I was thrilled to see what the evening at “Trädgårn” in the lovely city of Gothenburg, in Sweden, had to offer. It became Power Metal from both Greece and the United States. Great musicians in both bands.
QUEENSRYCHE holds a high class in terms of music and maintain their position among the best in Progressive Power Metal. They were formed in 1981 and have sold over twenty million albums worldwide.
The evening was both varied and of a consistent quality.
Now let us take a closer look.
FIREWIND
Although they have been around for many years, they were a new acquaintance to me. I prepared myself at home with listening to a lot of material and was fascinated. Not only by the brilliant guitarist Gus G (MYSTIC PROPHECY, NIGHTRAGE, ARCH ENEMY, DREAM EVIL, OZZY OSBOURNE), but also by the whole band as such, their sound and compositions of songs.
Gus G formed the band in 1998. From the beginning only as a small project, but it rolled on and a few years later they recorded their debut album "Between Heaven And Hell". Their eighth piece of work “Immortals” was released in 2017.
They have a somewhat messy history with many membership changes, but have long been established and internationally known.
I already knew before the show that FIREWIND would be a perfect warm-up for the main act, which also became true.
The song "Ode To Leonidas" from the latest album opened up the concert. After the long, talking intro, the show started with an explosive drumming by Johan Nunez (NIGHTRAGE, KAMELOT). Further into the concert this Spanish guy, with a big smile during "World On Fire" (from "Days Of Defiance", 2010), spun around the drumsticks in both hands in an elegant way. This composition is also a perfect example of the groups sound. Both a cool roughness, but also melodic and catchy.
In 2003, Gus G was named the third best guitarist in the world by the Japanese magazine "Burrn!" With a talent beyond the ordinary, he has released three solo albums in recent years, of which the latest "Fearless" came last year. I was very much looking forward to see him live and he delivered strong of course.
The Greek guitar phenomenon has lived in a few different countries, where the music has brought him you can say. Besides the US, also in Sweden and fun enough in Gothenburg, where we were now. He probably saw some familiar faces in the audience.
Bob Katsionis (OUTLAND, SERIOUS BLACK) is considered to be the most successful Rock/Metal keyboard player in Greece. For the fifth year in a row, he in 2011 won the same category "Best Keyboardist" (Greek Metal Hammers Annual Readers Polls), which made him the only musician to have done that.
He started playing keyboards when he was 10 years old. Four years later he also started learning to play guitar. When FIREWIND plays live, he performs in a dual role. Sometimes as a keyboard player and other times as a rhythm guitarist. It even happens that he manages to do both, depending on the song. I was amazed and it was impressive to see this man in action too.
Someone who is also cool, in a relaxed way, is the bassist Petros Christodoulidis (BREAKING SILENCE). Together with the front guitarist and Bob, they stood at one point in a row and moved in sync with the beat, which was very effective and great to see. It all then turned into a guitar solo with quick skilled fingers and clear notes. With a smile Katsionis went closer to his friend and helped, by tapping on the others strings. Then there was a duel between these two gentlemen. The rhythm guitarist returned to his keyboard and shortly thereafter Gus G took a small towel, which he put over the buddys keys. However, this did not stop continued playing. This joking with each other, as well as with the audience, gave a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Just as it was, the guy behind the guitar instead became the guy in front or under the guitar, as he played with the instrument behind his head.
In the middle of all this melodic power that surrounded us, singer Henning Basse (ex-METALIUM, SONS OF SEASONS) raised his hands and pretended to play invisible keys in the air, followed by the question: "Can you feel the power?" The crowd responded by screaming "Yeah!" Many understood what tune was coming; "I Am The Anger" (from "Burning Earth", 2003).
Henning has dignity in a humble way, as well as a good singing voice.
When the last song started, large parts of the crowd started to jump. The beat grabbed us all in the amazing "Falling To Pieces" from the great work "Allegiance" (2006).
Nunez went berserk behind the drums, in a cheerful and extremely energetic way.
Once again, I am struck by what an incredibly skilled guitarist the founder of the group is, without taking too much attention on stage. Together, they all contributed to a musical unit, which the spectators enjoyed.
QUEENSRYCHE
Out of the shadows, they came and entered the stage in the spotlight, to the cheers of the fans. It took a few songs before every one on site was really warmed up, but then a mutual liking flowed between the artists and the audience.
"How loud can you scream on a Sunday?" singer Todd La Torre wondered later. As good as any day it turned out. Their mission was to entertain us and they succeeded.
Todd captivated us with his charismatic deep voice, even when he was only talking. The guy has a phenomenal voice control, which he proved again and again throughout the show. In "Queen Of The Reich" he reached the top and people in the crowd tried to do that too, with not as good results, although there was nothing wrong with the dedication. If there is anyone out there who still doubts, then I can strongly point out that when the man behind the microphone sings the older songs, then it sounds like he has always sung them.
Eddie Jackson slid up and down with his fingers on the bass strings in his calm, cool way. During the just mentioned song, Ed hit the bass guitar twice with both his hands and then lifted up one knee in a smooth way, after which he continued to play with renewed power and feeling.
Michael Wilton was as always brilliant on guitar, along with the equally skilled Parker Lundgren, who unfortunately stayed more in the background than he usually does.
When Scott Rockenfield has taken an indefinite break, Casey Grillo (KAMELOT) is seen behind the drums, where he does an excellent job. His hair swung in pace to, for example "Jet City Woman", which became a cool silhouette against the backlight.
Among the best was "Silent Lucidity", which became an absolutely magical experience. What particularly touched us was how the song first intensified. Then followed by a pause, where everyone held their breath, before it continued. Euphoria and cheering erupted throughout the room.
With a large background screen, where cool videos and pictures strengthened the overall impression, we got an updated QUEENSRYCHE. It felt very modernized and certainly appeals to a younger audience. Clearly you have to keep up with the times and it was a positive lift for the show. Besides, being a progressive band is about developing all the time, which they have done. I just hope they do not lose their identity in too much new technology. The kindness was there, but some of it was polished away and instead a little too tough attitude appeared. If you ignore these trivialities, it was an absolutely awesome concert.
Of course, from a huge catalog of material to choose from, they presented a good setlist. Unfortunately, there was not a single one from "Queensryche" (2013). From there I would have wished for "Where Dreams Go To Die", which is working very well live, but you can not get everything. Above all, I was a little disappointed that the masterpiece "Dark Reverie" from the new record was not performed, which I had been looking forward to.
"Take Hold Of The Flame" (from "The Warning", 1984) began acoustically, with only Todd and Michael at the front of the stage. It was a totally wonderful moment. First cheerful applause among the crowd and then everyone sang along. You could hear it, all the way to the back of the room.
La Torre told us something fun and interesting. Japanese people are very polite and correct. Also keep in mind that if you are on a stage with spotlights directed towards you, especially if it is dark otherwise, then you may only see the first two rows of the audience. When they have performed in places in Japan, there have been a total silence among the spectators. So at first, if there are a hundred or ten thousand people in the place, the artists sometimes have no idea.
Of course the five Americans made us happy with coming out on stage again to do some encores.
In the classic "Empire" (from the album with the same name, published in 1990) a smiling Wilton burned off a guitar solo.
After an hour and a half the concert ended with the song they caught me with in the age of eighteen, 1988, "Eyes Of A Stranger". It has always been one of my favorites and will remain so. The whole piece of work ("Operation:mindcrime") is something very special and one of the best albums ever made. (Anna)
Setlist QUEENSRYCHE:
Blood Of The Levant
I Am I
N M 156
Man The Machine
Walk In The Shadows
Condition Human
Operation:mindcrime
Queen Of The Reich
Silent Lucidity
Jet City Woman
The Mission
Screaming In Digital
Take Hold Of The Flame
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Light-Years
Empire
Eyes Of A Stranger
