Hostile are one of those bands that can be relied upon to deliver a mindblowing performance every time you see them. The size of the stage and venue makes no odds to the monstrous sound and visual aspects that they almost effortlessly inject into their shows. Whether they're playing a tiny dingy pub in Dudley or headlining one of the larger venues, this band, it seems have the Midas touch wherever they go.

2008 is already promising to be an exciting year for the band, with a confirmed slot at this year's Download Festival, along with the release of their first album later on this year in the pipeline. You have to hand it to this band, they epitomise everything that makes that iconic metal act with something to cream over. Their movement on stage is almost hypnotic and whilst your eyes never wander from any of the band members, you never actually notice anyone moving from one side of the stage to the other, until almost coming out of a trance for a minute or two and becoming aware that lead guitarist AJ is now in a line out with Andy and Dave on the other side of the stage. Truly mesmorising and almost supernatural in the way they almost float to the other side of the stage without drawing attention to the fact that they are doing so. The showmanship of guitarists AJ and Dave and Andy on bass is immense and combined with the theatrical and almost menacing performance of frontman Ade and Gunga on drums, gives the feeling that no stage is ever really big enough for these huge performers. As most reviewers tend to forget about the drummer in the background, I feel it is essential that Gunga gets his own mention. Not only is he as tight and precise behind his kit as a German engineer in a lab coat, but he is also one of the most powerful and fearsome drummers about. Never before have I seen a drummer get out of his seat whilst still playing to stand up and interact with the crowd. Phenomenal!

Whilst Hostile are undoubtedly a metal band with evident influences including Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, the band have put their own contemporary and unique twist on their sound, which makes it near impossible to compare them with any other metal bands on the scene at present. Highlights of the set included Death March, No Way Out and enthralling surprise, the breakdown to Pantera's Domination.

If unable to make Download this year, any serious metalheads out there should break their balls to venture out and see this band at some point. Hostile plan to play gigs this year, and updates will be posted on their Myspace page.

MySpace.com - HOSTILE - Birmingham, UK - Metal / Rock / Other - www.myspace.com/hostileuk

Great to see a band putting the true spirit of metal back into the Midlands.

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