KK’s Priest // Return Of The Sinner European Tour – Live Review // Tailgunner // The Limelight // Belfast
We are heading towards the bank holiday weekend at pace and what better way to do it than with some of the finest old-school metal the UK has ever produced! KK’s Proest are In town for a midweek show to blow off the cobwebs and check that Belfast is alive and well and ready to rock!
In tow they have the mighty Tailgunner in support, these guys are an absolute homage to 80’s metal in the best kind of way! Tonight we have doors at 7 pm and the bands kick off at 8 pm, I fight my way through the traffic to land around 10 minutes early to get organised and before you know it Tailgunner are ready to rock! And oh my god do they rock !
a blistering performance that brings you right back to the hair metal days of the 80’s, the band’s energy on stage is explosive! Everyone is giving it their all up there, synchronised moves, a frontman who captivates the audience and two guitarists who can shred with the best of them, what’s not to love? When I say these guys and dolls are explosive I am not kidding! The furious pace of the band makes it nearly impossible to work out who to watch, they are like caged animals unleashed into the wild, but with unlimited personalities, they are a band who you cannot ignore when on stage, their boundless energy and blistering soundtrack just pulls you in.
From duelling guitar solos to powerful wailing vocals and a tight-ass backline Tailgunner are one band that has to be on your radar if you love old-school metal. They are forever clambering all over the monitors, rallying support from the crowd and believe me, the crowd loved them! It’s a tough gig warming up somebody’s audience, some hate it but clearly Tailgunner revel in it! Fuelling them to make the Belfast audience their own. Holding up a “Welcome To The Revolution” sign Belfast is in fine voice warbling along. These lunatics pull all the party tricks and I guarantee everyone will be talking about them tomorrow. For sure one of the most memorable opening bands I’ve seen in quite a few years. If you get the opportunity to catch these crazy kids live near you, do it! You can thank me later! Wowzer!!!
A quick turnaround and we are closing in on the one, the only Mr KK Downing taking the stage and the room packed with Priest fans, the excitement is palpable! The screens light up and the band members get introduced individually to roars of approval from the Belfast crowd.
No sooner than their arrival on stage KK’s Priest blows the roof off the place. I’ve been a huge fan of KK Downing for years, and seeing him on stage again, bringing his signature guitar tone to life, was everything I could have hoped for. The energy in the room was electric from the start, with fans of all ages packed into the iconic venue, ready to witness some classic heavy metal glory.
The setlist was a perfect blend of new material from Sermons of the Sinner and The Sinner Rides Again, and of course, some Judas Priest classics that had everyone singing along at the top of their lungs. “Hellfire Thunderbolt” was a standout moment, with Ripper Owens’ powerful vocals shaking the walls. The man’s still got it—he absolutely owned the stage, and his chemistry with KK was undeniable.
And speaking of KK, watching him play was like witnessing a legend in his element. He was shredding with that same raw passion and precision that made him a metal icon in the first place. You could feel the history in his playing, but also the excitement of something new. Tonight felt like a declaration of intent—the band is here to keep the spirit of heavy metal alive, and they’re doing a damn good job of it.
The crowd was totally into it, fists in the air, headbanging like it was the 80s all over again. There was this amazing sense of community, like we were all there celebrating not just the music, but the legacy of heavy metal itself. And when they launched into classics like “Breaking the Law”, the place absolutely erupted. It felt like the perfect tribute to Priest’s legacy while also establishing KK’s Priest as its own beast.
The band itself was tight. A.J. Mills on guitar complemented KK’s style so well, adding a modern touch without losing that classic feel. And Sean Elg on drums brought such a heavy, relentless groove to the whole set. These guys are not just riding on nostalgia—they’re out there creating something new and powerful.
In between songs, you could tell how much KK appreciated being back on stage. He was smiling, interacting with the crowd, and just looked so at home with a guitar in his hands again. There was a real emotional vibe in the room—like we were all sharing in this moment of metal rebirth.
Honestly, if you’re a fan of old-school heavy metal, KK’s Priest is an absolute must-see live. They’ve got the fire, the skill, and that timeless love for metal that makes you want to throw your horns up and lose yourself in the music. Belfast’s Limelight was the perfect setting for this—intimate, loud, and absolutely wild. What a night!
As the fans descended out onto the Belfast streets it was the perfect reminder of what the power of music does, the community it creates, the smiling faces far and wide, the dudes hugging each other overjoyed by what they have just witnessed, it is a beautiful thing and one that should never be taken for granted, keep getting out there, support your local music scene, local venues, even Priest started off small and grafted before making it big, buy those tickets, you’ll never quite feel as alive than being a few feet from one of your heroes feeling that air pound your chest in a live venue. Enough of a rant from me, till next time, i’ve been Mark, you’ve been beautiful. Laters.
Photography: Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark @rocknloadmag
