How to define best the expression Heavy Metal? Is this bombastic guitar sound clouds accompanied by an extreme noise level,long hair and a mean eye glimpse? Or is Heavy Metal rather the fact, that someone is donating his liver  to someone beloved, only to stand on a stage again, just 3 weeks after surgery, rocking his socks off? Well, I presume, I don't have to think too long about it, do I, to find an answer?! - Mind me, outstanding persons won't profit from that, but rather from the, before described sound thunderstorm. 
Valient Thorr, however his real name is, is such a species, who doesn't just perform the metal, but truly lives it. Whereby again, I have to put one thing right, as Valient Thorr describe their music rather as so called Stoner Rock. And with that, I switch over from singularity to plural, as Valient Thorr ain't just an individual, but also a whole band, freshly important from Greenville, North Carolina USA. Though it's not the first time, that our Dixie Ötzi and his group have come to Europe. Indeed they have been here before including their support slot for Motörhead in 2011. And back then, those were the biggest venues the band had played so far since their founding in 2000. But without a big name fronting, these guys here have to bake rather small bread, as we say so. Well it has got it's advantages as well as disadvantates. Supporting a big act means to get the attention of a wider range of audiance, though thhose again take the supportband rather as a must be, But with a little luck, they might get at least some attention. Apart from that, supportacts always have to follow certain rules and last but least - pay to play. - But when coming on a solo tour, like Valient Thor just do, then this means to play most times in tiny locations, as the popularity level ain't very high yet. Of course they are their own bosses have not that many requests and are happy with a solid backstage situation including food and drinks and of course a well filled venue. And the band hopes, that maybe some people remember from back then, when they supported Motörhead. In case of our boys here, this is indeed the case. And some metal fans even deal 'em as secret hint. 


To pull down my own ego, I have to confess, that I don't really remember the supportslot at the Motörhead Tour 2011, but 
I know, I was there. My only excuse for this lack of memory is, that at 130 events every year, and this for the past 30 years, you just can't remember every single moment. Or am I getting really that old?

 Never mind, but tonight we are here at South Tyrol's capitol Bolzano, the hottest and also the coldest city of Italy. And we are here at the posh atmosphere of the so called Pippo Stage, a separčt of the local youth scene, fitting in aprox. 200 people. So fairly half of that figure have gathered here tonight, to check out Valient Thorr for a very small ticket price. And they get christened in sweat. But before our kidney donating US Stoner Rock hero can prove, that he can dance a Paso Doble also with just one kidney, he and we can enjoy another supporting bunch of flowers...


And that one again is named Insanity Alert who were born in Innsbruck, Austria in the close neighbourhood about 2 years ago. Whereby boss of this bunch is a dutch guy named Heavy Kevy, But that's okay, as his nationality gives the moshing party a rather international flavour. And such a thing is always good. Let's put it that way. Those 4 tyrolean's and 1 dutch boy leave an entertaining impression on us, whereby the amusement lies definately in the hands of the front comedian. 


'Second Opinion’ is the title of the current EP. Before that the band had one album namend 'First Diagnosis'. But howsoever,
we are here tongiht doing a delicate swan dance, which has as much in common with Tschaikowski, as Freddy Star has got to do with Slayer. But thanks to the great humor of Mr. Bean a.k.a. Heavy Kevy and the decent thrash harmonies, my impression is a rather good one indeed. And once again I remember my youth in Innsbruck in the Seventies (yes I myself do come out of this city as well) , where there was only one rockclub and you could count bands on 5 fingers. But how do we say? Times have been changing. And what's up to Rock and Metal meanwhile it feels like more than a century has past and changed. For Insanity Alert there is only one thing important right now, and this is heading out from the home fields into the big wide world, but not only as a supportact but rather doing their very own programm. Time will tell  so keep on moshing and rock 'till you drop'
 https://www.facebook.com/insanityalert


Halleluja, christmas is coming son. But the rising up from the ashes, we do celebrate at easter sunday first... Or am I wrong? Because when starting this second chapter off tonight, I tend to believe in hallucinations, that our most famous 
stone age man Ötzi have come back to life and has popped over from the near archeologic museum round the corner...


But while taking a closer look, you can make out some differences, bringing the just mentioned stone age boy quickly back behind his glas bars at the museum. But at least we got the prove, that this guy wasn't just situated here in the mountains, but also at the american westcoast and elsewhere where he still exists. Lucy homo Sapiens is clapping her hands in heaven, because it's true, mankind is not only related to apes but also to Lucy, who wasted their seeds back then in Ethiopia 3.5 Mill years ago. Right at this moment, we got the living prove that Lucy's grand, grand grand son is up there developing his very own way to express himself.  But enought of this evolution lesson Ötzi a.k.a. Valient Thorr is showing us, that he and his band can manage also without Motörhead to rund and jump around on their feet getting the crowd boiling. 
  

Lucky Luke does show us how to pretend the dying Swan(see pic above) Well, don't overdo it please, because we are far from a Wacken Open Air crowd. Never mind, the fun aspect is the clue here. 



Seven albums our Fred Flintstone has put out since the founding ot his clan, and also a visual diamond from 3008 named 'Heat'. But ain't relevant at this point, but rather  their latest Baby named 'Our Own Masters' including  ‚Thorn Apart’ 
in the truest sence of the word. No, we definately can't complain. the tenor is just right. And we do receive a special lection in a dry swimming atmosphere. 


The sauna is steaming and some guys would give their sweaty shirt for a refreshing shower. But we don't have this luxury here. For Valient Thorr the pippo stage has been just anouther stepping stone and part of a puzzle  to conquer Europe.
Friends and admirers of their music do honorate their appearances. And it only can get better, exept, Ötzi will get lost within the endless jungle of Hardrock and Heavy Metal. But I do believe, before this would happen, Valient Thorr would rather donate his second kidney, though this would be rather not such a good idea, I guess. 


But Valient Thorr are rockng hard. And I'm pretty sure, that Fred Flintstone and his mate barney will survivie, so or so and  howsoever...
    
http://www.valientthorr.com/ 
    
(More pics find at  www.metalhammer.de )

and all together now...