Black Label Society (with Venom Inc and Dark Chapel) - O2 Academy, Glasgow Thursday 28 th May 2026
Zakk Wylde really is one of the most recognisable modern-day rockstars. His long
hair and beard, large muscular build, funky guitar art and wearing a kilt on stage
make him unmistakeable enough. Throw in his many years as Ozzy Osbourne’s
right-hand man and you have a bona fide rock legend! A starring performance at this
year’s Brit Awards (yes… real rock music at the Brits!) during an Ozzy tribute with
Robbie Williams wouldn’t have done him any harm with the majority non-rock, trend-
chasing audience and if there’s any justice in the world, some of the millions of TV
viewers might even have checked out the guitarist’s very own, well established band,
the hard rockin’, speaker shakin’ and altogether brilliant Black Label Society.
If you needed any evidence of Wylde’s popularity with rock fans, the massive queue
at his signing appearance at the Guitar Guitar shop in Glasgow prior to Black Label
Society’s show in the city is proof enough. Fans young and old waited patiently to
see the famously amicable rocker and judging by the number of videos circulating on
social media, a fun time was had by all! But the real fun was to be found when the
vocalist/guitarist took to the stage at the city’s O2 Academy with his Black Label
Society bandmates Dario Lorina (guitar), John DeServio (bass) and Jeff Fabb
(drums).
Support acts Dark Chapel and Venom Inc brought something very different to the
Glasgow audience, who had piled into the venue early on to ensure a decent crowd.
Las Vegas band Dark Chapel, featuring Black Label Society’s very own Dario Lorina,
were dark, heavy and loud… but the melodic and a times even bluesy side of their
music meant that the attempt to start a mosh pit by the biggest haired punter I’ve
seen in years (complete with football socks?) didn’t quite catch on. Still, it was a slick
set of polished music and will have won them some new fans in Scotland. Venom
Inc, formed by former members of late-70s metalheads Venom, were a bit more on
the extreme side of heavy music in comparison, running through a set of metal
originals from their two albums and very much showing they’re not simply a tribute
band with Motorhead vibes. The big-haired dude definitely got the mosh pit moving
with Venom Inc… and the football sock didn’t move an inch!
It was 9.30pm before Black Label Society came onstage, which a few years ago
wouldn’t have been an issue for this now seasoned rock and metal gig goer! But with
an arthritis-wracked body and not much room to move in the sold-out crowd, I mused
that perhaps 8.30pm headline slots are more my kind of thing now to prevent painful
joints and much yawning! However, as the large curtain fell and jets of smoke fired
into the air, Zakk Wylde bounded onto the stage, bekilted (of course) and full of
energy. His stage presence and the heavy, chugging juggernaut riff of opener
‘Funeral Bell’ jolted me back to life as I joined the throngs in pumping my fist and
bopping my head. The pain dissipated as the music worked its magic in the same
manner as the strongest medication as I watched Wylde start his masterclass.
‘Name in Blood’ from new album Engines of Demolition continued Black Label
Society’s signature sound of the darkest, heaviest, rip-off-your-face riffs but with
melodic-edged choruses that will have you singing along. ‘Destroy and Conquer’ is
no less heavy but has a more upbeat vibe in contrast to the first two songs, whilst ‘A
Love Unreal’ reeled the audience in with the most beautiful intro that breaks into a
monster riff that caused small shavings of paint to fall from the venue ceiling.
Wylde’s ability to play shredding solos one minute and more emotional rock solos
the next was clearly on display on the opening four songs, showing the depth of
talent and skill that must’ve attracted the legendary Brummie Ozzy Osbourne back in
the day. It was a breathtaking opening salvo!
The more frantic ‘Heart of Darkness’ and some classic banter with the audience led
to a snippet of Ozzy Osbourne favourite ‘No More Tears’, with Wylde ripping through
the famous guitar solo with the same gusto as he did during his Brit Awards rendition
of the song. The number of mobile phones filming the moment was testament to how
special the songs is to fans before the guitarist showed his softer side by taking to
the piano to play a stirring and emotional ‘In This River’, dedicated to the late and
much missed Pantera due Darrell ‘Dimebag’ Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul, with
their images showing across the speaker stack.
‘The Blessed Hellride’, the pure unadulterated heaviness of ‘Set You Free’, the
catchy chugginess of ‘Fire It Up’ and the headbanging, fist pumping pleasure
invoked by ‘Suicide Messiah’ brought the show to a poignant tribute to Ozzy
Osbourne, with the tearful ballad ‘Ozzy’s Song’ from latest album Engines of
Demolition. It was an emotional moment and perhaps an opportunity for some to say
a proper final goodbye to the legendary frontman, helped by a large curtain backdrop
of photos of Ozzy in his heyday. But of course, no Black Label Society gig could end
on a sad note, so the amps were turned up to max one more time for fan favourite
‘Stillborn’.
The hordes of rock and metal fans, with dishevelled hair, sweat soaked clothes and
high-pitched tinnitus-like ringing in their ears, left the venue and headed out into the
Glasgow night knowing that they had witnessed something really special. You see,
Black Label Society in a live setting isn’t just another live rock show. It’s worshipping
at the altar of rock and metal, loud, proud and unapologetic… and Zakk Wylde is the
messiah!