This was an emotional night in Swansea for the band from Bridgend who have just taken a huge step forward on the national scene. On the day before, Those Damn Crows’ third album Inhale/Exhale was announced as being No. 3 in the official UK album charts and No. 1 in the UK rock and metal charts. Less than 48 hours later, and coming at the end of their biggest headlining tour to date, the band took to the stage: essentially, this was Those Damn Crows’ homecoming live show, on the final night of their February tour.

After solid support from Valhalla Awaits and James And The Cold Gun, the headliners took to the stage in front of a couple of thousand hardcore fans. The live set was slick: a testament to Those Damn Crows’ professionalism and evidence of how and why they’ve got as far as they have. But the performance was also full of passion and praise for the fans that have backed the band all this time, and given them the opportunity to play such an impressive venue as Swansea Arena.

After some well-received new album openers, vocalist Shane Greenhall moved to the piano for a dramatic rendition of Blink Of An Eye followed by fan favourite Who Did It and the night really took off. Greenhall, with his trademark climb to the balcony, huge energy and charisma, belted out the melodies brilliantly all night with a voice that soared over the band of brothers playing behind him.

Finisher See You Again closed the set perfectly, with a promise to see the fans soon at Ebbw Vale’s Steelhouse Festival – and an epic singalong that reaffirmed the communal power of rock, both for the five guys on stage and the hundreds and hundreds of fans in the audience.

Those Damn Crows, Valhalla Awaits + James And The Cold Gun, Swansea Arena, Sat 25 Feb

words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES photos LLOYD STRANAGHAN / LYNDA MCKENNA