Alcatrazz & Girlschool - Musicon The Hague, 30 August 2022

When this show was announced early 2020 Alcatrazz had just released their surprisingly strong comeback album Born Innocent. On vocals we had the very typical voice of Graham Bonnet which is so important to the band sound. I remember that I was in heaven that they came to Musicon as somehow I always managed to miss them live so far. As a bonus I thought Girlschool would be a nice warm-up and Asomvel received great critics from many directions. Fast forward to 30 August 2022 and everything would be pretty different. Asomvel was no longer part of the package, Alcatrazz would open the evening to my surprise and Graham Bonnet had left the band with Doogie White now on vocals, also on their 2021 album V. Still looking forward to finally seeing Alcatrazz I combined with Marko, Magchiel and Ton a trip to Musicon on this Tuesday evening.

At 20:30 Alcatrazz walked through Musicon towards the stage. Alcatrazz meant Doogie White on vocals, Joe Stump on guitars, original band members Gary Shea on bass and Jimmy Waldo on keyboards. Finally they had a new drummer who was introduced, but I do not remember his name. The band opened with a new song of their latest album Grace of God. Then Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live followed. Next was a Rainbow cover of the album that Dooge sung on. A new Alcatrazz song was followed by a Michael Schenker song which Doogie sung originally. So there was a pattern. Strangely Doogie sung with similar Rainbow and Schenker as Graham Bonnet did. In the past Alcatrazz would include cover songs from those bands in their set. Now the big difference is, that where Graham Bonnet sung on albums that are generally considered to be among the very best of Rainbow and MSG, with Doogie that is not really the case. So we got treated on several songs by Rainbow and MSG that you hardly remember. Not necessarily a bad thing but with also three songe from their latest album there was no time for classic Alcatrazz songs from their first two album that I loved. Only Jet to Jet and God Blessed Video would be played. Now we are talking on playing the band was tight. Jimmy and Gary had no issues while the new drummer did hit hard. Joe Stump turned out to be the hero of the evening. Either his own work of the last album or songs that originally held abolute guitar masters like Schenker, Yngwie, Blackmore and Vai he played it all seemingly with no effort. his solos were fast and furious and he kept the level up. On Doogie's performance opinions were more divided. I liked it, even though he missed some high notes. Others thought it missing too much and thus reducing the fun of the evening. At the end when I was hoping for a Kree Nakoorie or Starcarr Lane we were treated on Rainbow's Temple of the King. Initially disappointed it turned out to be the absolute highlight of the evening. Doogie dedicated this song to the people we lost and at the end he got emotional, before the audience was asked to keep on singing the melody (whooooohowhowho whooahowhoooo) and he remembered Jimmy Bain, Cozy Powell, John Lord and Ronnie James Dio during the song. What a beautifull end it turned out to be of an overall good show. Now I was among those people who never saw Alcatrazz live. So yes I am disappointed to not get many songs from No Parole and Distubring the Peace. If I would have seen Alcatrazz ten times before I would have loved this bold move. From the covers especially Ariel and Take Me to the Church worked very fine. Now I am going to play me some Kree Nakoorie, Island in the Sun, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Stripper, Painted Lover, Sons and Lovers and Dangerous Games. Who knows next time I get them live. After the show I decided to get the V CD for completion reasons and also a solo album by Joe Stump, which is a shred fest and sounds like eighties Yngwie instrumentals. 

Then it was up to Girlschool to follow this up. I expected a problem, but I was wrong. It turned out that more people had shown up for Girlschool than for Alcatrazz. Suddenly it got packed before the stage and arms and voices participated throughout. Now I was never really into Girlschool myself. Already 40 years ago I thought their music a bit too simple and straightforward. Live this works though as most people seemed to be enjoying the show. Demolition and Let's Go opened and soon you noticed how
most songs includede endless repeat of the chorus which was an invitation for shouting along. A funny singalong moment came when the band asked us to do so and Jackie Chambers starting shouting Matrix Den Haag. Noone new what she was on about, until Kim McAuliffe told her that she was in Musicon (and no longer in Bochum) as they could read on the bright shining logo behind them. If already a succes with the audience with Bombers included, they could do nothing wrong with most. I liked watching their set, but musically kept on wondering how they were headlining over Alcatrazz.  Still a good evening was had by all and luckily even on a Tuesday night and national rail on strike, many people found their way to Musicon. What's next for me? Wound Collector 23 September.

A-Z - Birth - Chaos Frame - Oceans of Slumber - Porcupine Tree - Toxik - Fates Warning

Progstravaganza!! Lots of Prog you simply must hear in all kind of directions of the progspectre.

A-Z - A-Z

A-Z or Alder -Zonder and Apple-Zebra on the artwork throughout the booklet. This one was announced some time ago and possibly the one I was looking out for most. Mark Zonder founded this band and invited Ray Alder on vocals. So suddenly we speak classic era Fates Warning. Together with the announcement came a warning for more accessible music and not overly proggy. Well if the rest of the band than is made up by Philip Bynoe, Vivien Lalu and Joop Wolters I can't but help hoping for prog indeed. And to an extent that is what we get. Even if indeed packed in accessible songs this turned out to be one hell of an album. I don't know if at the end of the year this will be my favorite 2022 CD, but I do know I probably will have played it most of all my albums. This music is for all moments really. I can enjoy this with headphones on, reading along with the lyrics from the great booklet or I can play it on the background. Anyone into more single orientated Fates Warning should love this and both Alder and Zonder show why they are among the best. Must buy album.

Birth - Born

I don't know where I first heard of this album, but when tipped I knew I should check them out. Turns out that this CD ticks all the boxes for feeding my oldschool prog needs. Psychedelic at times, mostly instrumental with when sung a voice suiting the music. For those missing their healthy dose of retro prog, Birth might be the solution. Apparently some members come from Astra, but I don't own any music of that band. In the category Sunday morning waking up slowly, this album is among the best of the year. looking at the artwork it is no surprise that the bundles with T-shirt and Totebag sold out fast. 

Chaos Frame - Entropy

This album alone justifes my subscription to Aardschok. Somehow I never bumped into this album until Aardschok reviewed it very positive and asked Rene to put them on ProgPower Europe. Well afer hearing the album I can't agree more. Now that PPE seems to be open to more progrock than ever, a band making perfect oldschool powerprogmetal as we loved it in the nineties is more than welcome. Great singer and a good band giving us eight songs that are easy on the ears, yet heavy and metal enough. I assume I am not the only one alost missing them, so check this highly recommended album out.

Oceans of Slumber - Starlight and Ash

I am with Oceans of Slumber since the very beginning and rated their debut Aetherial with Ronnie Gates on vocals my favorite album of 2013. Than came Cammie and over the years the sound of the band changed. So far, that this new album can't be called a metal album any longer. But don't be scared, it still all sounds heavy, just very different from what we were used to. Melancholic, moody and doomy they sound. Apart from the voice of Cammie (now Beverly) the drums of bandleader Dobber Beverly also are very present even when the music is calm. I assume his needs to go aggressive are used in other bands like Malignant Altar or Necrofier. No matter the change in style over albums Oceans of Slumber always manago to win me over with their last album. This time no exception.

Porcupine Tree - Closure/Contiinuation

If there was any surprising announcement in prog over the past years, it must have been the return of Porcupine Tree. Announcing an album and a tour and en masse we fell again for the band. So I did not make the mistake of putting expectations too high, as what would be the outcome after a long absence really? Turned out that Closure/Continuation is an OK album. The typical sound of Porcupine Tree is back and they move between heavier bits and more poppy prog songs. Probably I like their poppy side better (Of the new Day). I think it is a pity that Colin Edwin was not invited to the new party, but I count his revenge might be sweet when the new O.R.k. album comes out. So yes I am pleased they are back and I do like the album.  Not among their best and while not paying attention I found that I bought the 7 song album, while there is a special edition with ten songs. Negative points for that.

Toxik - Dis Morta

While the progressive rock community might have been anxious about the return of Porcupine Tree, the progressive thrash metal fans among us were happy with the new album to be coming by Toxik. Dis Morta is as good as we hoped for based upon recent tours with the current line-up and the songs we heard on Youtube or the live set in advance. I believe this might be their strongest line-up, as especially live the adding of Dutch guitarist  Eric van Druten, makes them more cohesive on stage. Toxik stilll write a hectic sort of thrash and anyone not knowing the band might be overwhelmed during live shows. For the fans there is so much to love again and I believe Dis Morta in time will be standing proudly next to eighties classics World Circus and Think This. At times (Feeding Frenzy or Hyper Reality) I am reminded of Watchtower which to me is a positve thing. Ron Iglesias proved on stage already to be the right frontman and now he solidates his status on album. Waiting for a tour in November, please come early in the month, when I'm still around. Toxik third classic made, check.

Fates Warning - Destination Onward

No not a new album, but a book with the biography of the band by Jeff Wagner. Anyone knowing his book Mean Deviation which tells the story of Progressive Metal realized he knows how to tell a history in a pleasant way. Learning new facts all throughout the book. Side effect is that you will replay lots of Fates Warning, as you want to hear what you just read about. Do I have to review my ranking in hindsight? No not really as that is always a picture of the moment. Anyone who likes reading and prog (which means you if you read up to here)  should get this book. Fates Warning rules and Jeff Wagner is a pretty decent writer.

Lillian Axe, Riot Act & Kaine - Nightrain Bradford, 24 August 2022

Lillian Axe returning to the UK. That's a long time and I saw that tour in 1993 as well, as the European leg started in my hometown The Hague. I was massively into the band at the time (and still am) as I loved all their albums (still do) . I remember how at the time  they had the year before a tiny hit with Promised Land, which was played on the radio. Now they came to promote Psychoschizophrenia and not Poetic Justice. So they skipped that song, which I appreciated at the time. Don't let ballads determine your setlist as you have new ones to pick.from. After that tour also Lillian Axe struggled with the grunge and nu-metal nineties where lots of great music died. The 1999 release Fields of Yesterday I missed completely as it was in my Brazilian years and internet would not tell you all releases like today. Years later I would get that album of sort of left over demos. In 2007 I did get their return album Waters Rising and three albums would follow until 2012 XI The Days Before Tomorrow. The best news was that contrary to some bands Lillian Axe managed to release upon returning albums that could proudly stand next to the classics from their early years. In my ranking of Lillian Axe albums I put their last album on #3 and Deep Red Shadows would be competing for that position if a full album of new songs. What made things even much better in 2012 Lillian Axe would come back to Europe. Maybe not to the UK, but they came to Amsterdam and I was there. Unfortunately a very weird venue, making no promotion whatsoever and never heard of any shows thereafter. Still I loved the band on stage again and they maintained for me the favorite band in this melodic metal range. or how you want to call it. So when Lillian Axe announced a return to Europe, but UK only I quickly started making plans. Magchiel usually is in for a trip like this as each year we plan one show abroad. Now that I could not plan the weekend due to obligations and he is already eating his first 2023 holidays, a joined trip would not work and I travelled alone to Bradford. This only days after a weekend with only musical highlights in Dynamo Metalfest on Saturday and Angel & Picture on Sunday. That last one especially in a loud and sold out Baroeg was one to remember. 

 

This trip meant flying into Manchester. Arriving at that airport I wondered why Anthony would like to swap Schiphol for that. The trip by train was interesting as for a flatland Dutchman these hills are nice to see, with their villages build against them. I decided here that my 2023 Pedal to the Metal bicycle ride might come to England. That is of later care and when arriving in Bradford my room was not yet ready so a small walk through the centre of town was best. The Tourist Office had a sign calling Bradford the Capital of Curry. So lunch was sorted and good, even if the fairly loud Bollywood music was sort of annoying. The city had a nice centre with some cobble stone streets and a HMV. Not fiding any discounted CD's I saved my pounds for later that evening. I did check out where Nightrain was and that was very close as well. So all sorted I entered the queue at Nightrain at 19:10. Not a line as in very busy, but more as in, not yet open due to ongoing soundcheck. Entering the venue all seemed fine, a good bar wit own lager and bitter beers. A decent merch stand at the side and a room to play darts, snooker or tablefootball. Only tiny detail, who ever thought that a pole in the middel front row before the stage would be a good plan. Must be a contruction necessity with enhanced rooms or so, but it did block views over the evening. That made me decide to stay on the left, watching the guitars from all three bands up close without sight issues.

Opening band of the evening would be the only brits of the night Kaine. I saw them before at the legendary Mearfest in Borderline London. I picked up their Waystone album after that show and remembered a band playing heavy metal in a style which made me love the genre over 40 years ago. Nowadays the band is completely renewed apart from vocalist/guitarist Rage Sadler. Welll they still play good old heavy metal at times of the fast kind. I liked their half hour set again and got their latest CD  Reforge the Steel. Over the past years I saw many young bands in England, proving that if younger, you do not need to play metalcore or death metal. Good old heavy metal works as well. A great opener they were and I was warmed up for a dive in musical history.

Next band would be Riot Act. Riot is one of those bands who nowadays have two versions touring and recording: Riot V and Riot Act. The latter and thus band we would see tonight holds Rick Ventura on guitars who played with Riot late seventies -early eighties. A set with old classics was promised and opening with Rock City and Road Racin' that is what we got. The set further was mainly build around Fire Down Under with none less than four songs and Swords & Tequila early in the set. Now Riot Act also released an album under their name. Closer to the Flame was released this year and we got two songs from that album. The band turned out to be very comfortable on stage, where Rick Ventura in a nonchalant way presented all those classic songs to us. While the rhytm section is solid, the attention mostly goes out to vocalist Don Gaffin. Foremost he sung the old songs worthy to their class, but he also turned out to be a great frontman. He actually used to pole to his advantage hanging over the crowd. the 40 miutes Riot Act had, flew by and I was more than a bit impressed, picking up the double CD afterwards. No critics, but suggestions, I would have loved the inclusion of songs from the Restless Breed album. Especillay Loanshark and Loved By You are among my favorite Riot songs. Unfortunately their T-shirts were not available in Dutch size, as their logo is nice with a flying V being the I and A of Riot Act. Riot Act one to follow.

And then we were waiting for the return of Lillian Axe. Lillian Axe to many means Steve Blaze. The guitarist songwriter and promotor of anything Lillian Axe. Even if original bassist Michael Maxx Darby is back in the band and guitarist Sam Poitevent is there for ages already as well. Really new are drummer Wayne Stokely and vocalist Brent Graham. Lillian Axe and vocalists does not yet reach the level of drummers at Spinal Tap, but I've heard a good few over the years. What is interesting is, that no matter who it is, they never deviate from the Lillian Axe vocal style and all can bring the old songs in a way that they still sounds very familiar. Brent proved tonight that he also can follow up on all his predecessors. So when Lillian Axe came on  a tape was played from the opening track of their new album From Womb to Tomb, which was released last Friday. Now I still don't do spotify or the likes, so I only heard the song they released a clip for I Am Beyond. That was the first played song and immediately Misery Loves Company followed. So with last and first album covered we would be treated on an overview of greatest hits, with a clear focus on the early years. The last album is too recent to play a lot from, so we only got one more song No Problem. Overall again to me Lillian Axe proved to be a metal band, with lots of guitar solos. I wonder why Steve Blaze is not often mentioned among listings of guitar heroes. Almost during every song he gave us two amazing fast and melodic solos. During one of their best Ghost Of Winter he even took a full solo spot and made that already great song even better. Further highlights to me World Stopped Turning, Deepfreeze and Death Comes Tomorrow, which proved to me more recent songs could be included next tour. Under the Same Moon would be number one on my wishlist. Further I realized during Hard Luck that in spite of the uplifting songs, their debut was very dark, if not depressive. Hard Lucks Gotta Hold on Me, we heard after Misery Loves Company before. Even the ballad Nobody Knows if you're Down and Out, Nobody Cares What's it all about is hardly uplifting. Maybe that's why they decided to skip that one tonight. The evening closed with Show a Little Love and that was one hell of a closer again. Lillian Axe were for me in topform in this new setup, with both newest members shining at times. I read today a comment on the sound being too loud, but with my earplugs in I found all sounding perfect this evening. It could have been busier and louder from the audience maybe, but on a Wedensday night you can't expect that. I also have come to terms, that while I love Lillian Axe and put Love + War on my list of 16 favorite albums some years ago, the world does not get them. Musically speaking they should be huge, but music and fair is not often seen in the same phrase. I loved them again and do hope they will come to Europe later on to promote the new album. Being released on a British label, who knows. I picked up From Womb to Tomb and will have multiple listens the coming days or weeks. 

So I saw three good bands in Bradford, enjoyed sightseeing a to me new area of England, some good food and Nightrain Lager and Bitters. Not a bad score, with now CD's of all bands playing and a Love+War T-shirt to show off when Alcatrazz and Girlschool hit town next week. Life is good from womb to tomb.

Angel, Picture & White Heat - Baroeg Rotterdam, 21 August 2022

Let me start positive with a message to the sound police. Often I hear people commenting on Baroeg that the sound is poor. and you are watching poles instead of the stage. Well today all was bliss and we got treated on one of the best sounds I heard in a long time. This on a volume that allowed me to take out my earplugs and fully enjoy Angel live. But before it was so far I had a long day before me.

I woke up in a smelly hotel in Eindhoven, enjoying Dynamo Metalfest the day before. Since Angel tops Kreator/Lamb of God for me, I would be heading toward Baroeg. Now I also checked cycling times the night before as Breda would be hosting La Vuelta, even if not being very Spanish. So my stop between Eindhoven and Rotterdam was sorted and I could speak cycling with some older fans for over an hour. What a nice change in this city in party mood, with live music and outside bars all over the place. Than training on to Rotterdam Lombardijen and with the sun out drinks were had in and outside of de Baroeg.

The first band of the day were White Heat from Belgium.I only knew their name and bandlogo from the eighties, so curious to see what would be coming our way. Turned out they played somewhere between heavy metal and hard rock with music mostly being straightforward. They did get a very good reaction from the crowd for an opening band and deserved same, by their enthussiastic presentation. For me not really a band to hit the merch stand for.

Next on were Picture and I saw them last, just before corona hit us. This time vocalist would be Peter Strykes and I like his voice slightly better. I never was fully into Picture, but you know the hits and hearing Eternal Dark or Bombers did sound fine again, even if watching from close to the bar. Also they got a good audience reaction, which made me wonder if the (almost?) sold out Baroeg woud be made up by Picture fans and not so much Angel ones. 

Well that last question was answered soon when Angel hit the stage. Rarely did I see a crowd in Baroeg singing along so loud and cheering that deafening inbetween songs. This also as most bands I see in Baroeg are not for singing along. Well Angel is to me and while writing this my voice is still gone to other places/ Probably the lighter side as Angel are that band in white  and their music is of the lighter and melodic side as well. Three years ago I saw Angel for the first time at Golden Age in Luik. Than they seemed to be in a bad mood and the show ended fast. This evening all would be different as the band obviously were enjoying themselves and the very loud response they got from the crowd. During Picture I saw the band entering through the audience and definitely wondering by themselves where the hell they had arrived. On stage that was al gone and we simply got treated on a wild ride through their best songs. Their last album Risen (get it if you don't know it) was represented by We Were the Wild. Further we jumped from one highlight to the next. For those who think Angel is Tower and Tower is Angel, think again. Of course the encore and a highlight, but what to think of The Fortune, On The Rocks or an extended version of Feelin'Right. Oh No! Dont Go! Don't Leave Me Lonely! that is where I started losing my voice. It was a bliss from start to finish and I saw defintely one of the best shows of the year (if not the best). Was there nothinng to complain then? No not on show, band or audience. On the merch side we were unlucky as Golden Age in Luik the night before bought most. So when after some internal questioning I decided to get their pricy but awesome white baseball shirt it turned out only Medium was left. Well that size went out my door when Live Without a Net was released. Big thanks to Rotterdam Rocks for getting Angel to Baroeg as I loved every minute of it.

Dynamo Metalfest - IJsbaan Eindhoven. 20 August 2022

Saturday 20 August Dynamo Metalfest was on again after two years of absence, not counting the small seated Covid version. I had my ticket from last year I believe and was pleased to be back at de IJsbaan. Now the program was so that most bands I really liked on the bill played Saturday. Next to that the Sunday was facing competition from Angel in Baroeg, so I decided to go double old-school. Bands mainly from the eighties and one day DMF only.  Now that sounds easy, but national rail made it slightly more complicated to get to Eindhoven this year. On forehand this did piss of a bit, but in reality delays were minimal, with plenty of busses bringing you fast enough from Boxtel to Eindhoven. No busses from station to Icerink though, as we lack staff for everything in Holland nowadays. This lack of staff and volunteers also appeared at the festival.as the queues for food and drinks were at times tests of patience.Still at the same time most complained about the food prices, with beers starting at 4 Euro also not too cheap. But what matters most DMF was on and we were back.

First band playing when we arrived was Vended. Apparently sons of Slipknot members. Well I can't care less about Slipknot and the bluenecked, green haired sons turned out to be as forgetable to me. Next band on was the first we wanted to see: Firewind.We were Hans& Mary & Ron & Astrid plus me a smaller group than previous versions. Good melodic heavy metal with great guitars a bit in the vein of Rising Force at times. I have one of their albums only and don't know it that well, so the one song most people knew was the cover of Maniac. A nice band they turned out to be and Gus G does play very well indeed.

Cattle Decapitation came on next and wind and sound hindered to give any opinion on them when listening from a distance. Next on were Death Angel, who made us move to before the sound tower for the first time. Death Angel always guarantee lots of positive energy and joy on the stage ad today would not be different. They had white Ultra-Violence T-shirts on sale, so that album was represented well in the set. Also because they could play one more song than thought and Thrashers was an extra, before Throne to the Wolves closed their set on a high. What a killer song that still is. First real highlight of the day.

After Death Angel we needed to regain forces also with some food and drinks. So I missed the start from Exodus in a food queue. Well I did not miss it really as this time even at the back the sound was good.When properly fed I was heading more forward and found that Exodus were completely killing DMF. Their thrash always has this aggressive edge, but to me it seemed everyone in loved the band. Well if you can close your set with Bonded By Blood, Toxic Waltz and Strike of the Beast you rule over every festival I guess. Probably the winner of the day, at least from where I was standing they were.

And then came doom with Candlemass. After so much fast work a welcome change in pace. On paper a perfect plan. Live it worked at the start for me, but  after a while I started to miss the speed plus energy we got from Death Angel and Exodus before them. I was also unaware they would be building their set around Nightfall, but closing with Solitude made the overall impression one of a good show.

It was up to Testament to close the day. I was already starting to feel old man's pains everywhere as I turned out to be blissfully out of festival shape after a few years without. Also a firm walk to the hotel was still ahead of us. So we decided to watch the first songs at least and see how long we lasted. Well I guess it was around 45 minutes. Testament for me is a bit of a mixed bag. At the one side when the Bay  Strikes Back I always liked Death Angel and Exodus more. At the same time the musicianship in Testament is beyond discussion and the songs are good. So we were watching a true headliner, but while appreciating the sound of it all, it never gets me like Death Angel and Exodus can. The line-up is huge and Alex Skolnick was shining on his small private stage. A great closer of the day they were, but we did walk home before they finished.

So that was my DMF as Angel and Baroeg were waiting. Good to be back, but I do wonder if the many complaints on food prices and waiting times will make people delay the purchase of their 2023 ticket. For me DMF can go back to one day, but I realize that is unlikely. Curious which winners from the past they invite next year, but probably I will be back as well.

Comendatio Music Fest - Paço da Comenda - 6 August 2023

Comendatio Music Fest was on. After the Covid hiatus Comendatio came back If the postponements were bad for all festivals, Comendatio was just forming and growing in it's second year of existence. The line-up I bought a ticket for was mouth watering to any progmetal fan with Haken, Vola, Godsticks and Poem on day 1 and Monuments, Voyager plus Rendezvous Point on day two. Now I might love those bands, but discovering Portuguese and Spanish bands to me at least is as interesting. So before the festival did happen this weekend I read people complaining that it is not the same line-up as when they bought the ticket. Now watching with Portuguese eyes this might be true as many of the above mentioned bands never played Portugal before. My stance on this is simple, we can not complain in 2022 with any festival line-up. It is not just the fact that they happen, but festivals need a long lead time for organizing same and half a year ago, many of us were convinced that the summer of festivals was again lost due to Covid. Things improved, but if you see the huge number of last minute cancellations of mainly bands from the USA do understand this is far from back to normal yet. So heads up to the organization in securing with Haken and Plini, two top class headliners. For me the nice side effect was that I now could discover more regional bands, completely unknown to me. Now there is me, but there is also the family. So it turned out that me picking my one favorite day, would suit best to all and Saturday 6 August it was.

The Festival

 Comendatio Music Fest is being held in the tiny aldeia of Paço da Comenda. While the whole township can enjoy the festival during two days, the places to stay are either the camping at the festival, or a bed somewhere in nearby Tomar. 35 years ago I would have perferred the campsite, nowadays I tend to prefer less dust and better sleep, so Tomar it was. Now that is a beautiful town, which holds their Templar history proudly alive.So after catching your Medieval Terrorist squad souvenirs you can head for the festival. Upon arrival first thumbs up must go to the organization. Entering Paço da Comenda you can't miss the free parking field. The entrance went smooth, the food options vary from Bifana's on bread to vegan quiche or plates, and drinks are offered against very fair pricing (1.50 a beer or coke sounds good enough?). As I was by car and needed to drive home through dark curvy hillroads, my intake was under regime and controlled. On the small square next to the foodcourt a central merch stand was put up, where you could find merch of bands plus a cool festival Tee for 12.50. I mention prices, as recently I heard a lot of complaints on Graspop food, beverage and festival merch prices. A big plus for Comendatio so to say. Most important of all, was that organization was great, having all bands starting at scheduled times and mostly the sound was fine to very good indeed. So how about the bands? These were the ones impressing me a lot (or not so much)

Phase Transition

When the time-schedule was announced a week before the festival I did check out the first band and knew I wanted to arrive on time. Phase Transition are a young band from Porto, who play progmetal with female vocals. Now apart from accepting her voice, she also plays violin, which does bring an extra to their show. Unfortunately she did run off the stage at times, when the intrumental bits were dominating (not unlike Ross Jennings would do hours later). I think some more mileage on live shows can work here, since she has the violin to hide behind anyway. Musically with female voice at times I was reminded of District 97. So I picked my spot central and close to the stage, seeing they brought friends and fans along, as any young band should. Still burning hot at 16:30 they were a great opener, playing their EP Relatively Speaking in full, which I did pick up later on. A good local opener check.

Dream Pawn Shop

The next band were from Leiria and played an angrier version of prog. The vocals were mostly of the shouting/screaming kind. The outstanding fact was that they had a saxophone player in the band, who when out of a job, just moved wildly, spreading energy from the stage. While both guitarist and bassist were stuck to their amps by a 5 meter cord, this turned out to be the most energetic show of the day to me. Musically I have some of these bands who can combine the angry shouts with jazzy interludes on CD. By experience I now this is music to be better heard live on stage and even more felt live from the stage. Interesting detail, how often did you watch a show hiding under an olive tree against the steaming hot burning sun? Unfortunately they forgot to bring any merch to the festival, but a highly enjoyable set it was.

Bolu2Death

The next band came from Spain, so Obrigado turned into Gracias. Bolu2Death play, well what do they play? A mix of many things, with for me a bit too much electonics blended in to love the sound. Hardcore, metal and again lots of energy. I started watching pretty close to the stage, but when the vocalist shouted Wall of Death, Wall of Death I though Cloud of Dust, Cloud of Dust. I was right and watched in time the remainder from a distance. I understand they can appeal to many live, caused by the energy, but musically not fully my thing. They did bring the nicest T-shirts to Comandatio, but for me not justified getting one.

Needle

Needle were the second Portuguese band with a femalevocalist of the day. Actually they had the same drummer as Phase Transition as he stepped in for the absent original drummer. Musically this might have been the best band so far of the day. Yet somehow something did not click with me. Not sure why or what, but probably the voice did not work all that well for me. At a certain moment I thought what if this band would have a male vocalist in the power/prog metal range. I think I would like it better. But then again, they had quite some success by watching the crowd's reaction to them. Just not so much for me, but these things do happen. Time to queue up and eat.

Godsticks

The first British band of the day were Godsticks from Wales. They played an away game, as they could not bring friends along and I think some 5 people knew of them before they started. I know little of them myself, apart from the fact that I will see them again later this year at ProgPower. At the start I went pretty much upfront and stayed there throughout their set. I found that their rolling train was thundering on and more and more I got drawn into their set, which culminated in two brilliant closing songs, where even the drums could not stand all the constant hammering. Starting with a fairly empty field, they did win over the crowd during their set as towards the end, many hands went up upon command and clapped along the heavy pulsing rhythm they played over us. A good thing they started at daylight and ended at niht, since the 35 degrees of the earlier afternoon, would not go down well on British skin. For me the winners of the day and I got their last CD afterwards, as I need to get to know them better. Looking out to their set at PPE already.

Kandia

The third and final Portuguese female fronted band of the day. I do have their last CD Quaternay and liked that Frontiers release. The soundcheck showed that we were in for the best female voice of the day. It also showed that there was no bassist around. I don't know if they lost him in the meantime. Result that the band now was made up of guitars, drums and keyboards. At times the sound was very full, so I don't know what was coming of tape and samples and if the missing bassist had anything to do with it. Recognizing several of their songs did help, only the ballad could have been skipped for me. I don't know if Kandia are anything relatively big in Portugal, but it seemed to me to be their hit. Luckily we closed off with a much better song of their latest album, but don't ask me for song titles. Another good break, was when a male vocalist came to do some grunts for us and lightenen up the show. Aardschok compared them with Lacuna Coild based upon that, but overall more proggy to me. Good band.

Haken

And then it was time for the band most people were eager to see: Haken. Their first ever show in Portugal, so worthy of a break in new album recordings. Well for me it was not really their first show as I follow them since Aquarius. Meanwhile it was from the afternoon 35 degrees down to below twenty and I did miss bringing my Haken Aquarius hoodie indeed Perfectly poor prepared I did not see the end of Haken. Well I checked the setlist before and knew they would ignore their first two albums, which are my favorites (Drowning in the Flood belongs in every Haken show). We did get treated on new song Nightingale live, which makes me curious and worried at the same time. It is not as heavy (and thus good) as most on the Vektor/Virus double. So while I walked away I did see Haken are Progmetal Champions League and so at ease on stage, playing the toughest acrobatics. Pity Charles Griffitsh solo album was not on sale here, but I still went home satisfied with an interesting line-up helping me through the afternoon/night.

2023?

Well first I hope to be back and if possible both days. Most people I know will not be overly enthusiastic by the campsite idea, but I know several people would love to be here. This festival can be combined  with a Portuguese holiday, where my tips are hiking in Geres natural park or discovering our beloved Alentejo. If you want to keep it metal the last weeks we had in Portugal Manowar at Familicao, Iron Maiden in Lisbon VOA in Vagos (which I missed as Testament, Exodus and Death Angel will play DMF as well) so some weeks of metal are an option. If making it back I hope to be with some friends sharing the driving duties and drinks. I count on Comendatio to stay strong as apart from the bands origginally scheduled for 2020, the line up of 2019 held with Tesseract, NoSound, Leprous, Uneven Structure and Sinsistro also quite some names of prog fame. Thanks to the organization and hopefully back for more in 2023.