We all know the "Big 4" of Thrash Metal:
My votes for the "Underrated 4" of Thrash Metal:
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Overkill
Holy Thrash Metal Batman! New Jersey Thrash Metal Gods, Overkill, finally returned to Utah (that was a lot of capitalized words)!
Diamond Plate are a Neo-Thrash Metal band from Chicago, and started out the show. No need to even look into their music, I only mention them because they are on the advertisement I've posted.
Up next were German band Suidakra. I had heard of the band, but was not familiar with their music. They started in the early 90's as a Folk Metal band, but as the new millennium came they changed their style to Folk influenced Melodic Death Metal that had become popular around that time. This time sandwiching a Folk Death Metal band between a Thrash band and a Metalcore band didn't seem to go over too well with the crowd. They seemed to not understand what they were watching on stage as Suidakra played. No one moshed, the applause between songs wasn't very enthusiastic, and band kept saying, "Are you awake out there?!" So when the band left the stage they said they'd be at the merch booth. I wander out there and only about 5 other people were there to meet the band. I talked to the band for a little bit. I told them how Utah wasn't really big on the Folk Metal scene, and apologized for the lackluster response (being the self appointed Metal Ambassador of Utah that I am). I was looking at their CD they had on the table, I said I'd buy it. The guitarist took out a different CD from under the table and said, "This is the European version with bonus tracks not in US, we brought just for this tour. Only $5 more?" I really did enjoy their set, and feeling bad for the reception they received I agreed to the European version. The guitarist then says,, "Another $10, and you can have a shirt too." A ten buck, shirt? Hellz yeah. I hand over my money and get my CD and shirt, then as I'm walking away I realize, "I've just been guilt tripped into buying merch from a Folk Metal band... WTF?" I laughed about it and I don't regret the purchase because the album really is great. And now I'm guaranteed the only 23 year old in Utah with a shirt from German Folk Death Metal band Suidakra. Suidakra - Dowth 2059
I had last seen God Forbid in 2009 on the Mayhem Fest Tour in Denver. When I had seen them in 2009 I wasn't impressed at all. So I was not expecting much from seeing them again. But I was pleasantly surprised. Quick side story: Thanks to my bouncer friend I again got my 21+ wristband before the doors to the venue opened and was able to get a great spot as everyone else was waiting to get their wristbands. When I get to my spot the singer of God Forbid walked near me and I gave me a Devil Horn salute out of respect, (because even though I didn't enjoy his music I still respected what he was about). He did it back and then went on his merry way. But God Forbid played quite a few songs from their newest album and I really enjoyed them. The old songs they played I still disliked, but the style they had adopted for the newest album was really impressive. God Forbid - My Rebirth
While waiting for Overkill, a dude came up to me and just randomly asked what my favorite Punk band was. I said I hated Punk music, to which he replied, "How can you like Thrash Metal and not enjoy Punk? Thrash Metal evolved from Punk, you can hear it in a lot of Overkill's music.Overkill - Old School I think its stupid that people don't know their music's roots." I then asked him, "Do you like the Blues?" He informed me that he did not enjoy Blues music. I then asked him, "How can you like Heavy Metal (or Rock & Roll at all) and not enjoy the Blues, because all of today's popular music can be traced back to the Blues." He told me that was a different situation altogether. I (as kindly as I could muster) told him he was ridiculous and hypocritical and with that our conversation ended as he flipped me off and walked away. Making friends is hard... While yes it is true that Thrash Metal took the speed and attitude from Punk music, the style of music was derived from NWOBHM bands like Venom and Motorhead, and has evolved so much that very rarely can I see a resemblance to Punk. Just my personal opinion.
The year is 2007. One of my best friend's father has scored us 5 tickets in his company's private box to see Gigantour with Megadeth, Overkill, Lamb Of God, Opeth and tons of other bands. So myself, my friend, his brother and brother's girlfriend, and another friend of ours all are stoked to go. My two friends and myself were huge Megadeth fans, and were so excited to see them live. I was just as excited to see Overkill on that tour as well. Then High School drama intervened, I had started hanging out with a girl whom my friend had a crush on. The bickering over this girl went on and on until one day he says to me, "You can't go to Megadeth anymore." I was floored, I could not believe that I was being benched from the game. Who did he think he was? He wouldn't even know Megadeth without me! Oh wait, that's right, he's the one with the tickets. So having no funds and no desire to see the concert alone, I moped around for weeks not speaking to my friend (but I got the girl, so there is that). The day before the concert there is a knock on my front door, I open it to find my friend there. He hands me an envelope with my Gigantour ticket inside. We apologize to each other, and it is agreed that my two friends will come pick me up and off we will go to see the concert. I told him we had to leave by a certain time so I could see Overkill (whom neither of my friends were fans of). But they agreed. So the next day I am waiting for my ride to come, they don't show up the designated time. Neither is answering their cellular device. I had no vehicle that night to drive myself. An hour goes by with no word, but finally they show up. I didn't ask why they were late or why they didn't answer their phones, because I still needed to get to the concert. There would be time to do that later. We arrive finally and I book it inside, leaving them behind. I ask someone, "Has Overkill played yet?" They respond, "Yeah, they're just got off the stage." My heart broke. My friend had struck me back in the way he knew would hurt me the most, my music.Overkill - Soulitude I was so distraught over it, I wandered around the "E" Center not wanting to watch some terrible new band. Then I see Bobby "Blitz" of Overkill sitting at a table. They're doing autographs! And still having the envelope my friend gave me my ticket in, I met the entire band and got their autographs. At least I had met one of my favorite bands, they had promised to come back. It only took 5 years for them to...
Fast forward to the present year. Overkill have taken the stage, unleashing an onslaught of their best songs. I could not stop smiling. I was finally seeing one of my favorite bands. After the sixth song Bobby Blitz, the singer, says "Goodnight!" WTF?! That's it?! But then the lights come back on and he laughs, "Wouldn't that suck if we just left after six songs? Don't worry, we won't do that to you like we had to on Gigantour!" So it turned out that Overkill (and probably the other second stage bands of Gigantour) were only given time for them to do six songs. It really made me feel better about missing them in 2007.Overkill - Damned Granted I would pay to see them play just one song, but finally the mystery of what I had missed was revealed and now I was getting to see them play for an hour and a half. The band were even better live than I had expected, D.D. (next to Steve Harris) is the best bass player around. Very rarely to you hear a bass player with their own distinct sound and style . Bobby sings exactly as he does on the albums, hitting notes even higher than he does on the albums. I wished they would have played for another hour and a half. But alas it was time for them to leave, but they promised to be back and said it wouldn't take 5 years this time. I really hope so. Overkill - Forked Tongue Kiss
Diamond Plate are a Neo-Thrash Metal band from Chicago, and started out the show. No need to even look into their music, I only mention them because they are on the advertisement I've posted.
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| Suidakra |
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| God Forbid |
While waiting for Overkill, a dude came up to me and just randomly asked what my favorite Punk band was. I said I hated Punk music, to which he replied, "How can you like Thrash Metal and not enjoy Punk? Thrash Metal evolved from Punk, you can hear it in a lot of Overkill's music.Overkill - Old School I think its stupid that people don't know their music's roots." I then asked him, "Do you like the Blues?" He informed me that he did not enjoy Blues music. I then asked him, "How can you like Heavy Metal (or Rock & Roll at all) and not enjoy the Blues, because all of today's popular music can be traced back to the Blues." He told me that was a different situation altogether. I (as kindly as I could muster) told him he was ridiculous and hypocritical and with that our conversation ended as he flipped me off and walked away. Making friends is hard... While yes it is true that Thrash Metal took the speed and attitude from Punk music, the style of music was derived from NWOBHM bands like Venom and Motorhead, and has evolved so much that very rarely can I see a resemblance to Punk. Just my personal opinion.
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| Overkill |
The year is 2007. One of my best friend's father has scored us 5 tickets in his company's private box to see Gigantour with Megadeth, Overkill, Lamb Of God, Opeth and tons of other bands. So myself, my friend, his brother and brother's girlfriend, and another friend of ours all are stoked to go. My two friends and myself were huge Megadeth fans, and were so excited to see them live. I was just as excited to see Overkill on that tour as well. Then High School drama intervened, I had started hanging out with a girl whom my friend had a crush on. The bickering over this girl went on and on until one day he says to me, "You can't go to Megadeth anymore." I was floored, I could not believe that I was being benched from the game. Who did he think he was? He wouldn't even know Megadeth without me! Oh wait, that's right, he's the one with the tickets. So having no funds and no desire to see the concert alone, I moped around for weeks not speaking to my friend (but I got the girl, so there is that). The day before the concert there is a knock on my front door, I open it to find my friend there. He hands me an envelope with my Gigantour ticket inside. We apologize to each other, and it is agreed that my two friends will come pick me up and off we will go to see the concert. I told him we had to leave by a certain time so I could see Overkill (whom neither of my friends were fans of). But they agreed. So the next day I am waiting for my ride to come, they don't show up the designated time. Neither is answering their cellular device. I had no vehicle that night to drive myself. An hour goes by with no word, but finally they show up. I didn't ask why they were late or why they didn't answer their phones, because I still needed to get to the concert. There would be time to do that later. We arrive finally and I book it inside, leaving them behind. I ask someone, "Has Overkill played yet?" They respond, "Yeah, they're just got off the stage." My heart broke. My friend had struck me back in the way he knew would hurt me the most, my music.Overkill - Soulitude I was so distraught over it, I wandered around the "E" Center not wanting to watch some terrible new band. Then I see Bobby "Blitz" of Overkill sitting at a table. They're doing autographs! And still having the envelope my friend gave me my ticket in, I met the entire band and got their autographs. At least I had met one of my favorite bands, they had promised to come back. It only took 5 years for them to...
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| Overkill |
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| Overkill |
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Decibel Magazine Tour
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| Front men and woman of In Solitude (top), Watain (left), The Devil's Blood (center), and Behemoth (right). |
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| In Solitude |
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| The Devil's Blood |
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| Watain |
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| Watain |
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| Behemoth |
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| Nergal |
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| Setlist, splattered with fake blood |
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| Short hair after chemo, check out how long it was in the music videos. |
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| Behemoth bassist Orion. Who kept spraying water out of his mouth and it always landed on us in the front row. |
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sepultura / Death Angel
The night is April 14th, the place is "In The Venue," and the bands are Sepultura and Death Angel. What a great show! I went with my good friends Kari and Darrell. Darrell is one of the few people as into music as I am, and one of an extreme few that can actually tell me about bands I've never heard of. I love going to concerts with them!
I am more of a Death Angel fan than I am a Sepultura fan, by a large amount. I was pretty bummed that Death Angel were going to be openers and play a shorter set than when I saw them last year headlining. They are a very underrated Thrash Metal band (in my opinion), and I really wish they were more widely known. So when the lights go down for the show to start I leave K&D and head towards the stage (they were there for Sepultura). I had in my pocket a silver sharpie and the booklet from my favorite Death Angel album, Relentless Retribution. I made my way over to the side of the stage where all their equipment and the stairs are. And there I waited, looking like a creep since I was also right by the women's bathroom... but I was only creeping on the band. As they come off the stage I'm the first one there with my CD liner notes and my silver sharpie ready to go... wait, I'm the only person getting an autograph. Damn, give these guys a good reception Utah! I want them to come back! But the band (excluding the bassist) graciously signed my liner notes, which I have framed with Warrant's setlist on my wall like a nerd. I was on cloud 9! Death Angel - Claws In So Deep
Sepultura, one of Brazil's most successful acts (way to go Death Metal!), were never a band I had previously been really in to. I had heard their greatest hits and new of some of their more popular releases, but nothing had really clicked with me. That all changed with this show. There is something I read in Classic Rock Magazine once that applies to what I (and all of us have) experienced. A writer was reviewing a re-release of The Who's "Tommy" album. He said that when he was young he had hated the album (how, I don't know) but when he had been forced to listen to it again decades later for work he was amazed at how much he loved it. He came to the conclusion that certain bands or songs need to be found at the correct time in a person's life, and I completely agree. So that's what happened with Sepultura and myself. I had listened to some stuff when I was still just starting on my Extreme Metal path and I didn't enjoy it (I also didn't enjoy Slayer or King Diamond when I first heard them, but I've learned better!). But now, at this moment in my life, I see this giant African-Brazilian man (gotta keep it P.C.) screaming at me on stage and it instantly clicks! I love those moments, they are the entire reason I like seeing opening acts. You never know what obscure band is going to catch your attention. Sepultura - Mask
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| Mark, the singer for Death Angel |
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| Death Angel |
I am more of a Death Angel fan than I am a Sepultura fan, by a large amount. I was pretty bummed that Death Angel were going to be openers and play a shorter set than when I saw them last year headlining. They are a very underrated Thrash Metal band (in my opinion), and I really wish they were more widely known. So when the lights go down for the show to start I leave K&D and head towards the stage (they were there for Sepultura). I had in my pocket a silver sharpie and the booklet from my favorite Death Angel album, Relentless Retribution. I made my way over to the side of the stage where all their equipment and the stairs are. And there I waited, looking like a creep since I was also right by the women's bathroom... but I was only creeping on the band. As they come off the stage I'm the first one there with my CD liner notes and my silver sharpie ready to go... wait, I'm the only person getting an autograph. Damn, give these guys a good reception Utah! I want them to come back! But the band (excluding the bassist) graciously signed my liner notes, which I have framed with Warrant's setlist on my wall like a nerd. I was on cloud 9! Death Angel - Claws In So Deep
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| Displayed proudly on my wall |
Sepultura, one of Brazil's most successful acts (way to go Death Metal!), were never a band I had previously been really in to. I had heard their greatest hits and new of some of their more popular releases, but nothing had really clicked with me. That all changed with this show. There is something I read in Classic Rock Magazine once that applies to what I (and all of us have) experienced. A writer was reviewing a re-release of The Who's "Tommy" album. He said that when he was young he had hated the album (how, I don't know) but when he had been forced to listen to it again decades later for work he was amazed at how much he loved it. He came to the conclusion that certain bands or songs need to be found at the correct time in a person's life, and I completely agree. So that's what happened with Sepultura and myself. I had listened to some stuff when I was still just starting on my Extreme Metal path and I didn't enjoy it (I also didn't enjoy Slayer or King Diamond when I first heard them, but I've learned better!). But now, at this moment in my life, I see this giant African-Brazilian man (gotta keep it P.C.) screaming at me on stage and it instantly clicks! I love those moments, they are the entire reason I like seeing opening acts. You never know what obscure band is going to catch your attention. Sepultura - Mask
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| Sepultura |
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| Sepultura |
The Black Dahlia Murder
I've been slacking on the updating of my concert journal, time to get back on track!
The Black Dahlia Murder, one of the few newer Melodic Death Metal bands that have escaped the cookie cutter sound that has emerged in the past decade or so. My friend Darrell and I saw them on March 30th with Skeletonwitch and Nile (there was also some other band that sucked, I forgot their name) at The Complex.
After the terrible opening act, the Blackened Thrash Metal band Skeletonwitch took the stage. I had heard of Skeletonwitch but had never listened to their music. I must say I was completely blown away by their originality and force. I instantly became a fan and can't wait for them to come back, hopefully they'll be headlining when they do return so they can play a longer set Skeletonwitch - Bringers Of Death This music video makes no sense but I love it. Human sized stuffed animals and Zombies fight to the death over the band.
Up next on the bill was the band Nile. I was really surprised that they were not the headliners because they have been around far longer than The Black Dahlia Murder. But for whatever reason they were openers. Their style of Egyptian themed Death Metal has given them a lot of popularity, but is pretty repetitive. I have one of their albums and that is enough for me, only a few songs really stick out to me. Darrell and I noticed that the drummer REALLY enjoys the cymbals on his kit, he goes crazy on them. I'd see them again though if they came with other bands I enjoy, they were fairly entertaining, and got the crowd moving violently. Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance
Finally The Black Dahlia Murder comes out. They honestly look like a bunch of tattooed comic book nerds... and that is really what they are. They would not be out of place at Comic Con, but they just happen to be in a Death Metal band. They are great live performers, this was the 3rd time I've seen them and I'm always excited to see them again. Now the singer of the band waves his free hand around all crazy and in weird motions, its very dramatic and is quite fun to watch. But I once read an interview where he was asked why he waves his hand so wildly. His response was he liked to think that he was casting a spell on the crowd and moved his hand to affect everyone in attendance. Perhaps he is casting spells... Each album debuts higher on the Billboard 200 list than the previous, and their popularity has seemed to grow substantially since I first saw them at Mayhem Fest 2009, and every time I see them I become more of a fan. Sounds like magic to me... or a hardworking band... but we'll let the singer think it's magic. The Black Dahlia Murder - What A Horrible Night For A Curse
The Black Dahlia Murder, one of the few newer Melodic Death Metal bands that have escaped the cookie cutter sound that has emerged in the past decade or so. My friend Darrell and I saw them on March 30th with Skeletonwitch and Nile (there was also some other band that sucked, I forgot their name) at The Complex.
After the terrible opening act, the Blackened Thrash Metal band Skeletonwitch took the stage. I had heard of Skeletonwitch but had never listened to their music. I must say I was completely blown away by their originality and force. I instantly became a fan and can't wait for them to come back, hopefully they'll be headlining when they do return so they can play a longer set Skeletonwitch - Bringers Of Death This music video makes no sense but I love it. Human sized stuffed animals and Zombies fight to the death over the band.
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| Skeletonwitch |
Up next on the bill was the band Nile. I was really surprised that they were not the headliners because they have been around far longer than The Black Dahlia Murder. But for whatever reason they were openers. Their style of Egyptian themed Death Metal has given them a lot of popularity, but is pretty repetitive. I have one of their albums and that is enough for me, only a few songs really stick out to me. Darrell and I noticed that the drummer REALLY enjoys the cymbals on his kit, he goes crazy on them. I'd see them again though if they came with other bands I enjoy, they were fairly entertaining, and got the crowd moving violently. Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance
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| Nile |
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| The Black Dahlia Murder |
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| The Black Dahlia Murder |
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Goatwhore
Yes, I listen to a band called Goatwhore...
They are a Blackened Death Metal band from New Orleans. (I love that phrase Blackened to describe a band that aren't primarily a Black Metal band but do have some influences from it. Usually I make up dumb phrases like that to describe bands, but that one is actually used by magazines and such. It reminds me of something charred.) I first saw them open for Watain two years ago and have been a big fan ever since.
Early this month I pre-ordered their new album from Metal Blade Records, it also came with a poster, and a t-shirt with the album cover on it. I tell you that to tell you this story: I walked in to the concert venue cleverly called "In The Venue" (no joke), and walked up to the merch booth. The guy behind the counter said, "Dude, sick shirt!" I noticed that my shirt was not available to purchase from the band and that I was the only person in the place with that particular Goatwhore shirt on. That made my weird little mind very happy. As I stood watching a few bad local bands, I noticed this guy walk up and sit behind the merch booth. Was that just?.... no it couldn't... or could it? It had been two years since I'd seen them play, but I was positive that the singer of Goatwhore was sitting 5 feet away from me. A quick google search for a pic of him confirmed my suspicion. He was very gracious in taking a pic with me, and was a very cool guy. He looked at my shirt and yelled at the merch guy, "Why the hell don't we have these shirts?" The merch guy says, "The printer screwed them up." So the singer, who's name is Louis Benjamin Falgoust II, asked where I got my shirt. I told him that I pre-ordered the album (both on vinyl and CD), and that it came with it from the record company. He just smiled and said, "Right on man!" It was cool!
Now the second cool part of the night: as I am standing watching the local Death Metal band Dead Vessel play, they aren't too bad by the way, the guitarist for Goatwhore comes out to ask the singer something. The singer points to me and the guitarist comes over and asked to see the shirt. So we started talking and went into the bar area of the club where it was quieter. I bought him a beer and we talked about the new album, and how I was a big fan. He was a weird guy, and was pretty awkward. But I was in awe that I had impressed to members of a band that I really enjoy.
They are a Blackened Death Metal band from New Orleans. (I love that phrase Blackened to describe a band that aren't primarily a Black Metal band but do have some influences from it. Usually I make up dumb phrases like that to describe bands, but that one is actually used by magazines and such. It reminds me of something charred.) I first saw them open for Watain two years ago and have been a big fan ever since.
Early this month I pre-ordered their new album from Metal Blade Records, it also came with a poster, and a t-shirt with the album cover on it. I tell you that to tell you this story: I walked in to the concert venue cleverly called "In The Venue" (no joke), and walked up to the merch booth. The guy behind the counter said, "Dude, sick shirt!" I noticed that my shirt was not available to purchase from the band and that I was the only person in the place with that particular Goatwhore shirt on. That made my weird little mind very happy. As I stood watching a few bad local bands, I noticed this guy walk up and sit behind the merch booth. Was that just?.... no it couldn't... or could it? It had been two years since I'd seen them play, but I was positive that the singer of Goatwhore was sitting 5 feet away from me. A quick google search for a pic of him confirmed my suspicion. He was very gracious in taking a pic with me, and was a very cool guy. He looked at my shirt and yelled at the merch guy, "Why the hell don't we have these shirts?" The merch guy says, "The printer screwed them up." So the singer, who's name is Louis Benjamin Falgoust II, asked where I got my shirt. I told him that I pre-ordered the album (both on vinyl and CD), and that it came with it from the record company. He just smiled and said, "Right on man!" It was cool!
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| Louis Benjamin Falgoust II and TKA |
Now the second cool part of the night: as I am standing watching the local Death Metal band Dead Vessel play, they aren't too bad by the way, the guitarist for Goatwhore comes out to ask the singer something. The singer points to me and the guitarist comes over and asked to see the shirt. So we started talking and went into the bar area of the club where it was quieter. I bought him a beer and we talked about the new album, and how I was a big fan. He was a weird guy, and was pretty awkward. But I was in awe that I had impressed to members of a band that I really enjoy.
Iced Earth! Finally!
Thrash Metal band opening for a Power Metal band, followed by a Prog Metal band? Sound weird? Well it happened!
The day was February 24th, I landed at SLC International airport in the early evening. I had just gotten back from a cruise heading down to Mexico. I barely had time to put my bags in my apartment when it was time to head to a concert I'd been looking forward to for a long time: Iced Earth and Symphony X.
The show started out with the Neo-Thrash Metal band Warbringer. Warbringer - Living In A Whirlwind It was weird seeing these guys on the bottom peg of a tour again. Just last year they had been headlining their own tour, although I didn't see them because it was on the same night as another concert that I felt had priority. They are highly regarded as one of the bands at the forefront of the New Wave Of Thrash Metal that has come about in recent years. They really get the crowd moving, and are an impressive live act.
Now here is were I got a little let down: Warbringer leaves the stage, the roadies drop their backdrop and behind it is Iced Earth's backdrop. The way the ticket was printed and the impression of everyone I talked to, was that Iced Earth were to be the headliner. Iced Earth had not been to Utah for 8 years, the amount of time I've know of them and have loved their music. Now they were an opener and that meant they were going to play a shorter set than the headliners, what a bummer. Iced Earth, along with Kamelot, and Jag Panzer, are the leaders of the American Power Metal scene. American Power Metal sounds a lot different from the traditional European Power Metal such as Blind Guardian or Helloween, but the similarities are there too (Iced Earth - Birth Of The Wicked, Kamelot - The Haunting, Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side, Helloween - Back Against The Wall). But to my sorrow I realized as the band took the stage that the singer was not Matt Barlow, the voice that made me love Iced Earth in the first place. I've since learned the singer's name is Stu Block, but he sounded identical to Matt Barlow and could even hit higher notes than Matt could. The performance blew me away! A very acceptable replacement for Mr. Barlow. It was my first Power Metal show, and I really hope not my last.One thing I did notice about Power Metal concerts is that there are a lot of nerds there... maybe its because the entire genre was started on medieval themes and J.R.R. Tolkien's books.
Seeing Symphony X after Iced Earth was not exciting for me, like going to church on Christmas when you're a kid: I've opened my presents, got exactly what I wanted and asked for, now I had to leave it and go to boring old church. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy Symphony X and own a few of their albums. But I enjoy them like I enjoy the band Dragonforce, one or two songs at a time; unlike other Prog Metal bands like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Porcupine Tree, all of whom I can listen to all day long. There is something about them that makes me exhausted when I listen to them too much, a feeling I also get listening to Yngwie J. Malmsteen for a long time. One of their best songs, in my opinion is Symphony X - Out Of The Ashes. Had they been on before Iced Earth I probably would have enjoyed them a lot more live, and surprisingly Symphony X's set was a half hour shorter than Iced Earth's. This was the first time Symphony X had ever played in Utah, and the giant crowd that turned out was a great representation of our Metal scene (for once). I definitely would see them again if they come back, it was just that they were after my beloved Iced Earth that made me a little miffed at them.
The day was February 24th, I landed at SLC International airport in the early evening. I had just gotten back from a cruise heading down to Mexico. I barely had time to put my bags in my apartment when it was time to head to a concert I'd been looking forward to for a long time: Iced Earth and Symphony X.
The show started out with the Neo-Thrash Metal band Warbringer. Warbringer - Living In A Whirlwind It was weird seeing these guys on the bottom peg of a tour again. Just last year they had been headlining their own tour, although I didn't see them because it was on the same night as another concert that I felt had priority. They are highly regarded as one of the bands at the forefront of the New Wave Of Thrash Metal that has come about in recent years. They really get the crowd moving, and are an impressive live act.
Now here is were I got a little let down: Warbringer leaves the stage, the roadies drop their backdrop and behind it is Iced Earth's backdrop. The way the ticket was printed and the impression of everyone I talked to, was that Iced Earth were to be the headliner. Iced Earth had not been to Utah for 8 years, the amount of time I've know of them and have loved their music. Now they were an opener and that meant they were going to play a shorter set than the headliners, what a bummer. Iced Earth, along with Kamelot, and Jag Panzer, are the leaders of the American Power Metal scene. American Power Metal sounds a lot different from the traditional European Power Metal such as Blind Guardian or Helloween, but the similarities are there too (Iced Earth - Birth Of The Wicked, Kamelot - The Haunting, Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side, Helloween - Back Against The Wall). But to my sorrow I realized as the band took the stage that the singer was not Matt Barlow, the voice that made me love Iced Earth in the first place. I've since learned the singer's name is Stu Block, but he sounded identical to Matt Barlow and could even hit higher notes than Matt could. The performance blew me away! A very acceptable replacement for Mr. Barlow. It was my first Power Metal show, and I really hope not my last.One thing I did notice about Power Metal concerts is that there are a lot of nerds there... maybe its because the entire genre was started on medieval themes and J.R.R. Tolkien's books.
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| Iced Earth |
Seeing Symphony X after Iced Earth was not exciting for me, like going to church on Christmas when you're a kid: I've opened my presents, got exactly what I wanted and asked for, now I had to leave it and go to boring old church. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy Symphony X and own a few of their albums. But I enjoy them like I enjoy the band Dragonforce, one or two songs at a time; unlike other Prog Metal bands like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Porcupine Tree, all of whom I can listen to all day long. There is something about them that makes me exhausted when I listen to them too much, a feeling I also get listening to Yngwie J. Malmsteen for a long time. One of their best songs, in my opinion is Symphony X - Out Of The Ashes. Had they been on before Iced Earth I probably would have enjoyed them a lot more live, and surprisingly Symphony X's set was a half hour shorter than Iced Earth's. This was the first time Symphony X had ever played in Utah, and the giant crowd that turned out was a great representation of our Metal scene (for once). I definitely would see them again if they come back, it was just that they were after my beloved Iced Earth that made me a little miffed at them.
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| Symphony X |
Random After Thought: My Favorite Power Metal Bands
- Helloween
- Blind Guardian
- Edguy
- Iced Earth (Matt Barlow albums)
- Kamelot (Roy Khan albums)
- Tobias Sammet's Avantasia
- Demons & Wizards
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