Halestorm / BP Pulse Live / Birmingham

We headed over to the BP Pulse Live arena located at the NEC in Birmingham to catch US rockers Halestorm on their 2025 “The nEVEREST Tour” celebrating the release of their new album “Everest”. The BP Pulse Live is an impressive arena, vast, with sweeping large concourses that make moving around a breeze.

First up on stage in support is Kelsy Karter & The Heroines, a four-piece Australian/British rock & roll band. Fronted (funnily enough) by Kelsy Karter, the lone Aussie, she is joined by drummer Sebastian Boyse, guitarist Matt Peach and bassist Tommy Gent who all grew up together in Derby. They released their debut album “Missing Person” in 2000, and their most recent, “Love Made Me Do It” this year.

Kelsey and the band were a great start to the night, with their unique rock n’ roll sound, taking elements of punk attitude, pop and some delicious soulful moments. They start the set with God Knows I’ve Tried followed by Laser to the Heartwhich has the audience bouncing along. For me the highlight of the set was an emotional cover version of the Aerosmith classic Cryin’. Its not an imitation of the original, but a fantastic re-working, giving this classic a new grungy sound, that works exceptionally well. Devil on my Shoulder and the brilliant Liquour Store on Mars, have the audience singing along with gusto. complete with audience, participation brings the triumphant opening set to a close.

Setlist

God Knows I've Tried

Laser to the Heart

Cover You

Cryin' (Aerosmith cover)

Lightning in a Bottle

Devil On My Shoulder

Liquor Store on Mars

It doesn’t take long to re-set the stage and prepare for the arrival of Bloodywood. I saw Bloodywood earlier this year at the O2 Institute here in Birmingham, and quite frankly, it would have been worth the ticket price just for these guys !

Bloodywood are an Indian band, formed in 2016 in New Delhi. Originaly set up as a a parody / covers band on YouTube and they developed a huge following. They soon started to write their own material which is a mix of traditional Indian folk music with instruments like the flute and Dhol, with nu metal and metalcore elements. They released their debut album “Anti-Pop Vol. 1” in 2017 and followed this up with “Rakshak” in 2022 and their critically acclaimed latest album “Nu Delhi” earlier this year.

Using two singers, one delivering powerful rap style vocals the other a more harsh metal style along with traditional language vocals, it works damn well. There is something about the blend of Indian music and metal that just works…… brilliantly. The bright high tempo and sounds of the traditional Dhol (drum) add a new dimension to the metal genre.

I soon realised I wasn’t the only one here just as much for Bloodywood as Halestorm, as the crowd erupted when they took to the stage and dived straight into Gaddaar and Aaj and it doesn’t take long for a circle pit to form, much to the delight of the band members.

The high tempo / high energy performance, bounces off the stage right into the crowd who are loving every beat, every note.

Recent single release with BABYMETAL Bekhauf makes an appearance with its hard hitting metal tones. Its brash, heavy and utterly brilliant as we watch a see of hair bobbing back and forth like waves across the arena floor. It’s a blast from start to finish without a moments rest and would be a perfect song for an action anime soundtrack.

Nu Delhi is a real highlight, a loud powerful love song for their home city and it’s vibrant nature certainly comes through in the performance, leaning into the traditional sounds more it feels like a rallying call to the youth of vast, vibrant city. They close the set with Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot), from 2022’s “Rakshak” and as the name warms us, it’s a right riot to end on. A powerful call for freedom and rights, with stirring lyrics such as:

“It's a fight that goes beyond bad and good

It's a fight between can and should

So bounce to the sound, make a revolution

This is an act of war, this is the evolution

Remember those who raged before, we're the last straw

Hard to the core and we're ready for more

Rise up and get on the attack

Become the generation to break the camel's back”

It’s the perfect end to the set, a fist-pumping, head-banging anthem that leaves our ears ringing well after the final notes faded away…..

Setlist

Gaddaar

Aaj

Dana Dan

Bekhauf

Nu Delhi

Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)

A longer break as the stage is prepared for the arrival of tonight’s headliners Halestorm. A large screen unfurls infront of the stage.

Halestorm are a rock band formed by vocalist / guitarist Lzzy Hale, and her brother Arejay Hale on drums in Red Lion, Pennsylvania in 1997, who are joined by guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bassist Josh Smith.

They released their self-titled debut album “Halestorm” in 2009 and their sixth album “Everest” was released this year.

As we head into the pit with cameras in hand the light drop. The huge curtain in front of the stage is suddenly lit from behind with bright white lights, as sillouettes appear of the band members to huge cheers from the Birmingham crowd. With the track Black Sabbath ringing in our ears (and loud cheers of approval from Sabbath’s home city crowd, the music explodes and the curtain drifts down.

They start the set with new song Fallen Star which is followed by crowd favourite I Miss the Misery which explodes out at us, with confetti cannons bursting into life covering band and crowd in ticker tape, and the flames reach for the high ceiling.

Another favourite Love Bites (So Do I) from 2012’s “The Strange Case of….” Has the whole arena rocking along and singing as one as Lzzy unleashes her distinctive and powerful voice.

As you would expect, the set is littered with new songs from the latest album “Everest” with some old favourites thrown in along the way. One of the real highlights of the new material in the set is a powerful and emotional rendition of Will you Remember Me? which Lzzy dedicates to those we have lost as she performs on the keyboard. The atmosphere is incredible, and the Birmingham crowd erupt into a spontaneous chant of “Ozzy… Ozzy…” It’s a heartfelt and emotional moment.

As they launch into Rain Your Blood On Me from 2025’s “Everest” Lzzy appears dressed in a cape carrying a cup / chalice. A track with a wonderful almost erratic intro, before her powerful and intense vocals take over and lead the crowd in chanting along to the lyrics. It has that 80’s Maiden vibe to it and I love it, but has almost tribal beat / flavour to it. As always e get an extended drum solo, and this is the point tonight for that, as Arejay calls for a “drum mosh pit”. Arejay is an incredible drummer and he delivers a fast, furious and powerful drum solo, during which his iconic oversized drum sticks make an appearance ! The audience respond and deliver the pit Arejay called for, and then some. There’s a sense of unity between crowd and drummer, and a huge grin on Arejay’s face, from ear to ear. The drum section leads us effortlessly into Freak Like Me which is another cracker and gets the crowd bouncing again, and chanting along to the “Freak Like Me” chorus sections.

The incredible set just flies by, and before you know it, we’re at the encore. Delighting the Birmingham crowd, they kick it off with a cover of the Ozzy Osbourne classic Perry Mason, which Halestorm played this summer at the Sabbath ‘Back to the Beginning’ show at Villa Park. It’s a beautiful, and poignant tribute to the city’s favourite son.

The set rounds out with the title track Everest from the latest album. A soft delicate start with subdued vocals explodes when the guitars join in, creating a pulsing, and building sound. Lzzy delivers some deep almost spoken lyrics, magical and seductive as the track builds…… There’s something fitting about a song about climbing Everest, in the sense of overcoming things and prospering, for a finale…. Almost ‘get out there and grow’ ! A wonderful bluesy end to proceedings as the smoke envelops the stage and the night ends with a blast as the confetti cannons go off.

All in all, an incredible night. Three very different bands, each delivering something very special indeed. Kelsey Carter lit the touch paper and Bloodywood saw the rockets launch with one mighty bang, and the piece de resistance from Halestorm who delivered the firework display to cap off the night. A stunning night !

Setlist

[Intro] Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover)

Fallen Star

I Miss the Misery

Love Bites (So Do I)

Watch Out!

I Get Off

Broken Doll

Like a Woman Can

How Will You Remember Me?

I Am the Fire

Familiar Taste of Poison (part)