Prestige, Rages of Sin & Axident - Musicon The Hague, 3 March 2023

Another Friday metal night in Musicon brought us a diverse package this time. I believe some visitors still did not realize that nowadays three bands means 20:00-23:00 and no longer 21:00-24:00. So upon arrival with Marko, Musicon looked empty as an influencers brain. Luckily that improved over the evening and atmosphere improved accordingly.

Opener were Axident from Belgium. They brought some friends along from Antwerp and gave us a decent opening set. While I was wondering if it was more death, thrash or just metal suddenly a long song (The Bitch of somehwere) had a grunge intermezzo where vocals went goat like Eddie Vedder (tks Marko). Overall a good show, with some good instrumental work. Tonight they open again for Prestige in Belgium, so if you ar earound go early.

Next on were Rages of Sin. If you are from The Hague and haven't heard them during the past 10 years you must be living under a soft rock. If you haven't heard their full album Divergence ever, we can blame Covid. I remember picking it up under Covid rules in het Paard, where during Covid local bands were on sale. That album is in my opinion the best extreme metal album released in The Hague for a long time. Rages of Sin are hard to decsribe as they play OSDM, but also vocally slam death, or thrash, or melodic death metal, or tech death and progmetal. I like this mix and their songs are not all that easy at first hearing. If you take your time you get rewarded. Yesterday apart from songs of their EP. The Gospel Of... and Divergence we also got some new songs. Opening with a song sung in Dutch a french title (je accuse) about a letter of Zola (right Floris?) thinks tend to get complicated. But I loved their set again and their playing is of a high level. Pity of the sudden end, but time schedules are ruling under permits.

Headliners were Prestige from Finland. This thrash metal band is around since the late eighties, but flew under my radar until being announced for this evening. Turned out they were great fun live. Especially as they seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage as well. Their thrash is not the most aggressive one, but goes towards thrash &roll at times. Pretty catchy their songs are and all presented with a smile it came over fine. After receiving Insomnium's special edition this week I thought about teaching myself Finnish through the short story included in the package. Not needed as according to Prestige the only Finnish word we need to know is Perkele. So Perkele it was and one fine evening in Musicon yet again.

The Enigma Division - Electric Mob - Uriah Heep

Herewith some albums that made my year 2023 kick off better.

The Enigma Division - The Enima Division

Startig of with the first big surprise of 2023. This Progressive metal band holds in Conor McGouran someone you might know from Xerath. This album is a very interesting blend of progressive metal with here and there very accesible melodic rock parts in their songs. While the first seven songs present a very interesting album, The closing epic yet adds a surprising finish. A 20 minute instrumental with some spoken word samples. On paper maybe not that interesting for some, but in reality one of the highlights of the album. Mentioning highlights, the full album is one really. Recently the band asked which songs they should play live. I suggested the full album at a certain festival in Baarlo later this year. Sure they would go down like a storm there with music like this. 

Electric Mob - 2 Make U Cry & Dance

Electric Mob are from Brazil. This is their second album released on Frontiers Records. And still I never heard of them before reading a review on this album in Aardschok. There namedropping Badlands made me check them out. Well that was a surprise. Catchy as Dengue in a moist Brazilian summer this band gives us 11 songs that make you cry og joy & dance indeed. I would not expect this kind of melodic metal coming out of Brazil. So apart from extreme and power metal Brazil can give us top quality melodic metal as well. Frontiers please bring this band to Europe, as I saw a clip of a live show and that sounded as good.

Uriah Heep - Chaos & Colour

Uriah Heep are now over 50 years running and still going extremely strong. This album is bookended by short and sweet songs (read fast) Save Me Tonight and Closer to Your Dreams. Inbetween we have the classic Heep sound where some songs can proudly stand next to their best work of the seventies. For me Uriah Heep are the best band who started this beautiful musical genre of us (over Black Sabbath, Purple and Led Zep) they also are the band that still releases albums that can bring me enormous (not big) joy. Any lover of melodic Hard rock should listen to this album once and my bet is that most will buy it thereafter (ignoring teh spotify crowd here) Hope that I am around this time, when they tour their latest album.

Complexity Fest - Paatronaat Haarlem, 25 February 2023

Complexity Fest are back three years after the last proper edition February 2020. This would be the weird edition in many respects and admitted I was long time in doubt if I would attend. First weird part was in the line-up. Where was the proper progmetal big name? where was the Tech Death band for spicing matters up and why are half the bands playing duo's? In the end the time scheduel and the two headliners Kayo Dot and Tribulation made me go. Weird headliners, but more on that later. So after checking out most bands on Youtube I decided more or less which bands I wanted to see, with at some overlaps just experimenting what I would like best.

Upon arrival I started wise. Knowing from a clip that Neptunian MM would work more on my nerves than my joy I decided not even entering the main hall. At the lockers I already bumped into Alex, so we went to stage 3 (no longer a bar, but a proper small venue without the poles blocking views. When Alex is around it was no surprise soon Jonathan, Francesca, Marcel and Tom joined, which was nice as company was already sorted, All Progpower regulars would be at stage 3 at 16:30 since Crown Compass is the band best fitting PPE of the day. After a calm intro song (like on the album) they gave us a very good show indeed. A new band they might be, but experienced players with Daniel on vocals known from Textures. On bass there was Robin Zielhorst again. I just checked metal archives and I realized I saw him playing live with the following bands: Cynic, Exivious, Onegodless, Mourn and Our Oceans. The experience of the bandmembers paid out in one hell of a great show. I wondered why they have not been hyped all over Holland yet. As much as I loved their set I decided after half an hour to leave quickly. Here is my line of thought.  Zetra played the bigger Stage 2 and they sounded as at least give it a try. Crown Compass I guess I will see again this year somewhere on tour anyway. Well that did not work out fine. Entering stage 2 I saw the last three minutes of Zetra, not being overly impressed. They left stage after some 35 minutes, while having an hour on the schedule. So quickly back to Crown Compass, who after 40 minutes also called it quits. A running gag that would be repeated throughout the day. Bands not using their full allloted timeslot. 

Anyway on to the main hall and hallo Henriette on the way, while I only met Harry upon leaving the festival in the evening. Stake were on and they play lots of festivals in Holland lately. One energetic performance, with some anger issue around a guitar strap. I liked the bulldozerig wall of sound coming over me, but missed some variation to draw my attention for a full hour. So back to the bar area for some small talks. 

Next to the bar area is the entrance to stage 2 and that is when we heard Iron Jinn already started. Band members with some history in interesting bands, this was only their fifthe gig ever. Well the first great surprise of the day, as they sounded awesome. Stonerish, spacey, jamming and rocking hard they brought us a show with lots of smoke and more important lots of great songs. Their debut album is coming in April. Maybe this is music better heard live, but at least checking them out in due time.

As I now got animated with already two good shows I bumped into Ton and a friend. We headed for the big hall as Author & Punishment were on. Some industrial heaviness was presented and guess what another great show. This is not music I necessarily play at home, but live it sounded and looked nice. The industrial hits with the right hand on a sort of Vertical Iron (sorry can't describe it better). It was a one man show, but as they were a duo also  a guitarist was on stage presenting us the necessary heavy riffs. Very interesting indeed and rather successful.Now I lost Ton and friend while entering the hall too slow, but met Franka during the set. She told me her friend could not make it, but she went anyway even alone. Now that's the spirit and I told her we would hop halls together as I would bump into people again anyway. 

Next double line-up would be a choice between Aiming for Enrike and Tuskar. We started at Aiming, but they missed us aiming with an overdose of electronical softness. Stage 3 had Tuskar and that was much more to my taste. A heavy wall of sound duo full of energy. Turned out that in spite of the unknown names, the festival line-up was shaping into a day of lots to love anyway. 

Now that Tuskar finished, the first band I was properly looking out for was preparing themselves on the main stage. Kayo Dot soundchecking. Well that took long, so we were off for a late start. This day they would play their debut album Choirs of the Eye in full.  Now Kayo Dot are hard to describe as they change styles over albums. I loved their 2021 release Moss Grew... The album played tonight I don't own, but I listened to it in advance a few times. Ok, but calm. In fact I liked the predecessor band Maudlin Of The Well even better, as heavier. When the band finally started it turned out they were very calm indeed, It was hard to grasp for many, with the lack of speed and lots of instruments stepping in and out of their sound. I was a bit on the fence Yes it is impressive at times and third song The Manifold Curiosity being the standout track with a build-up to some heaviness. The band can play, but it was too hard for most as the hall got emptier by the minute. Ending with a small group of open minded sort of followers. I was wandering what would Rune think of this as he was dearly missed. For me it was interesting, but I would not go buy a ticket if they play this album again on a solo show. Than again if they play Moss Grew.... I probably will go see them again. 

After Kayo Dot my program told me a good moment to grab some food. Unfortunately the food stand was calling it quits when I arrived packing up and go. So the Complexity beers were to feed me over the day after all. Nice beer by the way. A next choice was first Birds in a Row at Stage 2. They sounded to me like a heavier britpop, but from where we stood it was not catching and we went to see Youff in an empty stage 3. Now this vocalist was of an acquired taste. Let me put it different. I woudl not be afraid to go onstage after him at this year's PPE karaoke. The band on the other hand had lots of energy, something we just missed at Kayo Dot.

Then it was already time for my final band of the day. While most people I knew would stay over in Haarlem I needed to catch a train home. Tribulation would close the festival for me and musically the only band I expected to match Crown Compass my day openers. I saw Tribulation live before when they toured their masterpiece The Children of the Night. Their Gothic rock with lots of great guitars and black metal vocals works very well for me. I was looking out for an energetic highlight closing my day and got that only partially. Not because of the band, they were awesome. It was the audience that surprised me. First on it's small numbers and second by their obvious lack of knowledge of this band and their material. In advance I thought challenging looking Tribulation would be a perfect match for a festival like Complexity, turmned out I was wrong. So a half empty hall enjoyed, what for me would be the best show of the night. In the end I had a great day out in Haarlem. So thanks to Complecxity and it's organizers. I guess they learned some lessons as while the headliners pulled me in, they were not for many. The balcony was closed as well for that reason. Maybe a big progmetal name and a big tech death band will help getting more people in. The atmosphere was great again and the festival beer went down fine. Curious who they will book for 2024, as I probably will be back again.

Defazer & Fearwell - Musicon The Hague, 24 February 2023

An evening of local and almost local metal in Musicon, so we had to support. Good to see we (Marko and I) were not the only ones thinking so, as Musicon was filled decently for the evening. Defazer would open the evening and with for me a new line-up they sounded surprisingly tight. Defazer are the best thrash metal band of the region and they always guarantee a thrash fest. During the first two songs the audience was in wait and see mode, but soon thereafter a first pit was created and fun was had on and off the stage. Most songs from their EP Order Out Of Chaos and CD Burning Horizon passed by and the general consensus around me was that Defazer were great. So let's hope this line-up stays together and returns on local stages frequently. They are even heading for a German festival this summer so good luck to them.

Fearwell are from nearby Leiden and a new band to me. The event announced them as melodic death metal, but I saw more of a power metal band. Lots of chains on stage and on some of the bandmembers. After some initial soundissues, their wall of sound did sound good to me. Some pretty nice guitar work stood out most for me and the two voices blended well. They do have an album out released in 2022 Well of Fear. Unfortunately no CD's, but a hint to listen on spotify. Well spotify is against my religion, so checking youtube it will be. One song that stood out was about a battle during the 80 year war with Spain and had towards the end the first part of our national anthem in it, which was a strange intermezzo to me. But overall a good band I thought and they are already confirmed for Metal Experience Fest so more on them later this year.The good news on Musicon is that next week we can and shall be back for Finnish thrashers Prestige, Rages of Sin and a Belgian band I don't know yet.

Soilwork, Kataklysm & Wilderun - LAV Lisboa, Lisbon 15 February 2023

An evening with three different styles of metal justified a trip to Lisbon for us. Well nothing is as simple as it seems, so let me give the long introduction. With Josie's move back to The Netherlands we now are uncertain what to do with the beachhouse she lived in. Cleaning it up and make it look fresh for either sale or rent is definite.so we are spending three weeks in Portugal. Why we decided so fast to come in the winter we shall never know, but the wet cold house floored both of us ten days ago and we reduced our work rate dramatically. But before we flew out I already bought my ticket for our perfect one-day break in Lisbon. In order to make it a win-win we also would pass by some shops we don't like equally in order to get some stuff for the house. So the day started of weird, when we walked around in one of Lisbon's IKEA stores. A nice looking girl who at first seemed normal followed by a guy came up to us, asking if she could say a prayer for us. WTF indeed, but Josie was quicker than me and told her she could if she felt like it, but we would walk on. Knowing me well enough so quickly beat my reply "why, it's a bit late now that we obviously are in Hell already". But with blackouts, glasses and linnen bought we headed for our Airbnb comfortably close to LAV Lisboa. 

The event told us, doors open at 18:00 and first band on at 19:00. In Portugal that does not mean all, so I decided I wanted to be at 18:30 at the hall in order not to lose a possible earlier start. After a bite and drink in a nearby shopping (pint at Eur 2,30 Happy Hour so that made it 1,15) Arriving just before 18:30 I found the hall closed with a small queue outside. Special mention to the half liter cans and liter bottles Superbock, being consumed before entering. The hall looked like an old factory and at 18:45 doors opened to a pleasant space with merch stands and a bar on the left and on teh right side stairs to a balcony area. Unfortunately that area was closed due to a not sold out place. In the end LAV filled up decently for a Wednesday. Especially if you take into account that this week also Electric Callboy, Apocalyptica/Epica and Bullet For My Valentine play Lisbon. So Entering the hall as one of the first I did get my spot at front row on the right, since great things were expected early in the evening. 

Opening band were none other than Wilderun. The band that in 2019 released my second favorite album of the year with Veil of Imagination (only losing to Arch/Matheos). Their progmetal with  steps into extrem and folky metal is fairly brilliant and the songs on that album were amazing. A well deserved spot at progpower followed, but than Covid broke us all. Last year they came back with Epigone and I must admit being slightly underwhelmed at first hearings. It all sounded a bit too calm for my taste and in the endless stream of good releases I maybe did not give it enough time. Playing the album the last week twice it is another hit after all, even if calmer indeed. So when Wilderun came on I was pleased to hear that all sounded as good as I hoped for. The set was opened with something of Veil (was it Tyranny?) The long songtitles of Veil do not tend to stick all that well in an old man's memory. After the long opening track Evan told us we would be treated on some Epigone songs. When Identifier and Passenger came live in full blast over me I realized I was wrong on Epigone after all. What a class songs these are and what an atmospheres and mood swings we got. This slowly turned out to become one hell of a show and in spite of the lots of guitar tuning during their set I also loved their cool way of presentation. When speaking to us in either Portuguese or English, the band came over sympathetic. What was even better is that they saved the best for last: Far From Where Dreams Unfurl. When shouting along So run far leads you into one of the catchiest chorusses of the last  years. So my hopes were high for Wilderun live and they managed to surpass same. As this happens a visit to the merch stand is needed and when asking for a T-shirt the guy selling same asked if I was Dutch.. Yes and so was Paul, this resulting in some talks during the break on the obvious joined history in Dutch metal shows. During a second break Wayne from Wilderun joned in and it seems to me they are nice guys as well, so a band to look out for.

After the first break I would catch another pint and wait for Kataklysm. Now it seemed to me that the bar was not very busy for a metal show. Probably the prices being Ducth venue alike did not help. Remember the ones mentioned above? here a pint would cost you 5 Euro. Fair in Holland, rather expensive in Lisbon. Anyway with my beer in hand I waited for all things Kataklysm. Now I don't own any of their albums, but have heard songs on samplers or online. Live Kataklysm is an all destroying machine and they drew me into their set from start to finish. It seems impossible to me to stand unimpressed and still when Katalysm bring their songs like Guillotine, Where The Enemy Sleeps, Crippled & Broken or As I Slither. A romantic bunch they are, but their Death Metal did create the biggest pit and loudest crowd reaction. I also loved this set full of energy and positive aggression.

Final band were Soilwork from Sweden. They told us this was their first ever clubshow in Lisbon. For a band being around over 25 years it just shows how Portugal is too often ignored on metal tours. I first saw Soilwork some 20 years ago when opening for Annihilator and Nevermore. I only really got into them some five years ago. Their melodic Death Metal has a focus on melody and Bjorn Strid is one of the more versatile voices in the genre. Tonight he came on with two cocks on his shoulders, which after the Eiffel dildo earlier in the evening made it a true macho metal night. The setlist was an overview of many albums and of course one song was dedicated to David Andersson, the guitaris and songwriter the band and the world recently sadly lost. In advance I was curious if I would stand the full show till the end with still limited condition, but Soilwork pulled me through. With additional space for shredding guitars this also was one fine show. So in the end we got three slightly different styles, but also three topshows. I can recommend anyone to go and see this long tour when somewhere in your area. Now I should reconsider 30 April Amstelveen, but that week already five shows are pencilled in and only time will tell therefore.

Jag Panzer, Killer & Martyr - Baroeg Rotterdam, 22 January 2023

Rotterdam Rocks presents usually means some good old heavy metal. This afternoon the package was especially interesting as all three bands originating from the eighties representing three countries. There was a fourth band opening: Impact, but as my mother needed some emergency attention in the late morning and our national rail decided to repair lines on my route a detour brought me to Baroeg just before Martyr kicked off. It would have been nice if Ajax would have scored the 1-2 in the dying seconds when I enetered Baroeg, just to observe reactions. But football was over when Martyr kicked off and we could concentrate on our daily dose of metal.

Martyr opened the party for me and finally I got to see them on tour in support of Planet Metalhead. This album recently was voted best 2022 metal album in the Benelux at Metalfan and also reached the number one spot at a slighlty biased list by Alex and Theo. Lists mean little, but Martyr showed they are the best surviving heavy metal band from the eighties in Holland indeed. Church of Metal, La Diabla, Raise Your Horns Unite all sounded fast and furious. With their ballad No Time For Goodbyes they even treat Queensryche peak years territory. The live presentation of Martyr is known by now, unless you lived under a hard rock the last decade. Some personal comments to friends in the audience, jägermeister and I am pretty sure that the kid on stage loved to be invited. As the supporting bands had 45 minutes only, time flew by and I can already look forward to a next Martyr show, which won't be in Musicon later this year, as Progpower weekend rules (doesn't it Vinnie?)

It turned out that many known faces and people were walking this Sunday matinee, so breaks were good and then Killer came on. This Belgian metal institute from the eighties was never among my favorites, but they have some fast party metal songs. A few years ago I saw them also in Baroeg (with Helstar?) and they surprised me positively. This time I was slightly less impressed. Songs like Shock Waves, Wall of Sound or Kleptomania all metal on fine, but Killer sounded a bit old fashioned. Their playing and presentation are enthusiastically, but I guess timing was not best for me as I came to see Jag Panzer and just really enjoyed Martyr. Reactions they got plenty from the audience, so probably I was wrong.

After a slightly long break Jag Panzer came on and started their old skool set very old skool indeed with Metal Melts the Ice form their debut EP. Now I got into Jag Panzer really late, when I one day bought Ample Destruction. That album was released in 1984 when I loved bands like Maiden, Dio, Manowar and Virgin Steele, which all at times come back in their heavy power metal. So I now checked my De Nieuwe Aardschok archive to check what happend. In those scholar years on a tight budget, we followed Aardschok for tips probably a bit too much. So in Nr. 16 August 1984 Jag Panzer received an aweful review. In that same issue there are albums I did get/know from Dio, Fastway, Y&T, Cirith Ungol, Mama's Boys, VowWow and Quiet Riot. So my excuse for not getting into them from the start lies in one poor review. In hindsight I don't agree at all, even among the two best songs Generally Hostile is not mentioned and live that one definitely blew us away. Great to shout No Mercy!No Mercy! along there. Further the band went through their catalogue until 20 years ago. The playing was good, the presentation as well and at times we were back in the eighties indeed with the still impressive screams by The Tyrant. Near the end the solo guitar disappeared mysteriously from the mix during two songs, but a great show was had and I rushed satisfied out to make it to my train in time. Having to connect at Rotterdam CS to a metro homebound had the advantage that a warm sate kroket became dinner after a well spend afternoon/early evening at Rotterdam Rocks. Baroeg will be rebuild, but for shows this size, the atmosphere over there is always best, so curious already for the 2.0 version. Thanks for one fine evening where metal did melt the ice indeed as no more slippery walks were needed.

Sneeuwpop - Hofpark Wateringen, 21 January 2023

Sneeuwpop the great found name if you speak Dutch (the summer edition and bigger brother is called Waterpop). In The Netherlands Paaspop (Easter pop) usually brag that they open the outdoor festival season. They also sometimes state it can be cold. Well, in Wateingen people are build different  and the festival season opens in January. Yes it was around 0 degrees, but who cares. There is snow for the children to catch a cold in and there is beer plus music. A great reason for many of us to gather around a table and feel the cold finding it's way upwards starting from your feet. After two corona years  I forgot from three years ago it is wise to wear thick football socks, but we managed as Robert predicted until the bar closes. Well that was pretty fast after the last band finished the party around 20:30.

And then there is music. This year had a newby for me. Normally I go for the social and thirst aspect only, this time The Hague's finest OSDM band Melting Eyes were invited. Always good to see a general music festival reacting to some brutal death grunts. Their 2021 release My Final Resting Place makes part of The Hague's obligatory metal canon. Melting Eyes (recently called Melting Ice in an interview) did melt some speakers at Sneeuwpop as halfway through the second song we could only hear their sound from the stage monitors. Luckily all was fixed fast and it turned out that every time you see Melting Eyes they tend to be a bit tighter (if still possible) than the previous time. A good set of Death Metal, which was not for all at Sneeuwpop. Looking forward to see them again soon at warmer conditions.

Further musically there was not a lot going on. I recall an Alanis Morriset cover band and a band formed at the most sympathetic local football club closed the day. Outdoor Festival Season 2023 has been opened.