More reviews from this weekend’s Hard Rock Hell in the shape of Black Label Society and The Wildhearts.

Arriving with longest intro tape in the history of time (3 different songs? Really!?), Black Label Society arrive with all of the fan-fare you’d expect of a festival headliner and when the curtains dropped and Zakk lets those riffs fly, it’s a recipe for pandemonium. Bleed For Me and Suicide Messiah provided serious highlights but does Zakk really need to noodle for ages at a time when it’s pushing 1 in the morning? Play more songs, man.

To see the Wildhearts in a position where everyone is on the top of their game, the songs sound great and there’s nothing chaotic about what’s happening in front of your eyes is an amazing experience. Whenever you read Ginger saying this is the most stable line-up in the bands history, believe him. Watching an ‘in the zone’ Wildhearts ploughing through Sick Of Drugs, I Wanna Go Where The People Go, Nita Nitro and Everlone fucking ruled. There may well be life in the old dog yet.

Check out our Day 1 review and Clutch and Orange Goblin reviews.