LIVE REVIEW: Dunes bring the fuzz to Brum

The Victoria in Central Birmingham filled out for a night of live music, with Newcastle's Dunes the main attraction. But the Worcester-based Fights and Fires opened up with their first gig in two and a half years, playing like a band with a point to prove as they delivered a set full of energy and loads of presence onstage. Their post-hardcore style is unapologetically straight out of the 00s (can we call it retro yet?), delivered with a sense of urgency and a hard hitting punch.

The backing vocals that the rest of the band support with really underline the strong melodies that Fights and Fires offer. Performing like seasoned pros, it's surprising to learn that it's their current drummer's first gig partway through the set, as he genuinely slots in seamlessly. It's an energetic start to the night, and great to see a fantastic Midlands band back at it again.

Flamebearer are up next, with a fist pumping, rowdy stoner metal style closer in sound to tonight's headliners. Their dense sound follows the same Sabbath- and classic metal-worshipping playbook as bands such as Orange Goblin, with catchy hooks and ripping leads making for a fun setlist. Their frontman commands attention with a powerful, charismatic stage presence, pulling the crowd with him as heads bang in unison.

Flamebearer let their riffs do the talking, with thick tones and a gritty charm beneath a tight and professional performance all round, though all still share a clear sense of camaraderie throughout. Ending on a hellraising cover of Love Gun, paying tribute to the recently departed Ace Frehley, the crowd lap it up and sing along heartily. Heaps of fun.

Dunes - live in Birmingham

Dunes, last at this venue in early February, have been promoting Land Of The Blind all year, released on Ripple in January. Within stoner/psych/desert rock circles it's clearly elevated the band another notch across the circuit, making them an increasingly serious touring force. Three albums deep into their career, Dunes are carving out a legacy, and doing so in style, with class. Their dual vocals and riffs drenched in fuzz and Josh Homme worship takes a classic stoner rock formula and gives it enough personality to make something that's unmistakably them.

Tracks like One Eyed Dog and Tides are great to sway along and lose yourself into, letting Dunes take you on a laid back ride into the void. They don't so much crush your skull as gently guide you into a head trip, though the pounding drum performance and thick fuzz still gives it a lot of weight. Several of the songs in the setlist don't have breaks in between, making for a hypnotic, trance-like experience where you lose track of time. Outside of the material, they carry themselves with an easy, self-assured stage presence. Their mix of humour, grit and charm keeps the atmosphere fun and loose without breaking the flow.

Ending on a brief Sabbath cover, as many bands coming through Birmingham are now doing (and we love to see it), we get one last chance to shake our heads for the night as Electric Funeral's powerful main riff blows a few eardrums for good measure. Dunes are on top form at the moment - here's to more in 2026.

MN