Category: Recenzii

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Skalstorm (Alestorm si Skálmöld) in Bucuresti

Un turneu cu Alestorm si Skálmöld se anunta a fi incendiar. Doua formatii pe care vrei sa le vezi, chiar daca nu le stii melodiile. Vrei sa fii parte a show-ului lor, pentru ca este atat de special, amuzant, interactiv.  Ambele formatii stiu cu adevarat  ce inseamna sa fii entertainer.

Inainte de orice, trebuie sa vorbesc despre intarzierea cu care a inceput show-ul. Pentru cine nu stie, remorca plina de scule a formatiei s-a rupt si s-a rostogolit, nu o data, ci de doua ori. Asa ceva numai in filme crezi ca se intampla. De doua ori sa fie nevoie de macara, de tractare. Intr-un final glorios au ajuns in Bucuresti, unde urma partea mai grea: descarcarea instrumentelor pe frig si lapovita, dintr-o pozitie greu de accesat. In ciuda tuturor obstacolelor, show-ul a avut loc. Asadar, vreau sa felicit organizatorii si sa le multumesc pentru ce sunt sigura ca au fost eforturi supra-omenesti.

Hai sa trecem si la muzica, ca doar de asta am venit.

Primii pe scena au fost italienii de la Altair, care ne-au adus ritmuri power metal. Nu cred ca au avut treaba usoara, cu un public care astepta de niste ore si voia sa ajunga la celelalte formatii, dar si cu toate peripetiile cu instrumentele si sculele. Au cantat bine, au atras lumea, foarte bine pentru ceva de inceput. Eu nu am fost impresionata, dar nici nu sunt cea mai mare fana a acestui gen.

Iar acum urmeaza Skálmöld, o aparitie interesanta pe scena muzicala, o formatie viking/folk metal care s-a facut remarcata rapid si a atras multi fani loiali. Ceva ce ii face pe ei foarte speciali este faptul ca fiecare membru al formatiei este si solist vocal, aducand astfel dimensiuni mult mai complexe atat muzicii cat si showului. Pana sa cante, a trebuit sa isi faca soundcheck-ul pe scena, zicand si ei ca e cel mai interesant soundcheck pe care l-au avut. Nu stiam cand chiar incep si cand mai au ceva de rezolvat. Dar au inceput si au incantat publicul intr-un tur de forta. Ei ne arata ca muzica lor ne transpune si impresioneaza, desi cei mai multi dintre noi nu inteleg absolut niciun cuvant din versurile lor. Din pacate, nu cred ca au cantat tot ce si-ar fi dorit, dar noi sigur am plecat incantati.

Intr-un final glorios, Alestorm isi incep concertul. Ei sunt un mix care pare foarte ciudat pe hartie, dar totusi este reusit. Pirate folk  party metal!! Au stiut ce au vrut si si-au creat propriul gen. Orice nou album si nou concert de-al lor este intr-adevar un pirate folk metal party. Cu melodie dupa melodie despre bauturi si pirati, creeaza o atmosfera aparte, una de distractie si voie buna,  care nu apare prea des in scena metal.

Melodie dupa melodie, lumea dansa si se distra. Ma gandeam in timpul concertului daca mai exista moduri in care ei pot canta despre bautura, dar aparent mai exista. Asa cum ma asteptam, Alestorm au facut o petrecere, nu doar un concert. Ne-am distrat si am dansat si am ras pana tarziu.

In mod sigur, Alestorm este de vazut. Cred ca dupa concert ii voi asculta mai mult, dar in mod sigur voi vrea sa ii mai vad live. La final, vreau sa mai mentionez o data toata munca si tot efortul depus pentru ca acest show sa se intample. Ne vedem la urmatorul.

 

 

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Leprous, Agent Fresco, and 22 in Bucharest – Review

We all know why we gathered on 6th September in the lovely Quantic Pub, on a warm autumn evening. To witness the expression of art in its best progressive form. To forget about everything that upsets us and enjoy the beauty of three amazing bands. To remember that even if the summer is gone, we still have places to be and people to see. As some would say, just a regular night with Leprous, Agent Fresco and 22.  The show started according to schedule, with a modest audience. I knew nothing about 22 before the show. I actually found out they are going to play one day before. A prog-rock band from Norway which turned out to be a big influence in both Leprous and Agent Fresco’s careers. They define their own music style as an eclectic, energetic and stadium-appealing progressive rock outfit, which I can’t really speak against. Unfortunately, they only played for half an hour or so, but they killed it! So much energy, so many positive vibes and such a good and clean sound. It’s easy to tell the similarities between these three bands, as 22 made a perfect introduction to what was there to come.  As a personal opinion, I think they got less audience than they deserved. I did come with some expectations regarding Agent Fresco. I discovered this band by accident while listening to some Leprous and immediately fell in love with them. Their music is both complex, being a mix of many genres, and cinematic with a hint of soul and many „math moments”. On stage, everything sounded even better. Arnor’s voice is just impressive and clean.  The atmosphere was surreal, as their music is straight genius. We all got to enjoy both famous songs as Dark Waters and Pyre and other less know, like See Hell and The Eyes of a Cloud Catcher. As the songs kept coming, the volume of the people inside the venue increased. There is something about Agent Fresco, almost magical, that sends good vibes and makes you feel confident, but not like moving a mountain confident,  just „life is short, enjoy it” confident.  It is definitely a band I am eager to see again and if you don’t know about them, listen to them and buy their work cause its worth it. Leprous is a band that doesn’t need any introduction anymore. A band that grew in a few years more than others did in decades, and became, easily, one of the most influential progressive metal bands. Their approach of the genre is one of a kind, psychedelic, with heavy drums, both distortion and clean sounds on guitars, melodic piano parts, and Einar’s incredible voice.  On 6th September, they came, they saw and they conquered our hearts. As I said many times before, one just can’t have enough of this band or their music. Every show is a journey, every song is a rollercoaster of emotions, states of mind, thoughts, and feelings. This journey started with a beautiful cello intro, followed by „Bonneville”, the first track from „Malina”. It’s a bit funny but still impressive to see how the audience reacts to Leprous concerts. It the beginning, everyone has a „hit me with your best show” face and they slowly grow to be speechless, gazing with big eyes, singing every word, pouring love and respect, as the band goes through many stages and songs. On stage, things stay the same, as the guys are chill and quiet in the first moments, then they lose their minds and everything turns into a live piece of art. One hour and a half passed like five minutes for me. The transitions from the older songs like „The Flood” to “From the Flame”  shows us the band’s ability to pass from heavier metal sound to a song with more of a sensitive note, making the whole show flow like a wave. You know it’s gonna disappear but you always hope it will come back. I think the best you can achieve, as a band, is when your music goes deeper than the hearing. When you feel it in your bones when Einar’s voice is sending chills down your spine when Simen’s bass rhythm vibrates through your whole body and Baard’s drums follow the heart beats. You can clearly see how every member of the band gives 101% up there, enjoying and working at the same time.   Because we were such a good audience and the first SOLD OUT show from the tour, the band spoiled us with “Angel”,  a Massive Attack song.  As everything comes to an end, so does their journey, when the sound gets more serein but still imposing and everyone gets sad because they know it’s coming. Besides the great music, we got to see some very cool video projections and a nice „light-show” that completed the concert, along the way.   The guys played both songs from their latest material and some old songs, for the old Leprous fans. It was a show to remember and definitely one to repeat. For everyone out there that is a Leprous fan and did not get the chance to see them, wait no minute longer! It’s a must! As a gift for us, after the show, all the bands came for a small talk, some pictures, some autographs, and many smiles. Big congrats to the sound team, because they did a great job, as always. Another thing that made me happy was the merchandise area which had various goodies and many clients. I really enjoyed the organizing part, as the concert had a very friendly vibe with no golden circle pits, no excessive rules and so on.      

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Moonspell – “Lisboa Under The Spell” DVD Review

On February 4th 2017, a piece of history was written in the dark book of Portuguese gothic metal act Moonspell. Lisboa Under The Spell was recorded that day at their show in Campo Pequeno Arena and it was released as a live DVD not so long ago, on August 17th via Napalm Records.

Here is Moonspell’s statement: “We are thrilled to announce the release of our brand new live DVD/Blu-ray/3CD live album, entitled ‘Lisboa Under The Spell’! It was recorded live on our breathtaking capitol city of Lisbon and it’s nothing short of an epic trek of more than three action-packed hours! We have played ‘Wolfheart’, ‘Irreligious’ plus ‘Extinct’ in full, invited a bunch of guests, summoned our biggest strength to be up to the task, and it feels awesome to unleash a long-awaited live release from MOONSPELL. This edition will be full packed with amazing material, bonus CDs from the shows, a in depth documentary about the band, top sound, dramatic flair and a human picture of thousands of Portuguese witches and wolves under the spell. A great document of what we are on and off stage. Don’t miss out and visit Lisbon through the eyes of MOONSPELL fans and the genius work of director Victor Castro.”

Before diving into the actual details, I must say that, in my humble opinion, the title of this DVD sums it up pretty nicely. I have seen Moonspell in a live concert twice and it felt indeed like being under a spell. From my point of view, frontman Fernando Ribeiro is one of the most charismatic figures in the metal scene. He is simply a mountain of passion on stage, always knowing how to connect with his audience. He never leaves blank spaces during their performance and he manages to make you feel like being a part of the show. You would think that after 25 years of performing on stages all over the world, one might get tired of doing the same thing over and over again, but not these guys. The force of connecting with everyone, the feelings driven by their music, the passion for performing are still there and they are doing a hell of a great job, hopefully for many years to come.

I am by no means an expert when it comes to videography, but Victor Castro managed to direct and create a very interesting and detailed documentary and he also managed to feature the lives of these five artists outside their comfort zones, meaning the stage, showing us a glimpse of their everyday lives, since we sometimes forget that the people we usually cheer for during shows, are also… regular human beings. The lightshow and the color scheme are well-chosen, the sound is accurate and pleasing, decors change accordingly and the audience is explosive. I do believe those 4000 fans were very lucky to be there.

And thus the show begins with the first act, Wolfheart, their debut album from 1995, played in its entirety. I am pretty sure this was a treat for fans of early Moonspell and also a delight for those who couldn’t be present at past tours. I don’t want to give away too much, but I have to mention the Vampiria moment. This whole album is a work of art, but Vampiria seems to be one of those performances that can put one in a trance and Fernando’s voice… oh boy. From this act, Napalm Records released a video of Alma Mater, one of the songs that can shake you to the core and I can only imagine how special it is for the Portuguese audience.

Act II follows with another favorite of Moonspell fans all over the world and that is Irreligious, their 2nd album released in 1996. Raven Claws brings the lovely Mariangela Demurtas on stage, singer of Tristania and also wife of Moonspell guitarist, Ricardo Amorim. I really loved the way Fernando presented her: “born Italian, but the owner of a Portuguese heart”. Who says these guys can’t be romantic? But enough with the cutesy things, since the following tracks are some of the forte points of this whole show: Mephisto, Herr Spiegelmann and, of course, Fullmoon Madness. A mix of fire, strength, mystery and the most delightful madness, will take over you while enjoying this part of the concert. Napalm Records also released a video for this act, featuring Herr Spiegelmann, with a very special moment as you can see below. This song was inspired by the book The Perfume, written by Patrick Suskind.

Act III is represented by Extinct, their tenth full-length album released in 2015. The pace is changing, shifting into a more modern Moonspell sound, but nonetheless, a very catchy and intriguing chapter of this band’s history. I remember there were a lot of upset fans back in 2015, who disagreed with the adopted changes in style, but I am pretty sure this album grew on them in the meantime. I was hooked on it since the first listening session and I believe this album was a successful musical exercise, proving that Moonspell is capable of bending the rules, adding new elements to their music, while still remaining on the same track that gained them notoriety throughout the years. Being capable of such changes only proves a great deal of growing up as an artist. Moving on, there are a few surprises featured on this act as well, but I will let you discover them on your own.

All in all, this DVD is very enjoyable to watch and if you are a Moonspell fan, you will surely treasure it. To be performing for 25 years is really not something to be ignored, especially in this difficult metal scene. Moonspell managed to gift us a show to be remembered. It all ends with Fernando voicing some of his thoughts after the show has ended, but you will have to check it out by yourself. Having said this, I am looking forward to their journey and hopefully to another concert since they have released their concept album 1755, on November 3rd 2017. Fingers crossed!

DVD & Blu-Ray:

I  ROCKUMENTARY – band documentary by Victor Castro

II WOLFHEART SHOW – full album played live

  1. Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)
  2. Love Crimes
  3. Of Dream And Drama
  4. Lua D’inverno
  5. Trebaruna
  6. Ataegina
  7. Vampiria
  8. An Erotic Alchemy
  9. Alma Mater

 

III IRRELIGIOUS SHOW – full album played live

  1. Perverse Almost Religious
  2. Opium
  3. Awake!
  4. For A Taste Of Eternity
  5. Ruin & Misery
  6. A Poisoned Gift
  7. Raven Claws (Feat. Mariangela Demurtas)
  8. Mephisto
  9. Herr Spiegelmann
  10. Fullmoon Madness

 

IV EXTINCT SHOW – full album played live

  1. All Gone From The Wild (Intro)
  2. Breathe (Until We Are No More)
  3. Extinct (Feat. Carolina Torres)
  4. Medusalem
  5. Domina
  6. The Last Of Us
  7. Malignia
  8. Funeral Bloom
  9. A Dying Breed
  10. The Future Is Dark

 

V  MAKING OF – show day

 

VI GALLERY – live and backstage pics

 

Get your copy here:

https://www.moonspell.rastilho.com/highlights/

https://shop.napalmrecords.com/moonspell-lisboa-under-the-spell-deluxe-box.html

Review by Cristina Țurlea

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Beyond The Black – “Heart Of The Hurricane” Album Review

Two years have passed since their last release, but time has come once again for German symphonic metal act Beyond The Black to dive straight into the Heart Of The Hurricane! No, not literally, don’t worry. Heart Of The Hurricane is the name of their new album, that will be released very soon on the 31st of August via Napalm Records.

Image result for beyond the black heart of the hurricane

Here is a statement from the band regarding their new material: “Can you feel the thunder? After a turbulent phase in the short history of BtB, we can say that we came out stronger than ever! Witness to that is our first single “Heart of the Hurricane”, which takes you through a sonic thunderstorm to be reckoned with! We absolutely cannot wait to unleash this storm upon old and new fans alike, as we are sure that this new chapter will take us on a beautiful journey through dark and light!”

And indeed I can totally agree that it has been a journey through darkness and light, as they said. This album is very energetic, even though it possesses a gloomy atmosphere that resounds through the lyrics, contrasting with the overall heavy sound of the songs, that will just not let you stay still.

From my point of view, I would divide the album in two parts: the first part would be represented by some more catchy tracks with fresh elements added to the sounds that we were accustomed to and the second part is the one that stays true to what we have heard on previous albums. Is this bad? Is this good? Nonsense. I believe this is the right recipe for a varied, dynamic album that will surely please both old and new fans of the band.

Hysteria opens the album with a burst of energy, setting the course for what will follow next and that is Heart Of The Hurricane, the first single released for this album. Somehow this one gives me the feeling of a run towards a dangerous adventure, from where one will get out as a different, stronger person. Wisely chosen as a first single, it has the catchyness that I was mentioning early.

Through The Mirror has a more mellow start, gentle piano notes accompanied by Jennifer’s low vocals, creating an empowering contrast that will surely give you goosebumps. I noticed that the Mirror seems to represent a theme for this album, as we will see in the video for the next song and maybe even towards the end of the album. I don’t know, it might be just a coincidence, but it fits perfectly, metaphorically speaking.

Million Lightyears is next and it made me extremely happy to hear the lovely, clean voice of Chris Hermsdörfer on this one, since he is not only a very talented guitarist, but the man can also sing wonderfully! I just love how their voices entwine.

Song For The Godless has such a kick-ass, mighty sounding, somewhat medieval intro and it immediately made me think of In The Shadows. You will be listening to a madly awesome guitar solo on this one. I just need to say that the whole atmosphere of this track is simply uplifting. The first slow track makes an appearance, Escape From The Earth, featuring a very gentle Jennifer, in an emotional scenery, that reveals a burdensome transition from the previous tune. What will follow, is a return to the roots for sure! I was actually curious if/when this will happen during my listening session. Beneath A Blackened Sky has some serious symphonic vibes mixed with majestic choirs. Headbanging incoming during the chorus, be warned. The mentioned vibes continue in the next one, Fairytale Of Doom, a track that made me think of Amberian Dawn. It’s a powerful song for the broken-hearted, with a well-chosen name and a favorite of mine. Much potential in this one I see! Nerd alert. Moving on, Chris makes a vocal appearance again on My God Is Dead, but with some cool growls this time, sending shivers down the spine. I feel that Jennifer’s voice could shatter one’s heart during the chorus, being so expressive, pouring all of her being into the song. Dear Death and Freedom are two pieces with fast riffs and beats, making one feel like on a rollercoaster. As far as concerning Scream For Me, I do believe this one would be a favourite for the public, if performed live: slow start followed by a bombastic chorus. And it’s time for the ballad, Breeze, piano and choir driven, lead by the gentle, but powerful Jennifer, who is simply amazing when it comes to ballads, managing to reach straight into your soul with her singing style. I declare Echo From The Past another favorite of mine. I find it hard to explain, but it’s just one of those songs that sticks to you and you love it from start to end, with no questions asked. It clicked with me probably because it has all the ingredients needed for an awesome tune: impact, balance, a lovely, subtle orchestration in the background, sustaining all the instruments together with the vocals in a neat equilibrium. The album ends with Parade, a fit conclusion after the journey made through the spectrum of feelings that were pinpointed by the previous tracks, encouraging one to be true to his/her self, no matter what.

Do listen to this album with an open mind and I guarantee you will fall in love with it. It clearly shows that teamwork, precision in the details, a lot of passion and perseverence will set you on the right course. Beyond The Black managed to deliver an album showing a great deal of variety, worthy of one’s collection.

Tracklist:

  1. Hysteria
  2. Heart Of The Hurricane
  3. Through The Mirror
  4. Million Lightyears
  5. Song For The Godless
  6. Escape From The Earth
  7. Beneath A Blackened Sky
  8. Fairytale Of Doom
  9. My God Is Dead
  10. Dear Death
  11. Scream For Me
  12. Freedom
  13. Breeze
  14. Echo From The Past
  15. Parade

 

More info about the band:

www.facebook.com/beyondtheblackofficial

www.beyond-the-black.com

www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

www.instagram.com/beyondtheblack_official

 

Pre-order Heart Of The Hurricane:

https://shop.napalmrecords.com/beyondtheblack

 

Review by Cristina Țurlea

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Varna Mega Rock 2018 – Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Glenn Hughes, Kamelot

For two days (18-19 August), Varna Mega Rock attracted thousands and thousands of people with an unbeatable line-up of Kamelot, Glenn Hughes, Apocalyptica, and the big headliners, Nightwish. The festival is a very special one, so close to the beach, which was enjoyed by fans and bands alike. The weather was good, with a nice breeze blowing.

The first night was very exciting, starting with local acts Krossfire (who brought Romanian singer Aura on stage for a special song) and Kikimora. Then it was time for Kamelot, who absolutely killed it. They didn’t have to go so hard, and yet they did that!! They made sure the public was not standing still for a single moment. There were times I thought they were over-doing it with the Hey! Hey!, but they gave it their all and got the same from the public. Their setlist was as inspired as always, mixing the old classics with songs off their new album. Very special mention for “Here’s to the fall”, a very emotional ballad where the public joins in with their cell phone lights.

Many people were left wondering how Kamelot was not headlining the day. But they soon got the answer when Glenn Hughes got on stage. Best known for his bass and vocal work with Deep Purple, he is a legend of music and it felt like an honor to be able to see him. In a very purple hippie outfit, he impressed us all with his voice and moves, with energy, with dedication. Unlike Kamelot, he did not have to try to rile up the crowd. You just knew he came to do his thing and his many years in the music were showing, having the public eat out of his hand. He was humble and friendly in a way that made you forget just how big he was. He kept saying that it wasn’t the public who came to see him, but him who came to see the public. Of course, Smoke on The Water was the highlight of the performance.

All in all, a very strong day, great music, impeccable organisation. The latter was only true, however, for the first day. On the second day the gates were supposed to open at 4:30 and at almost 6, the stage wasn’t set up yet. The Nightwish screens and pyro were still being set up. I was allowed in the venue and got to see what was happening, but unfortunately, the hundreds and hundreds of people waiting had no idea why they were left outside for two further hours. Delays are bound to happen in the music business (not that I understand how the truck didn’t get there a good two days after their previous concert, which was 4 hours away). However, the way organizers deal with it is problem. I feel like they could have done a better job communicating with the people, both online and offline. Moreover, it would have been nice to distribute some water to the people waiting for hours outside the gates, ready to run and wait some more hours in the front of the stage.

Because of this huge delay, the first 2 bands had to be cancelled. I felt sorry for them, because they were there, dressed, prepared, ready to hit the stage, and they couldn’t. They had made plans and relied on the idea that they would share the stage with Apocalyptica and the mighty Nightwish.

However, the day started with Apocalyptica, who blew my mind. I have no idea how I hadn’t seen them before. Absolutely incredible and slightly insane show of energy for cello players. This time they were playing Metallica by Four Cellos, a fully instrumental show, but one where the public came in to fill the lyrics of the most famous Metallica songs. Huge show by them, definitely worth seeing again.

Finally, the Nightwish intro! We are doing this! What a show that was! Celebrating 20 years of activity, Nightwish are coming with Decades, a compilation album showcasing their most essential songs. While Greatest Show on Earth or Ghost Love Score were sure to be in the setlist, I loved hearing Dead Boy’s Poem, Come Cover Me, Elvenpath. Their show was a masterpiece of vocal and instrumental prowess, energy, joy, great music, and, of course, FIRE! I appreciated that the stage was high and far enough for the first row not to feel extra scared of being burned alive, even though giant flames were going on in front of them, giving off tremendous heat.

Image may contain: 1 person, on stage, night and outdoor

Other highlights of the show were I Want My Tears Back – a song where the public is always invited to dance and jump – or Slaying the Dreamer, which is just pure insanity. Song after song, we were show why they are the greatest. Compared to the previous Nightwish concert, I felt the Varna crowd a bit … quiet, especially when the band “left the stage” before the encore and they were mostly followed by silence. But with Ghost Love Score as an encore, the public revived to scream and dance and marvel at how amazing Floor’s vocals are.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, playing a musical instrument, on stage, night, concert and indoor

All in all, I am very happy with the fest, but it is also so because I did not wait for hours in the sun. They had a decent selection of food and drinks and the queues were not bad. The line-up was absolutely incredible, so I am sure that all fans will only remember the great feelings, that they got to see Kamelot, Glenn Hughes, Apocalyptica and NIGHTWISH!

Let me know when the next edition of Varna Mega Rock is, because I am coming!

 

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Rockstadt Extreme Fest 2018- Review

After four days and four nights of extreme metals and some not so extreme but still around, I finally found my words. I wish I could but I have nothing bad to say about Rockstadt Extreme Fest. I truly believe that it is one of the best metal festivals, if not the best, we have in Romania. Everything was flawless, from my point of view.
The info point was much appreciated and also that liitle flyer with the map and the schedule made things a lot easier for many of us.


The location of the festival is just stunning, surrounded by mountains, close to the beautiful city of Rasnov, but at same isolated. Being at the base of the citadel, it allowed us to take short trips, to visit the surroundins, the cave, the city, and, of course, Râșnov citadel. One thing that was difficult to take was the temperature difference. During the day, you could’ve gotten a nice tan by only walking around the are, while during the night, if you were not drunk enough, you needed a long sleeve, a hoodie and a jacket.

About the pricing system, there was some waiting, but most of it was at the entrance. It’s hard to let hundreds of people in through only three checkpoints, while there were others trying to get out. Other  than that, I understand the food bar was a bit crowded, and that is pretty much all. Personally, I never stood more than five minutes for a beer or anything to drink. For tokens, tho, the line was always busy. The food was very good and eveyone appreciated the longdrinks, shots and the others alcooholic drinks the bar served.

I didn’t sleep in the camping areas but I think there some things worth metion. First, in spite of the all complaints, I think the price was really cheap, for what you get. Both camping areas were clean, organised, had security, so only the people with those special bracelets could get inside and some of the nicest bathrooms I saw, regarding the live show. First, there were separate spaces for women and men, and both areas had showers (in containers, with sinks and mirrors) and very clean toilets (from what I’ve heard, there was someone who came once in a while to clean them). I am sure everyone appreciated that, especially the girls. Still, the one thing that kept the campings from perfection was the lack of shade. Of course, the area was surrounded by forests so there was plenty outside the campnig.

Also, two bands were not able to perform but the organizers dealt with the problems in such way it was not even noticeable and everything went on schedule.

Every  night had an after-party where people had lots of fun. It was interesting and satisfying at the same time to see hundreds of metalheads dancing on metal/rock/pop, dubstep and many others genres. I think that says a lot about the maturity of the audience, being able to have fun no matter the music. Last night had a special edition of ’90 tunes, which was a real blast, with people dancing on the stage, everyone jumping around on songs like Captaion Joe (and actually doing the dance), la isla bonita and so on. It was quite an end after four days of extreme metals.

I think that other things that people appreciated were the concrete sidewalks, the ”charging area” for those who slept in tents and had little access to a power source for their phones, and the organizers attetion for preventing the „mud”, the classical mud we’re used to at this event. Fortunately, the weather was on our side and we received four full days of sun. There was also a pretty generous merchandise area, with a wide range of t-shirts and CD-s.

About the concerts, I think every band brought something different  and unique on the stage. Though I appreciated every person  that got up on the stage, I didn’t got to see all of bands (but I’ve heard most of them). Regarding the show, the sound was almost flawless, with small exceptions, but overall better than what I got from a festival so far.
Because it would take many pages and much time for you to read them, I will stick to what I think were the best live actions. I will also be a bit cliche, but most of the headliners slayed the stage. WASP came with so much energy and power, it shocked everyone, and I am so grateful I got to see a piece of music history along with some other thousands of people. Powerwolf put on one hell of a show, even without all their fire toys, kept the audience alive with energy and enthusiams, while singing about werewolves and vampires in their homeland. Some people complained about the sound not being high enough. I think it was more than decent. Amorphis was impressive in a… different way. Their music has lots of soul and feeling, so it was more emotional, to say so, with songs like Silver Bride and House of Sleep. One great thing about Amorphis. Their live performance is so close to the recoreded version, it hurts. Obituary is not my cup of tea but people described the show with some big words.

 

In the last night, InFlames ended the festival with a show to remember. With a full Wacken stage set, with lights, led screens, projections, light pillars and fireworks, everything was insane. It was late, after four days of boiling during the day and freezing during the night and everyone enjoyed every second of the show. There was a great communication with the audience, the guys smiled all the time and were obviously excited to be there.
I will also mention Septicflesh here because they had a show that impressed me beyond any expectation and I think they deserve to be close to the headliners.  Their music is more than fascinating and seing them live really brings everything to a whole new level. You can’t help but feel their music.
Other bands I really enojoyed from the main stage were Dirty Shirt (which I saw before but never get tired of), Brujeria, which were totally crazy, with their mexican vibes and funny attitude combined with the hard guitar riffs and drums. GoatWhore had an interesting sound and Belphegor made a really nice show.
Fleshgod Apocalypse finally managed to get on the romanian shores, after being robbed and having to cancel their concerts, including the one from the Indoor Rockstadt. Man, they killed that stage. First, their costumes, make up, attitude were basically yelling that was going to be good. Their mix of classical, renaissance sound combined with extreme drums and guitars, alongside the beautiful opera voice of Veronica  and the deep powerful vocals of the leadsinger just takes you to a very interesting trip through „space and time”.

About the second stage, first band that got my attention was W3 4R3 NUM83R5, which was also the first band I got to see from all the festival. I knew some songs from them but never got the chance to see them performing live. Pleasant surprise. The sound was very good, some nice djent, lots of energy, great communication with the public.  Also, Sur Astru was a very interesting experience and I think these guys are going places. Impure Vilhelmina and The Thirteenth Sun had pretty good shows but I would enjoy more to see them in separate shows, as I think they could do even better.  Gutalax was at least fuuny to watch, and they had show people kept talking about.  As for the main stage, the sound was nice and clean and every band played according to schedule, no events, just more crowded by the day, which was a good thing.

As I said before, I wish there was something even remotely bad about this festival, but it isn’t. I talked to people that never missed an edition of REF and they said this festival is just getting better and better, more and more professional. I asked some that came this year for the first time and they were surprised. As for me, I shall never miss a year of Rockstadt Extreme Fest. Congrats to everyone who puts tons of  effort, every year, into making this, the best metal festival from Romania.

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Kamelot brought their Shadow Theory to Bucharest

Kamelot! Kamelot! Kamelot! – Can you tell it was a great show already? August 16th, Quantic Open Air, Kamelot brought their latest album, The Shadow Theory, to Romania.  Photo Gallery here

The day started with Crossing Eternity with a short set, but that definitely got them many new fans. The singer said “Bună seara” and I was so impressed by his Romanian only to have him speaking Romanian afterwards because … he is Romanian. A Romanian – Swedish- German band, they worked amazing together. They only have one album out, but it’s worth checking out. Good energy on stage, worked the crowd, got them to cheer. They didn’t have an easy task, but they delivered. Hopefully we’ll get to see them many more times in Romania.

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Before Kamelot we were kind of worried because there weren’t that many people and the Golden Circle space was a bit too large, and by that I mean it was 70% empty. Luckily, by the time Kamelot came on stage, more people had joined and people got up from the tables so it didn’t look suspiciously empty.

I was happy to see just how many people came with Kamelot T-shirts. Glad to see so many fans. Kamelot are a band with such a long and complex history, it’s hard to define them exactly. I have friends who are huge fans of Kamelot because it was what they were listening to in high school. I have friends who have only come aboard the Kam train after the last album(s). That is, though, what makes the band so special. They know who their fans are and they do an amazing job of mixing the old with the new. After all, they have gone forward and forward for years (since 1991), put out 12 albums, and yet they are fresher and more exciting than ever.

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The show started with a single from the new album, Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire). They gave us more new songs (Ravenlight, Amnesiac) and some throwbacks that just cannot be left out of their setlist (Rule The World, The Great Pandemonium, When The Lights are Down, Karma). I personally think they have even better songs on The Shadow Theory that they are not playing, but this is just me being picky and wanting to hear them live.

For this show, Kamelot were joined by Lauren Hart of Once Human, who came in and out to feature on different songs. She has such an incredible and versatile voice, going from clean vocals to growl. When she gets the chance to shine, she fills the stage.

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Song after song, the crowd was going wild. A very special moment was during Here’s To The Fall, a very emotional ballad Tommy dedicated to his late grandfather. The song is so beautiful and showcases more of what he can do vocally, and the crowd had a part in it raising up their lights.

Towards the end, we got to hear Forever, one of my favourites. It is always a great moment in the setlist because the band stops the song for the crowd to chant different versions of oooOOOOoooO with them. Tommy Karevik on stage is electric and has a magnetism few people can ever dream to achieve. He can command a crowd with just a look. He told us what to do and we did it. Definitely not as well as he did it, but we cannot all be world-class singers.

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The band had such a great energy. When talking to other fans, Thomas was referred to as “the one making atmosphere on stage” and everyone loved seeing Sean and his signature braids being extra energetic. Both Thomas and Tommy were constantly coming off stage to be closer to the fans, raising thunderous roars from the crow. Oliver was, as always, the master of the keyboards (because he’s worth it). Any band that has a keyboard solo wins my heart forever. Last but not least, a very special shout-out to Alex Landenburg, who stepped behind the drums while Johan is recovering and is doing an amazing job.

All in all, a great show! I did lose my voice at the end of it, so you know I screamed. It wasn’t just me! The crowd, though not huge, was very loud and very supportive. We all cannot wait to do this all again!

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Artmania Day II – a line-up no one expected but everyone enjoyed

Artmania needs no introduction to us, rock/metal enthusiasts. With such a long tradition, it has become a highlight of every year, bringing people not just with its great music, but with its specific atmosphere. As the years went by, many famous bands got up on the stage from the center square of Sibiu. This year had a progressive twist no one see it coming, but overall Artmania can’t go wrong so people were still excited. The charm of the festival consists not only in the musical acts, but in the cultural activities and the attempt to promote culture, which is very much appreciated. Thus, it gathers all kinds of art lovers, no matter the form of i.

This year I was one of them. Unforunately I didn’t manage to get there on the first day, due to some external factors but I surely enjoyed the second one. From what I’ve heard, Haken and Mogwai did some pretty good shows, though there were some sound issues.

The second day started pretty good with Distorted Harmony, a progressive metal act from Tel Aviv. Now, you don’t usually get to hear (good) metal from Israel, but these guys got it big time. Their enthusiam and positive attitude one stage is just fascinating. Although they have been pretty settled in the progressive metal scene for a couple of years now, the guys were quite nervous on stage, but still gave everything they had. It was one of those shows were you see how much the artist works to be there for you. Even if they were the first band and played around 7 pm, they had a generous audience. Their setlist included songs from all their metarials, from Utopia to Chain Reaction and A Way Out. Distorted Harmony is a balanced mix of old progressive metal, Dream Theater style, and modern some modern influences. You know, a nice mix of djent and clean vocals. Overall, I am waiting to see those again, pretty soon.

Zeal and Ardor were definitely the surprise of the festival. A band I knew nothing of became, easily, one of my favs. First thing you see when the lights come on is the number of the lead singers. Three, to be more exactly. So you can already tell it is going to be at least interesting. After they start playing, everything changes. I mean, don`t judge a book by its cover but I thought I am going to listen some classical progressive metal with a twist. Instead, I got some avant-garde metal, which was already a „wow”, but later I encountered some spirituals sounds and black metal. Now picture that being sung by three different voices. It was real party there, split in two main moods, chilling and calm based on blues and soul vibes and energy blast. The setlist had songs from both Devil is Fine and Stranger Fruit album. This show had a strange but satisfying feeling, like when you don’t know what you are watching but you can’t help no to like it. Favorite songs were definitely Devil is Fine, Baphomet and Don’t You Dare. I really hope I will get to relive this experience.

Leprous are simply … Leprous. We know and love them. A band that grew in a few years more than others did in decades, and became, easily, one of the most influential progressive metal bands. Their approach of the genre is unique and psychedelic, with heavy drums, both distorsion and clean sounds on guitars, melodic piano parts and Einar’s chilling voice. A Leprous concert is more like a journey. It starts with excitment and a drop of caution, leaving the public wondering about what is going to happen next and where they are heading. Then it slowly grows into popular songs, on well-known territories and the audience goes crazy. Another thing I noticed, regarding the audience, was the fact that people were feeling every tune. I sw some girls crying during the song „From the Flame”, but it was that satisfaction and fulfilment crying, when you close your eyes so you can hear the music better and then you smile. I think that is the best a band could get while they play live. If your music goes deeper than the hearing, you won. Leprous’ music is a rollercoaster of emotions, moods and states of mind. As their journey ends, the sound gets more serein but still imposing and everyone gets sad because one does not simply gets enough of these guys. The gig from Artmania won everyone’s heart. Besides the great music, we got to see some very cool video projections and a nice „light-show” that completed the show, along the way. The guys played both songs from their latest material and some old songs, for the old Leprous fans. It was a show to remember and definitely one to repeat.

After a short break of soundchecks, Steven Wilson, the most expected artist of Artmania, came on stage. To be honest, I never called myself a big fan of him or Porcupine Tree but somehow, the show got my attetion pretty quick. I guess never judge a book by its past musical materials. When it ended I was just „wow, what did I just see?”. It was definitely more than a regular show, it was a whole new musical experience, a complete one. Everything from the sound, lights, videoprojections to the messege sent and the public-artist bound, was perfect. Of course, we all know Steven Wilson is famous for his meticulous planned shows, but when you get to see it, things are totally different. The setlist included songs from Porcupine Tree, like Lazarus and Sleep Together, but also some pieces from his solo albums, To The Bone, Hand. Cannot. Erase. and The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories) being the most famous. After Leprous left me emotionally „unstable”, Steven Wilson made me smile, laugh, cry and opened a liitle door inside of me, to a better understanding of what music can do to one. Every song and every word makes you feel something different and takes you to another worlds. As I was talking to a friend after, I told him this show „was definitely from another planet”. Wilson’s voice is both tandem and straightforward and overwhelming. All the musicians that were on that stage gave 110% of what they had and we will stay grateful for those hours for a long time.

This year, Artmania Festival was full of surprises, with a line-up no one expected but everyone enjoyed. From time to time, some change won’t hurt. The organisation of the event was nice. I really enjoyed the fact that the square was opened for the public during the day, so everyone could enjoy the city, even if they were not a part of the festival. Sibiu is definitely a charming city, full of culture, so it was perfect for the specific of the event. Another thing that impressed me was the fact that the promoters tried to organise some meet and greet with a part of the bands. Congrats for that, they made some people very happy. We can only thank the promoters and to all the staff, for what they did. See you next year, Artmania!

Adelina Sahlean

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Metalhead Meeting Day I – Dirty Shirt, Sonata Arctica, Children of Bodom

July 6th. The day I stopped being a Sonata Arctica fan, but I became a Children of Bodom fan.

Metalhead Meeting opens with a day I was looking forward to for a while, as it was bringing us Sonata Arctica. That was definitely less than stellar. But it’s ok because I got to see Dirty Shirt up close and they killed it. Last but not least, I wasn’t expecting much from Children of Bodom, as I am not a fan of growling. However, I loved their set. They brought the house down in an incredible display of their powerful music.

The day started with Siska and The Colony. They weren’t helped by their early slot in what was a very warm day.

The party officially started with Dirty Shirt, our own Romanian folk metal band from Maramureș. It was the first time I saw them live and oh boy what I have been missing. I love that they have built an individual sound, and they bring us along. Their whole set was drawing people in and making them dance. They brought their A-game with songs like ¨Dirtylicious¨ or ¨Săraca inima me¨. Of course, “Hoții” came with an attached speech about the thieves politicians that lead us. On stage with them were the girls from 4Tune Quartet, who really brought it, as well. But truly, it was a great mix of tradition and metal, with its unique sound, energy, and stage presence. Dirty Shirt are worth seeing life. And they deserve to be supported for their next album, which will be launched through crowdfunding. Support them here!

Here come Sonata Arctica, a band I have loved so dearly more than ten years ago. While I wasn’t impressed by their latest materials, I was pumped to see them live for the third time. I made my way to the second row, only to be underwhelmed by the poor sound, or rather mixing. It’s something you have to face if you wanna sit in the front, but after a few songs I decided to move to the stands, where the sound was much better. As someone who has listened to their discography multiple times, it would have been hard for me to choose a worse setlist. From their more famous songs, we only got “Full Moon”, with close seconds “Paid in Full” and “The Last Amazing Grays”. But for a festival they were not headlining, you’d expect them to bring out their best of, whether ballads or power metal songs. But songs like “Shitload of Money”, “Cinderblox”, “Losing my Insanity” just fell flat with the audience. I understand that they were promoting their last album with “Life”, “Candle Lawns”, or “Closer To An Animal”.

Even with the not so stellar setlist, I felt them low in energy. They weren’t actively trying to reach out to non-fans, which is the role of a festival. For half of the show, the guitar and bass players did not move. Tony wasn’t doing his usual crazy clown routine in full, either.

I must state that this is my opinion as a long-time fan, who has seen them before and knows what they can do. Many other fans shared my view of disappointment.  It’s not that it was a bad show. I did enjoy seeing them and hearing live the songs I know and love. It was just not them at their best. Or second best. However, for someone who didn’t know them that well, it was a good show. They performed, they sang, they were out there.

 

Children of Bodom need no introduction. They are so great at what they do, which made them beloved. I was skeptical, as I don’t enjoy growls, but I am glad I saw their whole show. From the beginning, they commanded the stage and the public.  Their music just filled the air and you knew it was something special. So complex, so lively, so powerful. Their sounds was powerful enough to make a great show on its own, but they were still kicking and screaming and performing. They did it all by the book, impeccable.

Photo source: CoB Instagram

The audience responded and cheered for them. One particular cheer left them flabbergasted, as the crowd was chanting “M*ie Dragnea”. Not once, but twice, were the poor guys from CoB left to wonder what people were screaming. A freeing and vindicating moment for the public. A public which was rowdy from beginning to end, for some too much so. Constant crowdsurfing, moshpits, pushing, kicking. I pitied those who stayed in the front rows. From my seats up above in the stalls, I enjoyed the perfect concert.

The energy levels were never down during their show. They were electric and played with such enthusiasm and intensity. You name it, they played it. Want “In Your Face”, “Downfall”, or “Are you Dead Yet”? You got it! Want some “Everytime I die” or “Angels Don’t Kill” with that? Coming right up.

All in all, a good metal day of Metalhead Meeting. One with fun music, with many bands of different styles. And definitely one which belonged in its entirety to Children of Bodom.

 

 

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Stone Sour și Nothing More la București

Stone Sour a fost, poate, unul dintre cele mai așteptate concerte ale anului 2018, dacă e să mă iau după cum a vuit Facebook-ul în zilele dinainte și de după 26 iunie. Neffind o mare fană Stone Sour sau Corey Taylor, m-am dus mai mult de curiozitate și din dorința de a vedea Nothing More. Porțile s-au deschis puțin mai târziu de ora șapte, iar ploaia a început cam tot atunci. Coada de la intrare se întindea mai departe decât puteam să văd, dar oamenii stăteau răbdători iar staff-ul a reușit să facă accesul destul de repede. Zonele principale au fost de A, B și C, deși nu am înțeles exact unde era A-ul. În rest, două baruri, un stand de mâncare, ceva merch și, cred, un stand de țigări.

Nothing More este o trupă de progressive/hard rock, din Texas formată în 2003. Deși au mai bine de un deceniu de activitate pe piața muzicală, formația s-a chinuit destul de mult să își mențină fanii și să atragă atenția caselor de discuri, confruntându-se cu multe perioade de pauză și schimbări de compoziție. Cu toate acestea ,show-ul pe care ni l-au oferit în seara de 26 iunie este, poate, unul dintre cele mai bune pe care le-am văzut. Sunetul a fost, tehnic, foarte bun, cu excepția unor părți scurte în care vocea solistului se auzea foarte încet. Dat fiind faptul că show-ul a început ziua, luminile au fost prea puțin importante, atât că vedeai în reflectoare cât de tare ploua. Pe de altă parte, nu îmi amintesc când sau dacă am văzut un concert cu o asemenea producție scenică și bazat pe atâta creativitate. Am văzut, în premieră, trei persoane cântând la o chitară bass, simultan. Am văzut muzicieni versatili, care schimbau chitarele pe bețe de tobă sau microfon (bassistul a lăsat o adevărată impresie) și care au debordat de energie pe toată durata concertului. A existat comunicare cu publicul și puteai să vezi cu ochiul liber că și cei de pe scenă se simțeau la fel de bine ca noi. Momentul ”principal” a fost, spre surpriza tuturor, un cover Skrillex, al piesei Equinox, interpretată într-un mod suficient de bun și interesant ca să te facă să te gândești de două ori la faptul că le-ai văzut pe toate în viață. Aș vrea să pot să numesc ”instrumentul” pe care s-a cățărat solistul, dar cred că cea mai bună explicație ar fi o combinație steampunk între o orgă, un mini set de tobe și un procesor de voce (sper că le-an nimerit pe toate). Per total a fost un concert energic, plin de creativitate, care are în mod evident în spate munca multor ani a unor muzicieni compleți și care a întrecut cu mult orice așteptare, lucru care s-a văzut atât în reacțiile publicului cât și în postările post-show.

În altă ordine de idei, după ce băieții de la Nothing More au ieșit de pe scenă, am realizat că singurul lucru cu care mai pot impresiona Stone Sour este Corey Taylor, dar tot îmi păstram speranțele sus. Pe măsură ce pauza dintre concerte în care staff-ul făcea ultimele probe de sunet, se apropia de final, ploaia, entuziasmul și nerăbdarea oamenilor se amplificau. Am observat în alte dăți cum rândurile se golesc în astfel de pauze iar oamenii se mai duc să își ia o bere, să meargă la baie sau să mănânce ceva rapid. În cazul nostru, situația a fost puțin invers, spațiul din fața scenei devenind tot mai mic și înghesuit pe măsură ce se apropia ora nouă.

Stone Sour, la fel ca Nothing More au avut un drum nu tocmai ușor în cariera lor, având de afaceri cu multe schimbări de componență, proiecte separate și schimbări de stil. După ”House of Gold and Bones – Part 2”, băieții au luat o pauză de patru, timp în care s-au pus la cale idei și planuri noi. Astfel s-a ajuns în 2017 la albumul ”Hydrograd”, care i-a adus pe Stone Sour atât pe afișele marilor festivaluri de metal din Europa, cât și în țara noastră. Mereu e o plăcere când vezi că un headliner HellFest trece și România pe lista lor de ”to do”. Cu un public pe măsură (prin calitate, nu cantitate), concertul a început la ora programată, cu piesa ”Whiplash Pants”, cu un Corey Taylor puțin îmbătrânit, dar plin de energie și cu multe artificii și lumini. Lumea era deja în extaz, s-au cântat versurile tuturor pieselor iar ploaia devenise un mic inconvenient (deși era deja torențială). Setlist-ul a fost o combinație între piese vechi, de pe primele albume, și piese de pe Hydrograd iar atmosfera a fost… umedă, nu doar de la ploaie cât și de la sticlele de apă aruncate de solist în public (amuzant, dar ridicol). Ca parte de creativitate, panourile led au dat scenei un aspect puțin mai… profi, iar ”bazooka” cu confetti folosită de Corey a fost chiar amuzantă. Ultima piesă a fost marcată de apariția unor omuleți gonflabili și colorați, alături de alte artifii. Show-ul a început într-un stil mare și s-a terminat la fel, deși nu a avut aceleași elemente ca cel al Nothing More. Băieții au fost plini de energie și greu de urmărit pe scenă, au comunicat cu publicul, au dat dovadă de prezență scenică și cred că i-am convins să se întoarcă la noi.

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Organizarea a fost decentă, date fiind condițiile meteorologice neprevăzute. Am apreciat faptul că cei care nu au venit pregătiți pentru ploaie și-au putut lua pelerine de plastic și au putut să se bucure de concert dar și faptul că s-a respectat programul. Ca și în alte dăți, staff-ul a fost depășit de situație la capitolul bar și jetoane. Să stai pentru o bere (în care oricum ploua) însemna să vezi jumate de concert de trupă, din cozi. Cei de la poartă, în schimb, s-au mișcat foarte bine și au permis accesul rapid al persoanelor în locație (dată fiind coada kilometrică din fața Arenelor).Tehnic, totul a fost ok, de la sunet până la lumini și ”artificii”. Overall, congrats!

Recenzie de Adelina Sahlean