SOiL, Finger Eleven and Adema bring Halloween rock to Wolverhampton - review
Three bands delivered bruising riffs, brooding melodies and big choruses as they took to the stage at KK’s Steel Mill
Wolverhampton’s KK’s Steel Mill was treated to a night of heavy rock as SOiL, Finger Eleven and Adema joined forces for a Halloween show.
The three bands brought contrasting styles to the stage on October 31, from Adema’s mix of heavy instrumentation and emotional intensity to Finger Eleven’s melodic guitar work and SOiL’s hard-hitting sound.
Adema opened with a set drawing on their back catalogue, beginning with Unstable before moving through Close Friends and Everyone.
Tim Fluckey, on lead vocals and guitar, was joined by Mike Ransom on rhythm guitar and Dave DeRoo on bass and backing vocals.
Do What You Want to Do and Immortal kept the momentum going, while Trust led into Freaking Out. The band finished with The Way You Like It and Giving In, delivering a strong opening performance.
Finger Eleven followed, opening with Above before moving into Adrenaline and First Time.
Scott Anderson’s vocals provided a link between the different textures of the band’s sound, supported by lead guitarist James Black, rhythm guitarist Rick Jackett, bassist Sean Anderson and drummer Steve Molella.
Slow Chemical was a highlight, with its muscular guitar work and powerful chorus, while Quicksand continued the heavier mood.
One Thing offered a more reflective moment before Together Right, Good Times and The Mountain led towards the closing track, Paralyzer, whose distinctive guitar figure and driving rhythm brought the set to an energetic finish.
Headliners SOiL brought the evening back to its heaviest foundations, opening with ReDefine before launching into Hate Song, Wide Open and Way Gone.
Ryan McCombs’ gravel-edged vocals were central to the band’s sound, with the set balancing forceful riffs and memorable choruses.
The One preceded an introductory passage into Nightmare, a fitting choice for the Halloween show, while Pride and new song Enemy X kept the pressure on.
Unreal, Black 7 and Breaking Me Down followed, before Black Betty provided a familiar, swaggering detour.
Halo brought the night to a close, with its unmistakable riff and McCombs’ raw vocal delivery providing an emphatic finale.
Adema supplied the tension, Finger Eleven brought melody and rhythmic variety, and SOiL delivered the final hammering in a formidable Halloween line-up.