[Dajana]
Omigosh! DARK TRANQUILLITY and INSOMNIUM... What
a fucking great tour package! And right in the backyard, so to
say, on a weekend (ok, does not count for me) ;) Anyway, perfect
conditions for a having great weekend, which did not turn out
that great as expected…
::
pics ::
[Dajana]
First, Wiebke embarked on this adventure too, so that we already
had a lot of fun prior the show with photo sessions and some predrinking
;) In default of a biker’s pool we relaxed rode the bus
towards the Sputnik Hall. Due to regular disco times the show
likewise started and ended early, seeing already a lot of peeps
in front of the door when we arrived. Really young and sort of
Emo-kids-like looking fans… odd that downright stormed the
stage. No chance the get a proper place little later to take photos
from… *sighs* Right after NH writer Psycho joined in and
while drinking our first beer someone already started next door,
way too early…
[Psycho] Being on the road singly I had no problem with
my one and only bike, leaving public transportations aside ;)
It’s really cool to have such tour in town, especially since
over the last couple of years a proper metal scene has established
on the quiet. Get me hooked! ;) However, I though did not expect
that it would be that packed (nearly sold out) and was more than
happy that I still could grab me a ticket at the door. And yes,
while enjoying me brewski some live music reached ears, but hey,
INSOMNIUM sounds differently?
[Dajana]
Yep. Much so ;) Contrary to the announcements there was a
third band on stage kicking off this evening. Having won the Local
Support Contests (out of almost 600 bands) Belgian death metallers
:: EXUVIATED
:: secured the much sought-after tour support slot.
Didn’t know them before but learnt that they are around
since three years and have released their debut EP entitled
An Era's Condemned in 2009. Seemed like the guys were
really keen to play live and had a lot of fun, musically again
it was just average Death Metal. Nice to open with but for sure
not any spectacular. I got more “entertained” with
my first bruises... *grrrr*
[Wiebke] Yes, at this early hour the audience was pretty
lively and not really prissy when jumping and pogoing. Found EXUVIATED
sort of stale and used the time to grab me another beer.
[Psycho] Indeed, the location was already crowded, although
not so many people should have counted on a third band, which
furthermore was probably unknown to most of them. I guess, also
the organizers did not expect such run, since there was no staff
around, no security, no stage-hands... nothing. As for EXUVIATED,
their slightly groovy mid-tempo Death Metal is perfectly made
for live performances, but thrilling it was not. I would not say
either that the guys played their asses off, they just benefitted
from the singer’s live action. Developable.
[Dajana]
Scenery turned out to be completely different with ::
INSOMNIUM
:: Now the location was filled till the back wall seeing
the front people going wild. The Finns still focused on their
current album Across The Dark but also played a
brand new song with Weather The Storm, but I did not see
Mikael Stanne on stage although he was around. Did I miss anything???
[Wiebke] No. Mikael just did not take part in the duet.
INSOMNIUM meanwhile cut the softer songs (as still played
on tour in spring) and just rocked the stage. Singing was a bit
thin at points but generally the show was again bloody entertaining.
And after I used my elbows left and right I also had enough room
to mosh without having an idiot in the back.
[Psycho] I was pretty surprised! I definitely did not expect
such strong Finns. First, because the earlier albums aren’t
that groundbreaking and second, I would not have reckoned with
such activities on stage. Instead the guys gave their best in
posing and were already visually an eye-catcher. Audibly they
went down likewise well with the tracks from Across The
Dark. Only little bummer were the keys (from tape); I
wish the guitars would have been a bit louder. Besides, awesome
show and I bet many followed singer Niilo’s invitation to
support the band later at the merch ;)
[Wiebke] Unfortunately, the keyboard player is right now
on tour throughout the States with his original band Swallow The
Sun…
Setlist: Intro, Equivalence, Down With The Sun, Where
The Last Wave Broke, Drawn To Black, Weather The Storm, The Harrowing
Years, The Gale & Mortal Share, The Killjoy, Weighed Down
With Sorrow
[Dajana]
Crowded, more crowded... :: DARK
TRANQUILLITY :: Wow, it was really packed…
[Wiebke] …seeing the boss pasted on the speakers.
But the offer to lift her up on top she refused…
[Dajana] ...wouldn’t have changed anything regarding
photos. Results are poor…
[Psycho] It not only was packed, the crowd furthermore
went really wild. I guess even DARK TRANQUILLITY do not
see so many stage divers during a show. But it seemed that the
guys on stage had somehow a perceptional problem. While Insomnium
gained momentum through the crowd’s response, DARK TRANQUILLITY
just looked bored. Only singer Mikael was likewise enthralled
and clearly showed his feelings. Rest of the band acted quite…
reserved, or were they scared?
However, musically DARK TRANQUILLITY did not left anything
to be desired, they went through the entire 9 albums spanning
history. Though I have to confess… seeing all these songs
performed in a row, material was too equably too. But I guess
I was the only one having this prob exclusively ;)
[Wiebke] I actually found a void to follow the show comfortably
and was tickled pink. Since I did not do my homework I could not
do anything with the first two tracks, but Damage Done
got me hooked right after, the first one of a row of album titles.
My personal fave was Monochromatic Stains; I have never
seen performed live before. As usual Mikael was going wild on
stage, moshing, running and jumping, grinning like a Cheshire
cat and spreading his charm galore. He always tried to connect
to the audience, perching on the monitor speakers. At Icipher
time has come, he attempts and stops right at the edge. Hands
get raised promptly and then he jumped into the audience for a
short trip crowdsurfing ;)
The rest of the band meanwhile delivers power and drive and presented
the one and the other little gimmick. At the beginning of Final
Resistance blue and red beacon lights introduce, obviously
distracting the cats so that they dropped the ball *lol* Right
after everything went well and DARK TRANQUILLITY finished
their set with Terminus, as usual refusing encores but
offering chats with them 15 mins later.
Setlist: At The Point Of Ignition, The Fatalist, Damage
Done, Lost To Apathy, Monochromatic Stains, The Gallery, One Thought,
Zodijackyl Light, Iridium, Shadow In Our Blood, Icipher, Dream
Oblivion, Misery's Crown, Haven, Punish My Heaven, Final Resistance,
The Sun Fired Blanks, Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)
[Psycho]
I hope we do not have to wait such a long time again till we get
some interesting metal bands live on stage in our hometown. Fans
definitely looked pleased and satisfied and the bands too. That’s
probably the best you can tell about a live show, right?
[Dajana] Agreed! Only from the organizational view many
things need to be bettered. Such a huge location without any staff
and securities, where bands are forced to kick the stage-divers
from the stage itself… is a no-go!
