Photo – Bruna Feltrin
Opening the night, Satan’s Satyrs wasted no time in dialing the clock back to the ‘70s, exuding a raucous, fuzz-drenched energy that felt like it had been unearthed from some long-lost proto-metal vault. Their set was a whirlwind of groovy, riff-laden cuts drenched in the raw, untamed spirit of early doom and hard rock. Vocalist and bassist Clayton Burgess was an absolute force, his snarling delivery cutting through a maelstrom of scuzzy, wah-soaked guitar work. The band’s tight, yet delightfully unpolished, performance evoked the reckless abandon of the genre’s pioneers, setting the tone for the sonic journey ahead.
If Satan’s Satyrs were a heady blast of unfiltered nostalgia, Unto Others arrived with a distinctly different energy—oozing pure, ultra-cool post-goth punk confidence. Frontman Gabriel Franco, clad in aviator shades and dripping in effortless charisma, led his band through a remarkable set that wove together the shadowy elegance of ‘80s goth rock with the melodic heft of traditional heavy metal.
Songs from their latest album, Never Never Land, were met with rapturous approval, seamlessly sitting alongside fan-favourites from Mana and Strength. Franco’s voice was gripping throughout, its deep, brooding timbre echoing through the venue with haunting intensity, while the rest of the band delivered razor-sharp precision in a set that was as atmospheric as it was commanding.
But the night belonged to Green Lung.
As the lights dimmed and the opening strains of ‘Woodland Rites’ thundered through the Academy, it was clear that the UK’s most captivating new heavy band had arrived in full force. Green Lung are a band that understand the power of drama, and their entrance was a masterclass in anticipation and intensity. The clarity of their sound was nothing short of stunning—every occult-infused riff, every anthemic chorus, every moment of dynamic tension was delivered with absolute precision.
Frontman Tom Templar exuded an undeniable confidence, his soaring, theatrical vocals in rude health as he commanded the crowd with every incantation-like phrase alongside guitar wizard, Scott Black’s outrageous and mesmerising fretboard talents.
The band’s setlist was a triumphant celebration of their rise to dominance, with ‘Mountain Throne’ unleashing its full riff-laden might, ‘Song of the Stones’ standing out as a stunning highlight, and ‘Maxine’ bringing an eerie, almost mystical energy to the proceedings. By the time they closed with ‘Let The Devil In,’ the Academy had been utterly enthralled, the audience moving as one in a rapturous celebration of heavy music’s most exciting torchbearers.
Green Lung have long been touted as one of the UK’s finest emerging acts, but in Dublin, they proved they are much more than that. They are a band at the peak of their powers, poised to carve out a lasting legacy. If there was any doubt before, February 18th at The Academy made it abundantly clear—Green Lung are the future.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2025
