“A Priest, Maiden and Sabbath inspired metal set as ripping as you’ll get at Glastonbury.” Voice of Baceprot bring steel to Somerset’s summer spectacular

With very little pure heavy metal at Glastonbury this year, the sight of three Indonesian teenage girls among the only representatives could be seen as an example of tokenism on the part of the cynics. If you’re among that number, think again, because Voice of Baceprot easily justifies its position on the Woodsies scene, with a set of impassioned old school metal that’s incredibly powerful and often genuinely moving.

An impressive and intrigued crowd gathers early in the morning to see the band, and that curiosity has visibly turned into genuine excitement 45 minutes in. The reasons are clear: first of all, all three members of VOB master their instruments well beyond their years, with bassist Widi Rahmawati doing a wicked Steve Harris impersonation, galloping up and down her fretboard with impressive dexterity; even a set-ending drum solo, usually the ultimate momentum killer, from Euis Siti Eisyah garners huge roars of approval.

The real MVP, however, is singer/guitarist Firda Marsya Kurnia, who manages to howl out beautiful, soaring vocal lines while ripping off riffs that KK Downing and Glenn Tipton in their prime would be proud of.

They’re a band passionate about the causes they talk about in their music, and while there’s an obvious language barrier, the environmental and anti-war sentiment seems to hit harder thanks to the unique perspective they bring. But, even if you choose to ignore this side of the band, this is as heartbreaking a set of Priest, Maiden and Sabbath-inspired metal as you’re going to get this weekend at Glastonbury. The fact that it is delivered by these three people makes it all the more remarkable.

At the end of the set, Firda is in tears.

“This is the best concert ever!” she shouts, visibly overwhelmed, as the Woodsies roar their appreciation. You’d be a stone-hearted cynic if you didn’t agree.