Last in Line & Fire Within - 013 Tilburg, 14 December 2019

Last in Line are called after Dio's Classic second album. The band holds original Dio members Vivian Campbell on guitars, Vinny Appice on Drums and until his passing away also Jimmy Bain on Bass. This line-up played on the first three Dio Albums and keeps the memory of that era alive. By now they also released two Last In Line albums maintaining a similar style of Heavy Metal. Now how about the vocals without the best voice in metal of all times? In comes Andrew Freeman who holds two big advantages. First he has a very strong voice, needed to do justice to the classic Dio era. Second he does not try to clone Dio (a battle anyone would loose) but gives his own interpretation of songs that we love. Two years ago we saw LiL at Alcatraz festival in Belgium and were pleasantly surprised by their performance. So Hans and I were already planning to go. Then Arrow Lords of Metal wrote out a free ticket action and decided to honor me the two free tickets. If ever a choice was easy it would be us heading down to 013 for an evening of Classic Heavy Metal.

The early starting evening also did have a support in Zeeland's Fire Within. Earlier this year I saw them opening for Voodoo Vegas in Musicon and thought their show pretty Ok. They play old school melodic metal with prominent keyboards. Main difference with their March set was that due to shorter playing time they did not give us covers of Abba and Europe this time. It is never easy to open for an older audience who comes to hear Dio songs, but I think Fire Within did Ok again.

During the next break it turned out that the originally empty Jupiler hall filled up decently. So we were ready for Last in Line and curious how they would blend the old and new. Many bands who had their highlighst 40 to 30 years ago and still touring have that dilemma. Boldest band on that respect are Black Star Riders who nowadays dare to depend on their new work alone, forgetting about Thin Lizzy altogether. Some others (no names) can not really do so, as their new work is not close to the classics we come to see. Last in Line decided nicely for a halfway solution with plenty of songs from their last two own albums. First standing out thing is that the new songs fit in really well with the Dio classics. This helps the evening going from appreciation of new work, to shouting along old classics. This tour one album was skipped and that being Sacred Heart. This is good as it holds some options for new old input during next tour. That is I am assuming they will keep on returning as the evening turned out to become a new highlight in already sensational 2019 gig year. How nice is it to hear and see Stand up and Shout, Holy Diver, Egypt or Last in Line live on stage again. Thie rversion of Rainbow in the Dark did surpise positively without keyboards. Also interesting is going to a show with the spirit of Dio around, but not passing throug the eternal lasting medley of Heaven and Hell /Man on the Silver Mountain. Another high of the evening was the respect paid to Jimmy Bain through Starmaker, as he was important to both Dio and Last in Line. I hope they cross UFO on their touring and teach them a bit how Paul Raymond should be respected as well. Then of course there is that other Dio touring outfit still with a hologram on stage. I do not feel tempted to go and see that ever, but for me Last in Line is all you need to relive Dio times. Their two strong own albums to be followed up by a third next year as they told us, do help increasing their credibility even further. This band gives you metal as I loved to see it in the eighties, obviously enjoying themselves on stage as well. So thanks to 013 and Arrow LordsofMetal for this evening. And then it was over not that late. We knew that Mario was hosting one of his MMM parties in Little Devil. Unfortunately due to miserable train returns two weeks ago from Toxik, and Robert's disaster trip after Exciter last week, made us decide not counting on the last train and skipping LD altogether, When Last in Line are back in Holland we will be there again though and I am sure we can bring some more friends to this party.

Pro-Pain, Darkrise & GetSome! - Musicon The Hague, 12 December, 2019

Pro-Pain are a big name in the New York Hardcore scene. This is not really the music I would play at home through my headphone listening to all kind of details. Live on stage however I was curious to see how this party would come alive. I was not the only one interested as Musicon was packed this Thursday evening. First we had two openers with Dutch hardcore band GetSome! showing how to present an energetic set and Swiss Darkrise waving the metal flag for the evening. Most people came to see Pro-Pain however and it did not take long before the party on and off the stage started. What I was hoping to see happened and it even seemed that the band was pleased such an enthusiastic crowd bouncing around. No nonsense bulldozering onwards Pro-Pain played a fairly long set and  this great mood kept going around. Sometimes it pays off to leave your comfort zone. Last night was just that evening. So on the evening Europe seemed to have lost Britain for good (with hopefully no consequences for British bands touring here) Musicon had just the party to celebrate that.

DHG, Bolzer, Blaze of Perdition, Matterhorn - Musicon The Hague, 3 December 2019

This package was originally scheduled to play Gebr. de Nobel but was canelled and later saved by Musicon. For me this meant no dinner with Tiago before the show in Leiden, but considerably closer to home. So even though I knew nothing of all four bands apart from names it was down to Musicon and let them surprise me. Like minded thinking Marco was already in when I arrived and a beer was waiting for matters to start. Being a last minute announcement on a Tuesday in overfull gig month November I thought the turnout was pretty decent.

Matterhorn are like the mountain from Switzerland. They had just started when I entered and they played pretty good. Marco was reminded a bit of Celtic Frost and the trio was powerful indeed. I liked them best when they went instrumental, but overall a surprising nice opener.

Next band Blaze of Perdition was coming on stage in painted faces, so I expected traditional Black Metal. During the first song I could not really place them, but slowly they grew on me. The mix of two vocalists, both going harsh and gothic worked well with lots of echo. Holding three guitars meant that the wall of sound was not showing any holes really. Their last song was a cover by Fields of Nephilm (thanks Arno) just to show they were blending goth with black. Interesting band number two it was.

The stage became all black and white flashy for next band Bölzer. This band is actually a duo consisting of drums and eight string guitars. How the hell they managed to keep this heavy massive sound going was really the question that would not leave my head. Impressively done by the two swiss men who managed to keep heavy atmospheres waving through Musicon. To me after some 40 minutes it lacked a bit of variation, but that was also caused by the fact that I did not know them at all on forehand. To many they were the band of the day, as they got by far the most reaction from the crowd.

And then up to DHG/Dodheimsgard to close the evening for us. Before going to Musicon I had checked bits of this band out on the internet and the least you can say is that this is no easy listening combo. For several people this complexity was a signal to go home also helped by last trams and early Wednesday mornings. Well I can say that the leavers lost. To me this became the most interesting band of the evening. Helped by arty-farty images on a screen behind the drummer this painted band took us on a rollercoaster ride. Interesting guitar solos by the man hidden in black (including his face) piano intermezzo's by teh man in red/black, Gene Simmons tongue showings by the vocalist in white face, very heavy hitting drums, there was tooo much going on to grasp fully. While also here I did not recognize any of the songs helping me to absorn them better I stayed hooked and when already late the band asked if they could play more and their own soundman indicated it was time to stop I actually could have more. Through the set they moved slowly from avant garde to more traditional Black Metal and those who stayed probably saw their favorite band of the evening as well. So we can thank Musicon for stepping in and safe this package for the Tuesday evening in Holland. Next week they are in Eindhoven and if you are open-minded you will enjoy yourself with these four bands.

Toxik & Thorium - Dynamo Eindhoven, 30 November 2019

Last week I attended the start of the Toxik/Thorium tour in Lazarus. After that show I wondered if going to see them again would make any sense as the atmosphere in Lazarus would be unbeatable. Well Hans could not join Sunday, so I was more than pleased to join him to Dynamo. Now seeing the same sets on a proper stage, even if it was the basement.

Thorium kicked off at eight and now knowing their debut album I recognized more songs. It seems a right choice to close the set with Ostrogoth and Godspeed two of their fastest bangers. Being relatively unknown means that a cover might get more reaction. I can say that Dynamo was more open to their Heavy Metal than Lazarus was, but most reactions did come back at them when they gave us the Hall of the Mountain King. A fine band they are and doing just what is needed to warm us up.

Toxik touring Think This. Seeing the songs live on stage, except the Led Zep cover only reminds us how good that album is. Bookended and halfway broken by some eight songs of World Circus this was one trip down memory lane for the mainly older audience. I remember how during the last tour when tuning took long for someone Josh spontaneous (!) told us how good it was to see the old, bold and gray people still hanging on and doing what we love with a passion that obviously is here to stay. Well Toxik tonight did what we came for presenting their technical thrash metal classics in great form. The band is tight and hired hand Erik on guitars gives the band an extra base during solo's. Last week the show ended in a party with Dennis' birthday and War Pigs. This evening held again a surprising end. When all seemed over suddenly Thorium joined the band on stage and we got two covers. The first one sung by someone of the audience again, while my preference went out to Queensryche's Lying Needle. What a way to end an evening of top class metal in Dynamo. The choice of going again paid of nicely. The only disadvantage was that we had to have a certain rush towards the station to catch our last train, so proper thank you's to the bands could not be given.

And then it was up to the trains. When all in life is shining at you, misery is around the corner and vice-versa. This evening the NS (national rail) took care of that. Our last direct train home was cancelled. So I explained to NS jersey wearing assistants that according to their regulations, they should give us a taxi home. Well they go out of their way to make sure that this won't happen. A long list of people and poles talking to us either lying or just plain incompetent. This made us run in Rotterdam for a connection which any disabled, injured or handicapped person would never make. The evening ended in style when after many misinformations finally the man at the ticket desk  at the wrong station in The Hague managed to get me a taxi to Central Station, where I needed to get my bicycle out before closing time. When he stated that in 25 minutes my taxi would arrive (while there was a queue of them in front of us), I could only laugh. The lady hidden inside the information pole in Eindhoven told me I could walk from one station to the other in 5 minutes obviously must be Usain Bolt's bloody sister as normal humans do take considerably longer. In the end I got my bicycle out just in time and when I was close to home I was called by a taxi-driver informing me he had arrived to pick me up (32 minutes after being ordered). With all the annoyances at the end it still was a magical evening. So thank you Toxik for the music. Given the intelligent nature of Toxik lyrics on social wrongdoings, I suggest them to train around in Holland a bit and write about our NS for their next album. Until then I think I give Think This a few more spins.

Hourswill - Attick Demons

During my stay in Portugal this month we passed a weekend in Lisbon. That included an obligatory stop at my favorite CD store Glam-O-Rama for an update of could Portuguese metal releases. So herewith two recommendations.

 Hourswill - Dawn of the Same Flesh
Hourswill are probably of all Portuguese metal bands my favorite one. They play heavy metal with progressive power traces and were on their last album often compared with Nevermore. I can hear where that is coming from although a slightly less aggressive version they are. If we are name-dropping the new album made me think at times next to Nevermore on Evergrey and Tomorrow's Eve. Dawn of the Same Flesh is a concept album (very prog indeed) about the state of the human race. Humanity get a new chance and messes things up again is a short recapp of the story. In the end it is about the music and I believe this album after a few listening sessions even better than predecessor Harm Full Embrace. Bookended by the two calmer songs we get some very catchy progressive power metal songs. Outstanding upon first hearing is the very strong voice of Leonel Silva. Then when the story opens you get overwhelmed by the catchy songs with the hooks and melodies working so well. If there is a highlight on the album to mention it must be epic Benightenedness followed by I Vow to Hate. This aggresive bridge occurs not coincidentally when at the story things start going seriously wrong again. This album deserves international exposure. I so far never saw Hourswill playing live and missed them by a week this month. I will correct that in 2020 and if PPE ever needs a Portuguese band to join their large country of origin list Hourswill might be just the band they are looking for.

Attick Demons - Atlantis
Is it possible not to mention an influence when each and every song strong reminds you strongly of them? I guess not, so resuming Attick Demons we can say Iron Maiden, but then without Steve Harris calm intor's and outro's. Does this obvious inspiration matter? No not at all since Attick Demons just gives you good and fast metal songs. Mostly around 5 minutes these songs ooze Maiden so much that the band even hold three guitars. I should see them live to judge if this adds something, or two would be enough, so that is Maiden again. I should mention vocalist Artur Almeida as his voice is great and makes them stay close to their examples. So is this Portugal's most original band? definitely not. Would I love to see them live one day? definitely yes. The album contains on the title track two special guest musicians in none other than Paul Di'Ánno and Ross the Boss. Only downer the female soprano killing nice song Meeting the Queen, but that might be my personal problem with female sopranos in metal. Good band and live they should present a party. 

Toxik & Thorium - Lazarus Leiden, 24 November 2019

Toxik and Lazarus the ever strange match that works soo well. Toxik should be and is far too big to play metal bar Lazarus, yet on their last visits to Europe they managed to squeeze one show in and it tends to become legendary when that happens. So on a Sunday night I was back in Lazarus to see a topband sweating on a tiny stage while having a few beers. Peter this time joined me, as last time he thought I was joking when I stated Toxik played Lazarus and did not turn up. With Marco joining by train, Pieter arriving late we were well positioned at the side of the stage. Now in Lazarus and the tiny setup one can not expect a perfect sound really. This is more than made up for by the overdose of atmosphere.

Openers on this tour are Begian/Dutch Thorium. I saw them at their first show ever at Wizzfest and also open for Q5 in Little Devil. I liked both shows and was rather pleased they would open the evening. Where Toxik play technical thrash metal, Thorium are grounded firmly in the eighties and play traditional metal. I like both styles, but to some maybe not fast or loud enough. Well slowly but surely they won over Lazarus and when close to the end Savatage was covered all seemed to like them. With the great voice of David Marcellis coming out of te speaker right next to us. Their very Maiden inclined metal this time even made me buy their debut album and I keep an eye on the follow up to be recorded soon. So warmed up we were.

Then after a short break, where the merch stand was to be visited, with a killer new T-shirt brought along, Toxik joined the tiny stage. This time they were 5 as they have an extra guitarist in Dutchman Erik (what's in a name). First very comforting fact was that to me new live vocalist Ron Iglesias (what's in a name part 2) did convince. He has the power and the screams to accompany the mostly fast songs. I say mostly as we got this evening the 5th ever performance of There Stood the Fence as well. This being part of Think This the album that made 30 years this October and was now played in full. This was done in original LP version with after some  songs Side A and then an old song break before Side B would be played in full. Toxik released two classic albums in the eighties with a slightly different sound. I like both and do not really have a preference for either World Circus or Think This. Well in the end World Circus also almost got played in full. So when this was all going on we did get stage divers in small Lazarus, inlcuding vocalist Ron going back and forth through the place. The band seemed very good, even though Josh told me they were not expecting this after a heavy drive down from True Thrash Fest in Hamburg. To up the party atmosphere of this special evening it was the 50th birthday of Tour Manager Dennis. So when all was done, he joined on stage this time not to sing but drum along War Pigs, which got a surprising good voice from the crowd to sing for us. Closing in style this evening was a party and one we shall remember long time again. This week you can still see this package in Germany and Belgium, plus a return to Holland. I won't make it Thursday in Zwolle, as I support the local scene that evening, but hope I find some ongoers to Dynamo on Saturday. The only risk I agreed with Ton on afterwards, was that a normal gig on a proper stage can never beat this atmosphere. Yet with such a perfromance some effort from my side is deserved for both bands. Killer evening it was.

Adriana Calcanhotto - Teatro Pax Julia Beja, 20 November 2019

So it was our wedding day and we decided to celebrate with a live concert. So far so good, but the friend of Josie who called the fact that Adriana Calcanhoto was playing in Beja proof  that coincidence does not exist was exagerating too much really. I strongly believe in coincidence and if it would not exist, we would have had Fates Warning playing Beja that evening. Anyway Adriana Calconhotto it was, a Brazilian singer songwriter with band on tour in Portugal. This kind of MPB music was suitable as it brought us back to our Brazilian years with live music at the legendary Feijoada's do Ruy or the summer live shows on the beach. I am no fan of MPB really, but it brings some good memories back. The band tonight was good (especially the drummer) although they were not allowed to leave their square meter it seemed. Adriana herself can sing, or is it more reciting of her sad lyrics really? This evening seemed to be all about the sea, the ocean our planet and of course lost loves. After the show I called it music for and by women, but that was consiederd macho thinking by Josie. All in all some good performance and an interesting evening of live music. This in spite of the boring all seated venue. Earlier this year I saw in Lisbon the by far worst Marillion weekend ever due to all seated and poor setlist (oh yes and no decent bar). this evening was as bad on interaction between stage and audience. Most atmosphere came when stagehand fisherman in his yellow raincoat ordered the hall to clap along. Well everyone around me seemed to love it, so no judging here. And then we walked home and bumped into Beja Castle. Suddenly Swords & Tequila got stuck in my head and we ended the evening with a musical highlight after all.