Heavens Basement
The Cockpit
5/5

A sold out venue and a mass of pure rock and roll hell fire commanding the stage. Add all of these obscure elements and you get a Heaven’s Basement gig and tonight, at the Cockpit, they managed to ramp up every element of their scorching live set tenfold.

Playing their own brand of classic rock and roll (reminiscent of Motley Crue and Def Leppard) to a crowd peppered with older fans re-visiting the era of hair metal, this small Norwich four piece executed every element of rock and roll possible. Raging guitar solos (which featured behind the back playing), stupendous mosh pits and the antics of a frontman born to channel the god of rock and roll with his every breath. Aaron Buchanan’s performance was nothing short of incredible. Bouncing off every inch of the stage and moving with a jaunty, flexing power like a crazy hybrid of Mick Jagger and Freddie Mercury, he carried the entire set on his broad shoulders. His booming vocals and crazy crowd surfing antics saw Heaven’s Basement cut through their set like chain saw wielding maniacs. From the opener ‘Welcome Home’ to a beautifully crafted cover of the Rolling Stones ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ and the bellowing crescendo of ‘Executioners Day’, every inch of their set was enthralling, thoroughly fantastic and exceptionally rock and roll. It would be both impractical and impossible to pick a highlight. Just be sure that every song was delivered with the pace and passion of an American musical but with a glinting, razor sharp heavy edge.

If you only see one band live this year, make sure it’s Heaven’s Basement. They won’t disappoint.

Dominic Moffitt

photo: Heavensbasement.com