Murderdolls – Exeter Lemon Grove – 14th February 2011 (Live Review)
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Written by Rob Sleigh
“Is anyone here in love?” Murderdolls’ Wednesday 13 asks the crowd at tonight’s Valentine’s Day show in Exeter on the last night of the band’s UK tour. Going by the response to his enquiry, apparently not. Who, after all, would take the one they love to a concert by Hollywood horror-punkers the Murderdolls for a romantic evening out? “Does anyone here really hate someone that they used to be in love with?” the frontman continues. On this occasion, the response is unsurprisingly more positive, providing a fitting introduction to the track ‘Blood Stained Valentine’.
Kicking off proceedings tonight is London-based metallers The Defiled who, with their deafening blend of thundering bass and Machinehead-like alt-metal, do a pretty fine job of introducing an evening of shameless hard rock entertainment. Next up, and undoubtedly one of the most sought-after bands of the night, are US glam-core rockers the Black Veil Brides. As the five-piece take to the stage, with make-up so heavy it makes Kiss look positively austere, it is clear from the screams in the front rows that these are one of the rock bands of the moment. Songs from their debut album ‘We Stitch These Wounds’, such as ‘Knives and Pens’, are enough to keep their present fans consistently enraptured but, as tonight’s headliners go on to prove, it takes more than a bit of youth, make-up and barefaced arrogance to make a genuine rockstar.
Finally back after seven years away, the Murderdolls return to the UK for their first proper tour since the release of last year’s second album ‘Women and Children Last’. Ready to unleash their latest effort on the Exeter crowd, the band take to the stage as a mixture of horror movie music from the likes of Psycho and The Omen plays in the background. The line-up of the group has changed slightly since last time around, but the continued presence of key members Wednesday 13 and guitarist Joey Jordison – probably better known as the drummer from Slipknot – is clearly enough to draw the crowds back after so many years.
Pulling a selection of favourites from their new album, as well as their 2002 debut ‘Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls’, the five-piece certainly know how to keep things lively. Following tracks like ‘She Was a Teenage Zombie’, ‘197666’ and the anthemic ‘Summertime Suicide’, Wednesday 13 - a man who looks weirdly like James Blunt in a long, black wig and dark mark-up - engages the audience in frequent bouts of amusing banter and sing-alongs. Unlike their latter support act, the Murderdolls fully understand the concept of unashamed, tongue-in-cheek rock music. Their songs display a satisfying blend of cheesy rock’n’roll and punk rock brutality that matches up perfectly with their appearance and stage presence.
Returning to the stage after a short interval, Wednesday 13 dedicates the track ‘Welcome to the Strange’ to Jordison’s Slipknot bandmate Paul Gray, mentioning that this was the late bassist’s favourite Murderdolls song. The throng of Slipknot fans present at tonight’s gig proceed with a deafening chant of “Paul Gray” in recognition of the bass player. Holding an umbrella emblazoned with a certain four-letter word, Wednesday 13 leads the crowd in a sing-along of set-closer ‘I Love to Say F**k’. Tonight’s show could fairly be described as a Battle of the Make-Up, considering the varying fans here to watch either of the two main bands. And if that’s the case, Murderdolls won.
Stereoboard Rating: 8/10
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Finally back after seven years away, the Murderdolls return to the UK for their first proper tour since the release of last year’s second album ‘Women and Children Last’. Ready to unleash their latest effort on the Exeter crowd, the band take to the stage as a mixture of horror movie music from the likes of Psycho and The Omen plays in the background. The line-up of the group has changed slightly since last time around, but the continued presence of key members Wednesday 13 and guitarist Joey Jordison – probably better known as the drummer from Slipknot – is clearly enough to draw the crowds back after so many years. 
