Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler does not hide his amusement — and perhaps bemusement — when asked if the Back to the Beginning mega-concert scheduled for July 5 in the band’s home town of Birmingham,

Four West Midlands bands proved the music genre, so closely associated with Birmingham pioneers Black Sabbath, is very much alive in kicking at Metal in the Midlands. The event, staged by BBC Radio WM and B:Music, provided a platform for Defects, Cherrydead, Meatdripper and Gans to showcase their music.