue Male. THEY NAILED IT TONIGHT.

Set list : Cold Blooded Man / On The Line / Street Credibility / Dressed Incognito / Take No Shit / Forever Wild / Crazy Motorcycle .... Encore Liar