After a while the lack of variation causes that the band loses some of the attention. Hopefully they introduce some new styles in their music because apart from that Grand Magus is a good band. Until that it`s for true doom/stoner fans only.

Roadsaw
Then it`s time for Roadsaw. Although they like to tour Europe in the company of bands like Nebula and Orange Goblin, Roadsaw are not your typical stonerband. Of course the riffs are very important but they use them to make songs with a head and a tail. The vocal parts are just as important.

The melodies are good and some of them make you want to sing along instantly. On top of that singer Craig Riggs has got a voice any rock band would kill for. Raw without forcing and emotional without overacting.

Not too many people in Holland know Roadsaw and much to surprise to the band itself they do have fans in Groningen. Right from the beginning some of them scream for their favourite songs. Riggs to the rest of the band: `Wow! Did you hear that!?`

From that moment the band puts a little extra into it. They play a lot of songs from Rawk `n` Roll, their latest and best album yet. From straight forward rock in Right On Through and boogie in Buried Alive to Black Sabbath-like riffing in Scorpion Bowl and Hoof.

Also some older stuff like Satellite and calmer songs like Your Own Private Slice Of Hell. Altogether a good cross-section of their varied material. It`s time they become big enough to headline a tour through Europe. This set was way too short.

Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin start with a couple of tracks from their new album Coup The Grace. Nobody in the crowd has heard any of it as the album isn`t available in the stores yet. Singer Ben Ward walks up to the edge of the stage to boost the stage with his almost child like enthusiasm. `I want all of you to bang your heads!`

Ehrm, mind if I take a sip first? After a few songs the larger part of the audience doesn`t need Ben`s incitements anymore. Heads are banging, hands, be it fists, fingers or devil`s signs in the air and beer bottles in the other hands. The people in Vera know how to have a good time.

The new songs go down well. Very well actually. Judging by the reactions Orange Goblin doesn`t have to be afraid they`ll lose fans because of their more aggressive approach. It`s still groovy enough to get the crowd going.

(Review: Walter de Korver
Pics: Yvonne Boonaerts)