The duty of opening the show fell to Double Cross. Fresh off the recent Dokken tour as well as a show with Danger Danger and showcasing material exclusively from their debut 'Time After Time' debut , this recent spell of gigging has certainly born fruit for the band as they turned in a tight, professional performance under the adverse circumstances.

The sound mix was not perfect for the band by any means, but such little quibbles aside, where Double Cross succeeded was in the quality of their songs and performance. There was a studied power and precision in evidence throughout the set and with songs such as set opener 'When We Were Young', 'Valley Of The Kings' and most especially stand out song 'Reach Out' the band simply oozed class.

With writing already underway for a second album the future looks very promising for Double Cross

It was with some surprise that, at the end of the recent Danger Danger tour, Deadline parted ways with longtime vocalist Steve Lunn. A replacement was quickly found in the shape of ex-Tikaboo Peak frontman Dale Radcliffe and the Night of Rock was only the third show for the new line up.

If anyone was worried that Deadline would prove be a spent force having made the change, then such worries were quickly dispelled when Radcliffe hit the stage. The new line up exudes a vitality and energy  that may have been missing in the past and the new frontman simply commands attention from those watching.

OK so the band weren't as tight as they had previously been, but time and a bundle of rehearsals will put this right to be sure. New song (Axe Wound?) set the direction in which Deadline intend to travel in the future and with a heavier, edgier sound than previously it promises to be interesting, to say the least.

Of the older material offered up, well worn songs such as 'Out Of Reach', 'One Touch' and 'Losing Myself' were played with a new confidence and the interaction between band members, and hence the overall performance, has moved up a notch or three.

Good One!

Rounding out the evening was of course Statetrooper. The band were using this show to warm up for their forthcoming appearance at Sweden Rock and to break in new bassist Gavin Cooper.

When reviewing the band's 'comeback' album 'The Calling' last year I made note of the fact that there was 'life in the old dogs' yet and this gig did nothing to disprove that fact. With a set made up, for the majority, with new tracks from the aforementioned 'The Calling' opus, the band quickly hit their stride and punched out riff after riff from the guitars of Jeff Summers & Martin Mikkels. Indeed, vocalist Gary Barden aside, Mikkels was very much the star of this show showcasing his fluid, melodic style of guitar playing at every opportunity and adding a more modern feel to the songs.

Having caught Barden during a brief cameo appearance at this years Firefest it came as no surprise to see that the man still has all of the vocal chops he had during his tenure with MSG, and indeed the two Schenker songs that rounded out the set, 'Cry For The Nations' & 'Armed And Ready', were delivered with an aplomb the eccentric German guitarist would surely approve of.

With a potential return to the UK for a full tour later in the year Statetrooper are most decidedly back in business

You can check out more pictures from this gig via this link