I nearly couldn't ask for a better bill than this one - its reminiscent of my teenage years, when metal was at its peak and piss jackets and bullet belts were king. I'm getting older, and so are these guys - but I feel fortunate and grateful that they're still on stage and still gracing us with their thrashing musical assault.
First up was Testament, one of my all-time favorite thrash metal bands. These guys formed in 1983 in San Francisco, California, and were one of "The Big Four" (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Testament) that defined the Bay Area Thrash sound. Their first album, "The Legacy" still holds up as an influence to many up-and-coming thrash metallers today. After slight line-up changes over the years, a hiatus, and medical catastrophes (lead guitarist James Murphy (1994-1996, 1999) diagnosed with a brain tumor, and singer Chuck Billy with cancer), Testament has been dishing out the metal meyhem again since 2003. We're all glad to see you back.
As far as their set was concerned, they played a good mix of old with their new release "The Formation of Damnation", which I must say, impressed me. There aren't alot of bands that have done the comeback thing (or even newer bands) that can put out an album that they claim sounds "old school" and really mean it.
Next up was Megadeth. If any of you guys know me, you know that I'm totally enamoured with Megadeth. I remember the first time I had heard them, back in 1989, when my friend made me a heavy metal mixtape. There wasn't another guitarist I could identify with - the raw, unrelenting aggression of Dave Mustaine has kept me angry and kept me alive for 33 years.
Despite a revolving door of lineup changes, ever increasing through the years, its always been Dave Mustaine, the architect of armageddon, at the helm. As far as I (and probably anyone else is concerned), he IS Megadeth. And he was ON tonight. It couldn't have been a better show, and ending with Holy Wars, as they usually do, was a special treat. Keep it going, Dave...
Finally, Judas Priest took the stage. I love these guys, but I have to say, watching them play tonight was...well...exhausting. I know that everyone gets old, and that these guys are pushing the physical limits...I can accept that they're not running around on stage like teenagers anymore...But their setlist could have been amazing and it was just...I'm sorry...BORING. Fuck. What a disappointment.
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-p2
The first band to go on stage were Americans Misery Index who were coming all the way from Baltimore to play for us drunken Swedes on the Close-up boat. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of those drunken Swedes, and in my eagerness to become one of them, I got trapped at a pre-party in a cabin, and missed most of their show. This was quite a shame, cause what I saw was really nice. But I didn’t see enough to be able to write a real review about it. So sorry. Next time I’ll make sure to take time for these guys. With ex- Dying Fetus members you’ve got a lot to live up to. Looking forward to it.
//Annika
In my opinion, there are few bands that live up to the same musical standards as the Stockholmers pride Opeth. And there are even fewer who live up to them live. Despite annoying facts like the stage fence being the perfect height to rub against my p-stave (resulting in a lot of bruising) and the sound technicians’ inability to fix the singing volume, it’s still magic. The later of these two facts was clearly the most annoying one. In the beginning of the show the sound was way too low, and just when you thought they’d fixed it in the middle, it got lower again towards the end. Even people from the audience where shouting at them to turn it up. I refused to let it bother me too much though.
Well, as you probably understand, I might not be so objective writing this. I happen to believe that Opeth is one of the best bands. Ever. So no, even if they played a bad show I would still love it. But they didn’t.
There is a special charisma over this band. And no matter how many bands that try to copy them, or are influenced by them, none can take their place. Even the middle talk is charming. Mikael Åkerfeldt talking about how many faults he played in the past song, with all the new stuff they were performing. ‘Cause it was mostly new stuff they played. But also old classics like Leaper Affinity, and when they ended with Bleak I had Goosebumps all over my bruised arms.
//Annika
A few sour notes here and there from singer Jocke Berg didn’t stop the audience from rockin’ to Hardcore Superstar. But it stopped me. Or maybe it was the fact that I never really liked them in the first place. Doesn’t really matter. They were the last band playing the first evening, and the audience was wild like they should be. Singing along and responding to the band’s stage show. A good ending to a wonderful night. Or, for most of the boat, a good start to the rest of the night’s partying.
//Annika
The hype about the Kristinehamn band Memfis has been huge ever since their first demo release in 2004. There have been a lot of expectations for their first label release in 2006, “The Wind Up” - expectations they have lived up to in most people’s eyes. With very few shows having been played the past year, I was exited to see where the band was headed at end of 2008.
When Memfis had first gotten on stage I stood there with my mouth gaping wide open. What the fuck? Had lead singer/guitarist Mattias Engström been replaced? It took me until they had started playing the first song to realize that he must have gotten a MAJOR haircut (read: from ass-long ‘til none). With that sorted out, I could focus on the music.
Even if the dynamics, which are such an exceptional part of this band’s sound, are not as distinct on such a small stage, the band gets through to the audience with their well-produced, progressive sound.
To watch a
“Cause people don’t wanna see us more often.” But I believe that if they keep up the hard work and release another album as great as “The Wind Up”, people will be convinced otherwise. I’m sure the
//Annika
Nalen is a jazz club in Stockholm that has been around for many decades. For a metal band to play here is not only unconventional, but also daring and exciting. This is one of those venues that is simply beautiful to walk around in, and that I wouldn't otherwise take the chance to do so if it weren't for a band like The Haunted playing.
And although the venue itself is beautiful, unfortunately the acoustics of the main room are just not setup for metal. Very much a shame, because, even though it was a Monday night, I think The Haunted put on a great performance and really got the crowd going towards the end.
The Haunted, if you haven't heard of them, are a metal band that were formed from the ashes of At the Gates, in Gothenburg in 1996. Since their formation, the original drummer has been replaced as has the singer - the original singer having returned in 2004 for their last 3 studio albums.
The crowd at Nalen was a bit more varied than your average metal show - and it has to do with The Haunted's switching of gears towards the middle of their career. The first three The Haunted albums are very much thrash metal a la Exodus, but upon the return of their original singer, the band took a decidely hardcore/metalcore/screamo turn, although the riffs still very much suggest metal. This switch created a clear divide in the crowd - half of the audience was into the older material, while the other half enjoyed the newer songs. It very much reminded me of the divide in a Metallica concert. Could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.
If you're like me - a thrash metalhead at heart - get yourself a copy of one of their early, thrashier albums (The Haunted, The Haunted Made Me Do It or One Kill Wonder) and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. If you're into the more screamo stuff, check out their later albums, after the divide (RevolveR, The Dead Eye, and their new release, Versus).
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-p2
At the Gates was formed back in 1990 in Gothenburg, Sweden - and effectively put this sleepy town on the map. As pioneers of the "Gothenburg Sound", At the Gates released 3 albums before coming out with the melodic, breakthrough record "Terminal Spirit Disease" in 1994, and establishing them as a serious, proficient band. Their follow-up, "Slaughter of the Soul", was released in 1995, and became even more successful and influential in the Gothenburg (and global) metal scene. Sadly, the band broke up in 1996, with three of the members going on to form The Haunted. However in 2007, after a 10+ year hiatus, At the Gates reformed for a reunion tour (and nothing more, with no studio albums planned).
Last night they arrived in Stockholm, for their 2nd sold-out show in a row, after 13 years of not having played the town.
It was a pleasure to have At the Gates play Debaser Medis - there are many alternative venues in Stockholm, with the standard "metal" venue for a band of this caliber being Klubben - which is infamous for their sub-standard sound. Debaser worked just fine - yes, it could have been better, but I (as many others were as well) happy to be able to see a legendary band like At the Gates play.
Song highlights included "Slaughter of the Soul", "Cold", "Nausea" and "Blinded by Fear", executed with enthusiasm and - dare I say it - smiles. Vocalist Tomas Lindberg looked genuinely grateful that the house was packed that night, thanking the audience "for remembering" At the Gates. Indeed we remember, and shall never forget At the Gates, and their amazing performance that night.
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-p2
Fucking Exodus, man. These guys came together in 1980 (originally with Kirk Hammett on guitar, of now sold-out Metallica), and they've been through a lot - but are one of the few original Bay Area Thrash bands still going (and going strong). Bonded by Blood, their first studio release from 1985, is chock full of riffage, and its a wonder why this band isn't bigger than they are today.
The show at Klubben here in Stockholm was the last show of their European tour - and I wonder if it wasn't a sore fucking disappointment to them - with all of 150 people or so showing up. I asked the guy at the door if the show was sold out, and he just laughed at me. Thanks, man. You're a dick. These guys are legends. They deserve a lot more. A lot. Stockholm...wake up!
They of course played the classics, like "Bonded by Blood", "Piranha" and "The Toxic Waltz"...with Rob Dukes on vocals - I gotta say, this guy has charisma and class, boys and girls. He, no less than twice, was pointing out hot chicks in the audience. He told us to mosh, and we moshed. He demanded violence, we gave it to him. He wanted to recreate "Fight Club" on the ground floor of the venue...the man got his "Fight Club". He commanded...and we obeyed. Cheerily.
So, even though the crowd was small, the atmosphere couldn't have been bigger and more energetic - we thrash-metalheads love our legends and we're not afraid to show it. Exodus may be small in the grand scheme of (let's face it, people) fake, commercial metal - but they're larger than life in our hearts.
Love always,
-p2
