In Mourning, Fallujah & Omnium Gatherum - Tivoli Utrecht, 5 March 2026

In Mourning coming back to The Netherlands. As opening band of this package of melodic, doomy and technical death metal. Now I saw them before at ProgPower (twice) Brainstorm and Baroeg, so I knew I was in for a treat. If than also last year, they released with The Immortal possibly their best album, it was this band that made me go to Utrecht on this early spring Thursday.

Now Utrecht on a sunny day, made me tran in even earlier to wander a bit around in the city centre. The Dom Tower was restored I believe and in full sunlight it was impressive indeed. Now the real reason was I was going to check some CD stores as in The Hague all good CD stores have been murdered by all who were born after Gen X. Unfortunately the new albums I was looking for, were not in stores. So back to Tivoli it was where I would meet with Ton. First I bumped into Willem and later Marcel and Alex too. So a pleasant night was ahead of us and now bring on the music.

In Mourning opened and even if I knew all the songs I can not always place titles with them. The sound could have been a bit better as I thought the guitars too low in the mix. Still I highly enjoyed them kicking off focussing on The Immortal. The triple harsh. grunted and clean vocals  plus triple guitars did come over well and the response from the audience was animated. The far too short set ended with their best song Colossus and that was mega. No surprise here as this is the week of Mega Colossus. If there was anything to comment which I did as second Dutchman this evening Tobias told me (Alex was first) The T-shirts. All were black, while their great cover artwork of The Immortal screamed for a grey Tee. Well this short set already fully justified my trip to Utrecht and I am now waiting for a full headline set one day.

Next band on were Fallujah who play Tech Death. I have one of their albums 2016 Dreamless, but found no time to replay it before the show. Their last year's album Xenotaph is very strong and it was only wrong timing that made me not pick it up. First thing that struck when the band came on is that there were two guitars, but no bass. You could hear the bass, as well as keyboards and (loud) backing vocals. So that was a busy tape machine. If you managed to look through that we did get an excellent set with pretty damn fine guitar work. Low of their set was when the vocalist first asked for a pit, which opened space before the stage, but noone really entering apart from one guy. Later on that improved, but I still think pits should start spontaneously. A good show they gave us and definitely a band I should follow more seriously again.

For headliner Omnium Gatherum I went upstairs to the balcony to sit with Ton and watch from the side of the stage. Last year I saw Omnium Gatherum also in Tivoli, when they supported Insomnium. This year the band was different as there was a last minute substitute vocalist for this tour. The bassist earlier this evening helped out In Mourning, so it all is one sort of family really. Also by this band I only own one CD (The Burning Cold) that is not the case for guitarist Markus Vanhalla, as I have lots of Insomnium albums and would love to see him with his progmetal outfit Malpractice one day. Anyway today it was Omnium Gatherum and that sounded fine. Maybe the bit where the band was introduced took a bit too long. As I did come for the inverse order tonight I did not stay fully till the end, even if enjoying some Omnium Gatherum too. So it was down the 8 (eight) pairs of stairs and escalators to reach ground level and train home again. A nice evening was had, bring on more. In Utrecht that shall be Iotunn with In Vain for me.

Mega Colossus & Speed Queen - Musicon The Hague, 2 March 2026

Mega Colossus I only discovered in 2024 when they released with Showdown my favourite album of that year. During the summer they came to Europe with Köln closest to home, so I drove down to see them. It was that steamy hot night that I spoke with some of the band, which in the end resuted in their first show in The Netherlands being 2 March in Musicon. Support that evening were Speed Queen from Belgium and as the two bands seem to get along really well, they share some dates on this tour again. The bonus for me came in the fact that I could host Mega Colossus at home and get to know the band a bit better.

Now it was Monday night and Heavy Metal in the west of the country always suffers to pull a crowd. So a not very full Musicon welcomed Speed Queen on the stage and they kicked of hidden in smoke. The stage was all Speed Queen with some additional logo boxes and lights along them. I did see Speed Queen several times before and do like their Heavy Metal It is the old style filled with guitar solos and fast bangers. Last year they released their album .. With a Bang! and I got the chance to pick it up after the show. A good set by these nice guys and Zeeman shorts still rule.

Mega Colossus are touring Europe in support of their new album Watch Out!. This album is officially released this Friday 6 March only, but the label was so friendly to release it on Youtube when the tour started. This was a good thing as half the set were new songs. Now I slightly recognized bits and pieces. Actually their music is easy on the ears at first listen too. This because they play good songs where the twin guitars are treating you well all the time.I love this kind of melodic metal and when the vocals came out fine too I knew this was one of 2026's highlights. This even if bits were hidden in smoke. After the show it was not over for me as we could have an afterdrink at home and it turned out they are very nice guys too. This morning with today's show being in not so far Essen we even had time to visit the beach and Mega Colossus considered the North Sea (not an ocean) cold. Go see them on tour if you have the chance, as they just come to give you a good time and know how to do that very well.

Mancuerda, Necrotesque and Necrotted - Musicon The Hague, 27 February 2026

An evening of Death Metal in Musicon.I only knew the opening band in advance as they are local. Mancuerda played since other local band Melting Eyes had to cancel. These are the two most prolific local bands in teh genre.  Mancuerda play Death Metal of the slow and heavy kind. No instrumental wizzardry, just heavy slow grooves and that works perfect on an evening like this. I saw them several times before and they keep on getting tighter and a good opening act they are.

Necrotesque from Helmond came on next. Four equally bald heads with four very different beards. But it is the music that counts and they played Death Metal only a notch faster than Mancuerda. Actually their best song to me was more uptempo. I don't know any of their work, but remember they played it before the Vegan Meatgrinder. This was the biggest surprise of the evening to me, as their set was great and their performance matched it.

Headlineres Necrotted drove 9 hours to Musicon this day. Their style was more leaning towards the core side of things and that is not really for me. Musically they were nice enough, but the screaming vocals don't resonate with me all that much. Closing with a comment on the looks again, This must have been the first time a guitarist played the Musicon stage in white socks inside bath slippers.

MidJonno Prog - dB's Utrecht, 17 January 2026

Stichting Huaaaargh was founded by Marcel, Alex and Jonathan. Their intention is to organize shows of the progmetallic kind. This evening was their debut, but also Jonathan's Birthday midlife crises party. Confused? well any excuse to organize an evening of diverse progmetal works for me. This first show of the year for me turned out to be a Progpower reunion of sorts with a large majority in being known faces or names (sorry Chantal not Crystel). So the mood was good and the hugging part was near the limit of acceptable for a metal party. The place for this was dB's in Utrecht and also a first for me. I had been a few times to the old dB's which burned down. Now in a new location the hall was slightly better visible and the bar had a huge amount of draft beers, so approved it is.

Opening band of the day were the onluy Dutch band Schizoid Lloyd. They were on a hiatus and this was their first show in eight years. Well we got new songs and the promise they would do more shows again, so welcome back it is. I saw Schizoid Lloyd before at ProgPower many years agao. Their music ain't easy and goes all over the place. Luckily their quirckiness is packed in enough metal to not irritate me, but keeping matters rather interesting. Almost all ended after one song, when energy said too weird, but that was corrected and we got a fine set by them.

Next band were Pravitas from Leeds. They play technical Death Metal a style not allowed at PPE, while tonight showed enough response for reconsideration. If the vocalist was representative for Leeds it is understandable why Elland Road is considered a loud Stadium. Even more impressive might have been the instrumental basis with at times a calmer break for guitars to shine and a monster behind the drums. This set flew by and I loved the energy coming of the stage. Their first ever Dutch show can be considered a success.

Exist Immortal followed and they were the best band of the day at a Complexity Fest before  Covid. I missed their returns, so happy to see them again now. Unfortunately bad luck struck and their drummer got injured. Instead of cancelling the show they taped the drum parts and played along with it while drums stayed covered in black. To my surprise it worked much better than feared and again Exim were a highlight for me. I was glad to pick up their last CD after the set, when I also took the opportunity to tell the guitarist what would make their show even more awesome. Stop the waiing at us and making hearts from the stage to the crowd or vice versa should be banned. After all we are not at bloody eurovision. But maybe it is that since I am 3 days and 15 years older than Jonno I am too old for that shit. Great return of the band, hope next time is in Baarlo.

Final band were Playgrounded from Greece, former Rotterdam. Unlike the three uplifting and energetic sets before them they play on the more depressive side of metal. I actually have their first EP, but never saw them before (also as they pulled out of one recent PPE edition I recall). They are a good band, but I was more needing to be lifted up, than pulled down this evening. So I decided to catch the 23:44 train towards my final train home. Next time they get a fair chance. So thanks go out to Jonno and Stichting Huaaaargh for a very nice opening of gig year 2026. Hope many shall follow and tip to the Stichting: next time put a bin in with a sticker support Stichting Huaaaargh. I am sure I would not be the only one who loved the idea and likes to support such initiatives.

Live Shows: my Top 12.5 of 2025

Live shows were good in 2025. OK being away for over 4 months meant I missed a lot. Yet I got rewarded by some great gigs in Brazil. This year I put some restrictions in order to make chosing more difficult. So one evening or festival can not be mentioned more than once. Even if Musicon remains my favourite place to be, no mention here while I loved several nighst or days there (Pungeant Stench, Festerfest) . So here is my top 12 and a half over 2025. What I found is that while I don't like coverbands all that much, nostalgia did play a large role in my ranking. And oops I forgot to mention the best thrash metal show of the year by Dark Angel.

12.5 Temic - Boerderij  Zoetermeer
Double headliner show with Temic being the nice surprise. Rendezvous Point were OK too, but not matching the openers.

12. Samhain Festival - Muziekgieterij Maastricht

Fen and Dodheimsgard gave me two highlights of the day making the drive down to Maastricht worthwhile. And than Moonspell closed the day in style.

11. Jeff Scott Soto & Eric martin - Country Club Novo Friburgo

What a surprisingly perfect show of Classic Rock, highlighting in JSS singing an Yngwie medley.

10. Kiko Loureiro & Marty Friedman - Sacadura 154 Rio

Tuned out that Marty was only a guest, but his few solo songs and the joined Kiko songs were awesome. This while Kiko honoured his past in Megadeth and Angra. 

9. Renegade - Patronaat Haarlem

Always remaining sad I missed Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott as that was before my gigging days. This is the best alternative, great band and setlist.

8. Beyond Creation, Daath, Cynic & Rivers of Nihil - Patronaat Haarlem

Four times great technical death metal on one evening. Beyond Creation among my favourites in the genre and Cynic taking revenge for 24's Effenaar set.

7. Eternal Storm - Innocence Hengelo

With Alex I was one of the two visitors who travelled from far to see a specific band. Totally worth the trip and what a nice day in Hengelo it was.

6. Prog Power Europe - Sjiwa Baarlo

Atmosphere is always top and this year Threshold, Voidchaser and Tiberius were my favourites. A bit worried about the 2026 program so far, but counting all shall work out fine again.

5. Saxon & Grand Slam - 013 Tilburg

Carnaval weekend and I trained south for some good old Heavy Metal. Girlschool could not match these two highlights of my heavy metal year.

4. Mearfest - Queenshall - Nuneaton

Talking about great atmospheres Mearfest is also always way up there. NWOBHM days coming alive with highlights around, but Stormchild and Sacred Alien deserve a special mention.

3. Queensryche - Effenaar Eindhoven

Playing the EP and Warning in full meant nothing could go wrong really. Band in peak form and reminding us why we loved them so much in the eighties.

2. Papangu - Garage Grindhouse, Little Devil, Patronaat & Circo Voador

When I get to see the same band 4 times in six months and all shows are very different it says a lot. Also hosting them one night, meant a band I shall always follow closely and hope to see soon again.

1. Keep It True - Tauber Frankenhalle Lauda - Königshofen

My first KIT and it made me wonder why. So many highlihts of metal from the time I fell in love with it (or just slightly later) Highlights: Riot V, Heir Apparent, S.A. Slayer, Slaughter Xstroyes and Sacred Blade. Great music, great festival and in 2026 I shall miss out again.

CD's: My Top 25 of 2025

2025 was a very good year for new music to me. Even if living between two countries complicates purchases at times. As a result of not being around non stop I did hear some albums once, liked them but never bought them due to a continental shift was coming up. Examples that immediately come to mind are O.r.k., M.S.G., Tokyo Blade and Thought Chamber. Even after the missed out albums (and there were many) I had to make choices. Since I hope that my list results in one person discovering one new band or album I left out the biggest names in progmetal (Dream Theater) and progrock (Steven Wilson) even if liking their albums a lot. Further it hurts to leave out bands like Everon, Wretch, Hyena, Saor, Ophelion and the always delivering Cosmograf. Still 25 means 25 (or 26 as you shall see fast). So here is my top 25 of 2025:

25. Tiberius - Singing For Company

The party band from this year's ProgPower turned out to be very nice on album too. Accessible progmetal with great songs and top vocals.

24: Martyr - Dark Believer / August Life - Passage of Time

My two favourite Dutch metal albums of the year were released close to each other. I received them at the same time and liked them equally well. Heavy Metal with links to 80's progmetal at times too.

23. Selvans - Saturnalia

The weirdest album on my list. Italian Folk Black Heavy metal of the dramatic kind sung in Italian. An interesting ride it is and packed in the nicest artwork of 2025.

22. Pentesilea Road - Sonnets from the Drowsiness

Vito wrote another masterpiece. 100 minutes is too long for me to capture all fast, but this captivating progmetal of the lighter side works wonders. Like the debut in spite of great vocals I prefer the instrumentals even a noch better.

21.Jacob Roberge - The Passing

I am less and less into progressive rock compared to metal, but the surprise in the genre this year was Jacob Roberge. Five good varying songs followed by a 31 minute epic gave him the new Neal Morse title. Agree but than fresher and less of a repeat.

20.An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City

One hour of a mix of prog death black and moody metal. Too early to fully know the album for me, but definitely one to go back to and yes Woe remains their classic it seems so far.

19. Impureza - Alcázares

Hailing from France yet singing in Spanish about Spanish history. Mixing death metal with flamenco it is definitely one to take your time for. But if doing so you shall be rewarded.

18. Species - Changelings

Tech Metal or technical thrash I love it. This Polish trio at times make me think of Toxik or Watchtower even and that is a huge compliment. Hope they tour Europe next year,

17. Green Carnation - The Dark Poem part I: The Shores of Melancholia

Again maybe not heard enough times yet, but they always are among the peak atmospheric prog metallers around. This time is not different. Looking forward to parts II and III.

16. Imminent Sonic Destruction - Floodgate

One of the finest progmetal bands that formed within the past fifteen years. Floodgate is another hit for me.Their mix of progmetal with rare outbursts results in eight catchy songs you should hear at least once really.

15. Changeling - Changelings

Leaving Obscura can do work wonders just look at Obsidious. Tom Geldschläger formed Cahngeling and released this beautiful progressive death metal album. A style that was very strong this year.

14. Gypsy's Kiss - Piece by Piece

The band celebrated their 50th anniversary already and this new album is filled with feel good hard rock songs to me. After seeing them at Mearfest in 2024 songs came even more alive and the new album is as good.

13. Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil

This is definitely their easiest album for those afraid of gunts. Another high mixing the death with the progmetal and yes there is a saxophone ad live he was great too.

12. Wings of Steel - Winds of Time

The bright hope for Heavy metal in the years to come? I don't know, but this is another top class heavy metal album that brings us back to the eighties glory days. Still sorry I missed them in Breda.

11. In Mourning - The Immortal

The progressive death doom masters do it again on what might become one of their best albums ever. Their mix of the heavy and increasing clean always works well. In March they play in Utrecht.

10. In the Woods.. - Otra

The gothic progressive metal of late by In the Woods.. never came this close to Swallow the Sun. This means the best atmospheric doomy metal album of the year.

9. Philosophobia - The Constant Void

After a good debut album, their second should please anyone who was into progmetal in the nineties. This style is out of fashion with younger bands, but to me still the best way to play progmetal.

8. Katagory V - Awaken a New Age of Chaos

Back after a ten year hiatus, but I did not know their old work. This is proper US metal, so we mix heavy metal with some prog and power metal. Still needing to check out their back catalogue.

7. Tiktaalika - Gods of Pangea

The first thrash metal banger of the year was written by progmetal guitar hero Charles Griffiths. I loved this album from the start and the different vocalists all fit in well with the songs. Nice retro thrash artwork too.

6. Coroner - Dissonance Theory

I did see Coroner live opening for Watchtower in the early nineties, but never knew their albums. I got the DVD some years ago and now a new album is released after 32 years. Listening to Dissonence Theory I am absolutely blown away by their tech metal. Surprise come back of the year to many, but I have one more to come.

Now before sharing my top 5 I have to state that all five of these albums can be my album of the year depending on the day. Loved them to bits. So I start with two bands who in recent years already released an album of the year for me.

5. A-Z - A2Z2

Not the most surprising album of the year as I know what  I get from this band even if only their second album. Melodic Progmetal songs of around 5 minutes with the beautiful voice of Ray Alder guiding us through some nice hooks. and yes the band is awesome too.

4. Lunar - Tempora Mutantor

Lunar what a band and why are they not yet huge? Progressive metal of the modern kind with at times grunts and great songs telling us how to watch the weather change. How do I get to see them playing live is one of the big questions in modern music for me.

3 Cea Serin - The World Outside

This is my surprise comeback of the year. Proper old school progmetal played over six songs only, still lasting 70 minutes. Normally I lose interest with 70 minute albums, not here. The songs all over ten minutes fly by and even Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe) provides a guitar solo. I wish Progpower would book more bands like this.

2. Dessiderium - Keys to the Palace

Another discovery album number five, but a new project to me. This is Alex Haddad going solo and what a surprise it was. Progressive death metal while he also holds a good clean voice. Can I mention Opeth? I can, but this is a very good album by all means form the guitarist of Atheist. Must hear material for all who like their prog and death blending into great long songs.

1. Jack the Joker - The Devil to Pay in the Backlands

No I am not Brazil biased here. These guys just released the best progmetal album of the year to me and while doing that top all other genres too. Another long album with 67 minutes that flies by. Musically the funky bass stands out, but what a joy to hear 11 great songs including two epics with enough variation to make many people happy. Bring them to Progpower Europe soonest please.

 

Azul Limão and Taurus - Audio Rebel Rio de Janeiro, 19 December 2025

Algorythms on Facebook I tend to hate them, for the nonsense they propose to me. Not this time as I was not aware of an underground metal show celebrating 40 years existence of two local bands Azul Limão and Taurus. Apart from not knowing these two bands, also the venue Audio Rebel never appeared on my radar before. Turned out it did not exist yet, when I lived iin Rio. All the more reasons to attend. So in the evening  I took the metro to Botafogo (bairro) and had a firm walk to Audio Rebel. Arriving there all looked welcoming from the start. The venue turned out to be a house inbetween large flats and existed mainly of a long corridor. When I expected the venue to be a door to the right at the corridor, it turned out to be even further down. the hall. A bar served several beers from bottle and can and I picked Patagonia IPA to be my beer for the night. Well half the night as the stock finished after the first band a reoccuring fact when I pick a favourite beer. At the merch stand I later met Ader executivo produtor from the label Dies Irae. He tours Europe often and also gets European bands to play Brazil. So we shall maintain in contact and I hope that one day I can be of help getting a Dutch band to play in Brazil (and I know just the right candidates). The other guy at the merch stand was even a more intersting story, as he stated playing in The Netherlands in the past, but forgot where. Wen he told his band was Apokalyptic Raids, I could help out as he played Nobel in 2016 and I was there. Great how the metal world turns in small circles and thsi welcoming feeling I had all night.

Now on the musical ground I was somewhat starting behind the pack, as I did not know any music in advance. I do have the book United Forces on Brazils's Metal Underground 1986-1991 and I am sure I read about Taurus there. When coming home I have to check again. Opening band of the evening were Azul Limão. They play Heavy Metal of the eighties kind with clear NWOBHM influences. Musically great and holding a good fontman it did not take long, before I joined the shouting of Who-whooo-ho-ho or Metal with the crowd. Talking about the crowd the venue is not huge, but it was packed. Azul Limão do sing in Portuguese, which to me adds to the fun in a way as I extend my metal vocabulary. This was one very entertaining show and long enough as after all we had 40 years to celebrate (with a break throughout nineties when heavy metal suffered worldwide). The set closed with two Taurus members joining in and a song I did not know (but everyone else did) closed the sheir show in style. I asked original member guitarist Marcos Dantas what was considered their classic album and he stated their debut Vingança as a favourite. So I got it at a very fair price and a very eighties metal cover it has (topless woman, skulls, horse, sword, castle on a mountain). A new album is coming out, so I shall get it after release

Next band were Taurus who according to Metal Archives are from Niteroi, which is Brazil's answer to Zoetermeer but then 10 times bigger. Their metal is more speed thrash driven and they  also released their debut Signo deTaurus in 1986. I had to get that CD too, as this show was as impressive. Throughout the set there were some speeches, by the two original band members and also two fans came on stage. All in good mood, just showing how much metal means in our lives throughout the decades. Taurus turned out to be another band to follow for me and their long set flew by. This time I knew one song as when Marcos from Azul Limão was invited on stage we got a great Ace of Spades cover. Being a notch heavier it seemed to me that some people came for Azul Limão and others for Taurus, but to me the match was very good. So I discovered in one evening two to me new bands to follow and one venue I hope to return to soon. Slowly finding my way into Rio's metal world I unfortunately lost the Laws show in Garage a night later. But metal is alive and kicking also in Rio.