CELTIC FROST & GOATWHORE @ Relolution Hall

Swiss metal pioneers, Celtic Frost, are on tour across North America in support of their newest release, "Monothesis" out now on Century Media. All I have to say is about friggin time!!! It's been 17years since the band has done a North American tour; nearly 13yrs since a new album. We took the opportunity to catch their show in Troy NY on 11/4 with Goatwhore and Disciples of Berkowitz.

Disciples of Berkowitz began to warm up the crowd as the hardcore fist flying were taking flight in the crowd. They are part of that whole Albany/Troy (NY) hardcore scene. They seem to drawn in the younger crowd. For more info about Disciples of Berkowitz, check out their myspace page.

Goatwhore was next to take the stage. I have heard a large number of goods things about this band's performance and was looking forward to see what they were about. Taking the stage, they look like a Black Metal band with spikes but no corpse paint. Musically they have a thrashy death metal thing going on. Their track 'Alchemy Of The Black Sun Cult' is the best off their current, third release, "A Haunting Curse" (Metal Blade). It shows the most depth and style. I'm glad I had a chance to see what they were all about. I would definitely check them out again.

Celtic Frost put on a great show! To hear songs from "To Mega Therion," "Into the Pandamodiumn" and "Morbid Tales;" you can't go wrong! Any one who is a fan of metal knows Frost is one of the bands that has influenced countless metal bands and had left a permanent imprint into the scene. While the album has been several years (about 4yrs) in the making, CELTIC FROST makes a strong comeback, as their album "Monotheist" has given the band a first in their homeland, by entering the national Swiss charts at No. 41. Not bad for a band that hasn't had a release in 13 years!!!. Long live the Frost!!! While the new album fits strong into what the current music scene is like, it will be interesting to see how they will continue to push the metal envelope into a new decade and era.

With only a few more dates remaining on this North American tour, if you live in these areas or up for a road trip, I would advice you to go. You will not be disappointed. For more information on these bands, check out:
GOATWHORE: www.goatwhore.net or www.myspace.com/goatwhore
CELTIC FROST: www.celticfrost.com or www.myspace.com/celticfrost

Check out the Photo Galleries from the show:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

DRAGONFORCE @ Northern Lights - CLifton Park, NY

When someone asked me a few months ago to describe Dragonforce, my reply was "Power Metal on Crack" - referring to the speed and agility of the music without loosing the dynamics and technical traits of Power Metal.

We finally got the opportunity to see Dragonforce perform at Northern Lights Nightclub in Clifton Park, NY. Live, they take it up a notch as they carry their audience to a new vibration and level. They create a very up-lifting atmosphere that hits you as soon as they take the stage. Even if you were unfamiliar with this band, it is easy to experience this natural high expressed through the sounds of the music, a positive message is conveyed. The velocity and rapid pace of the music, demands attention, sweeping you up and you want nothing more but to continue on their musical journey. Through a captivating stage presents, true musician ship is displayed.

This is definitely and unquestionably one of those bands to add to your "must see live "list. For more information, visit: www.dragonforce.com or visit www.myspace.com/dragonforce

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Sounds Of THE UNDERGROUND @ Mid Hudson Civic Center - Poughkeepsie, NY

Sounds of the Underground rolled into Poughkeepsie NY and conquered the Mid Hudson Civic Center on July 13, 2006, as 12 bands of intense and ultra-aggressive METAL AND HARDCORE took over the stage. The show kicked off at 2pm, providing a full afternoon/evening of entertainment.

This years bill included AS I LAY DYING, IN FLAMES, TRIVIUM, CANNIBAL CORPSE, GWAR, TERROR, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, BEHEMOTH, THE CHARIOT, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD, CONVERGE and HORSE THE BAND.

If SOTU is heading to your town, it's definitely worth the ticket price to go. And BE SURE to get there early, as bands like Behemoth and the Black Dahlia Murder take the stage fairly early on. For more information and for the remaining tour dates visit www.soundsoftheunderground.com or visit www.myspace.com/soundsoftheunderground

Check out the Photo Galleries from the show:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

30 Seconds To Mars @ Saratoga Winners - Cohoes, NY

With black suits, white face mask and white arm bands, 30 Seconds to Mars took the stage at Saratoga Winners in Cohoes on 7/1/06. Never quite clarifying what their outfits stood for, one can only guess... Were they trying to make a statement about the War in Iraq? (See TAKE ACTION! Against the War) Or maybe about poverty? (See MAKE POVERTY HISTORY) Or maybe I'm looking too hard into it all, and it was just about "cool" stage theatres on their part?? Either way, it was a bit odd to see them take the stage in that approach.

With the new album being out for just about 10 months now, 30 Seconds To Mars has strengthen their live set and enriched their sound. This time around, the music seemed tighter and the timing of the drums was impeccable. The vocals seemed refined; each time we have seen this band, the clean vocals were always strong and on key. However, when it comes to the "screams," this time around, it seems vocalist, Jared Leto has learned to allow himself to let go, relying on the raw energy to come through during these parts, rather than his "polished screams" of before. Overall, it's obvious that this band has taken their live sound to yet another level.

With an expansive fan base, this show attracted both a younger and older crowds. One thing that was fun to witness was the enthusiasm of the younger fans in attendance, as there were several "home made" t-shirts and gear to support the band; loads of kids wearing their 30STM bracelets and necklace tags, and even one girl had 30STM symbols drawn on her face. One thing is sure, they have extremely dedicated fans; as in the front row, there were several fans that had traveled from several hours away including western NY, CT, FL and even Canada.

For more information on 30 Seconds To Mars visit www.thirtysecondstomars.com or visit www.myspace.com/thirtysecondstomars

Also, check out:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Slayer, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Children Of Bodom & Thine Eyes Bleed @ Washington St Armory - Albany NY

Where to begin in reviewing a show where Slayer is headlining; Ohh yeah, I know.....
\m/ SLLLLLAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEERRRRRRR!!!! \m/ ...as it's just to get you in the mind set of everyone at the show. It's got to be hard for bands to open up for such a dominate and pioneering band such as Slayer. However, Thine Eyes Bleed, Children of Bodom, Mastodon, and Lamb of God each exploded on stage, with their own style of extreme metal.

First to take the stage was Canada's own, Thine Eyes Bleed with their brand of an aggressive thrash metal, mixed with element of metalcore, black metal and death metal. Their debut album, "In The Wake Of Separation" is out on The End Records. Check them out on myspace.com/thineeyesbleed

Next up, straight from Finland, Childen of Bodom. This band leads with strong technecal metal guitar riffs, which are enhanced with full chucky drumming and bass lines mixed with keyboards and vocals that round off that "European Metal" sound. COB brings forth their seventh release, "Are you dead yet," which is currently available on Spinefarm Records. Check out the samples on myspace.com/childrenofbodom

Following COB was MASTODON, as they gear up to release their fourth Relapse release, "Blood Mountain", Mastodon brings on a more melodic metal approach, almost like an Opeth, but with their own twist. They carry a mixture of a 'stoner" metal (old Black Sabbath-ish) and "doom" metal. You can check out their newest song, "Orion"as well as older songs at myspace.com/mastodon

packed with high spirit and energy, as the crowd follow suit in the pit. Their sound was raw and aggressive, as you have come to expect from this band. Shout out to the drums. They stood out that night. Look for their highly aniticipated next album, "Sacrament" which is slated for release on Aug 22nd (Epic Records). Check out www.myspace.com/lambofgod

Up next, the chants for SLAYER. SLAYER.SLAYER. For over twenty years this satanic war machine has preached its anti-christ; war and destruction songs to the masses. With their newest release coming out in august entitled "Christ Illusion". Slayer is one of the premier acts in the extreme musick scene. Who can forget "Reign in Blood" - that release set everyone to a new level of aggression and speed when it came to this genre of musick. Slayer has not put out a full length cd since 2001's "God Hates Us All" so many people are extremely excited to once again throw up the horns and turn up the volume with another brutal masterpiece from Slayer. For those of you who want a taste of the new musick you can pick up their Eternal Pyre Enhanced EP CD. They opened their set with "South of Heaven" mixed in a bunch of classic songs hit us with a new one called "Cult" and closed with "Angel of Death" you just can't go wrong!! Tight, fast, brutal and professional just what you would expect from a veteran act such as Slayer.

If you haven't yet, catch Slayer on The Unholy Alliance tour with Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, Mastodon and Thine Eyes Bleed. For remaining dates: www.theendrecords.com/unholyalliance

For more information on these bands:
Thine Eyes Bleed - www.thineeyesbleed.com or www.myspace.com/thineeyesbleed
Children of Bodom - www.cobhc.com or www.myspace.com/childrenofbodom
Mastodon - www.mastodonrocks.com or www.myspace.com/mastodon
Lamb Of God - www.lamb-of-god.com or www.myspace.com/lambofgod
Slayer - www.slayer.netor www.myspace.com/slayer

Also, check out:

  Posted by Shawn Ortis & Nadine Swiger ::

Crossbreed @ Webster Theatre - Hartford CT

On tour in support of their latest release, "New Slave Nation" Crossbreed performed at the Webster Theatre in Hartford, CT in support for ex-KMFDM's Raymond Watts band PIG.

Crossbreed stormed the stage with their glow-in-the-dark tactics, using black lights to illuminate the stage while having strobes and an occasional red light in hand. Although this time around, the club did not allow for the pyro tech of the grinders sparking off the keyboards and stage (see photos in the gallery from Poughkeepsie), but if your luck to catch this part of the act in a club that can safely support the use of these, it is adds to the ambience and spectacle of the live show. Regardless, with or without it, the energy and music is still what grabs your attention and will cause you to gravitate towards the stage; even if you had never heard of the band. Taking an aggressive metal approach to the industrial techno-core, people will take notice of this band. Live, when they take the stage, they come at you as one solid unit rather than six individuals, giving you a strong "in your face, now get up move!!" approach. Their image compliments their music in what seems as a natural way. All around Crossbreed provides an excellent live show, which you can catch a glimpse of this experience by check out the bands video on myspace.com/crossbreed

For more information on Crossbreed visit www.crossbreed.com or www.myspace.com/crossbreed

Also, check out:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

DevilDriver, Bury Your Dead, Remembering Never & Artimus Pyledriver - Saratoga Winners

"Burning Daylight Tour" pulled into Saratoga Winners in Cohoes, NY on May 30, 2006, with DEVILDRIVER headlining the tour, sharing the stage with BURY YOUR DEAD, REMEMBERING NEVER and ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER. (If Hope Dies originally was part of this tour, but unfortunely ran into some problems and had to cancel that night's show as well as the remaining dates to the tour...)

First to take the stage was Artimus Pyledriver. Straight out of Atlanta GA, they take southern rock guitars, mixed with hardcore riffs and a boogie melody to create their sound. Their performance left a marking impression of what Artimus Pyledriver's debut Album will sound like, coming out on 6/6/06 on DRT Entertainment.

Next up: Remembering Never. Coming out hard, hitting you in the face, it's no wonder these guys have earned one of the more respected voices in the metal-core scene. They are currently on tour in support of their latest release, "God Save Us" on Ferret Music, which was release back in February 2006.

Immediately following on stage was Bury Your Dead with their aggressive hardcore. Recently, BYD has changed their line-up, with their new bassist, Aaron Patrick who came aboard just before the kick off this tour. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for their latest release, "Beauty and the Breakdown" coming out July 11, 2006, on Victory Records.

Taken to the stage with unapologetic and relentless energy, was the night's headliner DEVIL DRIVER. From the stage dives to the craze of the mosh pit, the night was marked by bursts of destructive force and the intensity of music and crowd. Devil Driver will continue to tour to support their latest release, "Fury Of Our Maker's Hand" as they wind this tour up in North America, taking it to Europe and then continue to tour in the states, opening up for Venom.

For more information on these bands:
Artimus Pyledriver - www.artimuspyledriver.com or www.myspace.com/artimuspyledriver
Remembering Never - www.rememberingnever.net or www.myspace.com/rememberingnever
Bury Your Dead - www.buryyourdead.com or www.myspace.com/buryyourdead
Devil Driver - www.devildriver.comor www.myspace.com/devildriver

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Korn, Mudvayne, 10 Years, Huntloops - Uncasville, CT

Changing music over a decade ago, Korn brings forth their 8th album, "See you on the Other Side." Taking it on the road, Korn did not miss a beat, even as a foursome, sharing the stage with Mudvayne and 10 Years. We caught up with them at the sold-out Mohegany Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Kicking off the night was an unexpected treat, as Huntloops performed an acoustic set, with songs off his upcoming album "Live EP and more." If you missed them, or still planning to catch one of the few remaining shows on this tour, check out samples of his work at www.batterseamusic.com or www.myspace.com/huntloops.

Next up was Tennessee natives, 10 Years. With their first hit, "Wasteland" still holding on to the charts, it was interesting to see what else this band has to offer. They pack an emotional roller coast ride, as their music takes you on a journey across "real" life issues. Live, they carry those emotions powerfully and strong across the board. This is definitely one of those bands you need to keep your eye on. Check out their major label debut, "The Autumn Effect" on Republic/Universal.

Mudvayne then took the stage with fierce and rage, doing what they do best, minus the make-up, stage theatres, but rather straight guitar, vocals, bass and drums which were filled with emotion, pack with the aggression and fury, they are noted for. While having seen this band perform several times, they always step up to the plate and deliver a worthy performance. The only thing that seemed off was that their set was over too quick. Perhaps that is because we have caught several shows prior where they were the headliners and their set was much longer. Either way, they had a dynamic performance that was extremely entertaining.

Rounding out the night, Korn took the stage, playing a solid mixture of new and older songs. Their crowd seemed packed full of old fans who were even sporting the gear from the "Shoots n' Ladders" days to the newer fans, proudly wearing their "See You On The Other Side" t-shirts. While skeptic of Korn hooking up with "bubble gum" pop song writing team, The Matrix, (Hillary Duff, Avril Lavigne) for their newest album, it didn't seem to effect their sound or what they have been noted for in changing music history. While live, loosing a guitarist did not seem to slow them down. Their stage presence has grown (at least since last time I saw them) with extra musicians in the back with crazy masks on, not too sure where they were heading with the "slipknot" tactics, but it somehow worked. Korn will be taking their tour overseas.

For more information on these bands:
Hunterloop - www.batterseamusic.com
10 Years - www.10yearsmusic.com
Mudvayne - www.mudvayne.com
Korn - www.korn.com

Also, check out:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

The Gathering - Cambridge, MA

The Gathering is a band whose vast discography runs the gambit from death metal to progressive atmospheric rock; which is the format that doesn't fit them perfect but it's hard to put a band into a label when the music they create defies it.

Fronted by Annekke whose vocals flutter and float like ocean waves; to the aggressive guitar riffs of Rene, The Gathering absorbs you into a world that is both beautiful and relaxing while evoking dark emotions and feelings

They opened the show with Liberty Bell which is off their 2Cd release "How to measure a Planet". You can't go wrong with that track for an opener it gets you up and moving; then they progressed into tracks from each of their CD's including tracks from their forth coming new CD entitled "Home," which is nothing short of excellent. Check out the samples on The End Records site for the track "The Shortest Day". If you're already a Gathering fan you won't be disappointed.

One of the highlights of the show was when they played "Black Light District" which is from the same titled EP; Awesome song and preformed in a flawless manner. Another track which stood out was one of my personal favorites "Probably Built In The Fifties," executed incredibly. Their set was about and hour and a half of pure excellent musicianship and atmospheric utopia. If you didn't get a chance to catch them this time in the US don't miss out next time. The Gathering is a band who keeps getting better as the years go by. And now with fifteen years under their belt, they have crossed into the realm of musical legends and pioneers in extreme music.

For more information on The Gathering, visit www.gathering.nl

Also, check out:

  Posted by Shawn Ortis & Nadine Swiger ::

InFlames, Trivium, DevilDriver & Zao - Rochester, NY

The show opened with Zao, who have been playing their form of metal/hardcore for about ten years now. Unfotunately I was only able to catch the last two songs of their set. I'm not very familiar with any of their material, but what I heard seemed to be a very mosh-freindly brand of metalcore that has become increasingly popular over the last few years.

Up next was Devildriver; to say that I was impressed would be an understatement. They have a presence on stage that seems to demand attention, and it has to start with former Coal Chamber frontman Dez Fafara. It is nearly impossible to stand still when seeing them live, and if you did, Dez would most likely call you out on it. If you are not familiar with them, I would highly recommend checking them out live. It is very hard to deny the raw power and ferocity of Devildriver in the live setting. I personally cannot wait to see them again.

Next in line was Trivium; it was quite obvious they had a lot of fans in attendance, (myself included). Travis Smith's drumming is a major focus point, since it nearly overpowered the entire band at times. They are a very talented young band, and they come across very confident and charismatic in concert. Stand out performances from their set were, "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr" and "A Gunshot To The Head of Trepidation". One negative of their set, through no fault of their own, was that the vocals were very hard to hear at times. Look for them to be headlining their own tour very soon.

Now finally the band that nearly everyone was there to see, In Flames. Armed with about 13 yrs and 8 studio albums under their belt; they showed everyone how it's really done. This was my 4th time seeing them live; they just get better each time. They played songs from every one of their albums, going all thee way back to the song behind space from the Lunar Strain album! Other standouts included Pinball Map, Only for the weak (which seemed to be a crowd favorite), Moonshield, Leeches, and my personal favorite of the night, Episode 666. Anders (vocalist) was very interactive with the crowd, including forcing people sitting in the balcony to stand up, only to apologize for swearing in his soft-spoken Swedish accent. In all, if you have never seen them live, I highly recommend seeing them at least once. You will not regret it.

For more information on these bands:
Zao - www.zaoonline.com
DevilDriver - www.devildriver.com
Trivium - www.trivium.org
InFlames - www.inflames.com

Also, check out:

  Posted by Kevin Cackett & Nadine Swiger ::

Mudvayne, Sevendust, 10 Years & Bobaflex - Niagara Falls, NY

"The Master of Horror' Tour rolls over Niagara Falls...

In support of the soundtrack for the Showtime's new "Master of Horror" anthology (a 13-episode series of one-hour mini-movies) Mudvayne leads the way with Sevendust, 10 Years and Bobaflex by their side.

The "Master of Horror" soundtrack, release just in time for Halloween (Oct. 11) which features a previously un-released Mudvayne song, "Small Silhouette" along with songs from Shadows Fall, In Flames, Every Time I Die and several others. Sevendust, 10 Year and Bobaflex however are not represented on the 30-track compilation. For more information about the Master Of Horror soundtrack, visit: www.myspace.com/mastersofhorror

Sevendust will continue to tour in January with Nonpoint, Wicked Wisdom and Socialburn.

Mudvayne will head over to Australia and New Zealand to play on the main stage at the Big Day Out Festival in Jan/Feb 2006. For more information, visit: www.bigdayout.com

For more information on these bands:
Bobaflex - www.bobaflexwarriors.com
10 Years - www.10yearsmusic.com
Sevendust - www.sevendust.com
Mudvayne - www.mudvayne.com

Also, check out:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Opeth, Nevermore & Into Eternity - Latham, NY

Into Eternity opened the show and ripped the stage up!!; I have never heard of these guys until now and I was indeed impressed. From the killer guitar riffs and dueling solos to the strong power metals vocals this band sure knows how to have a good time and show people what metal is all about \m/.

Next up was Nevermore and they had and off night; Warrel's vocals kept cracking and you couldn't hear half the lyrics. I have seen them before and they were much much better; but what can ya do sometimes it happens.

Closing the night was the reason why the place was packed Opeth. You can never go wrong with having the pleasure of seeing Opeth live. This is the fifth time I have had the honor of witnessing this elite band perform and this time was no different than the past. Pure excellence with confidence and grace; Opeth is one of those bands who not only sound amazing on cd but their live performance is inspiring to any musician. With tracks such as "When" from MAYH the band just leaves you awestruck at the level of skill; tight and professional. Opeth played an hour and fifty minute set including tracks from Still Life, Damnation, MAYH, and Their newest release Ghost Reveries. My only complaint about the show is they didn't play Demon of the Fall; we were robbed of an encore because of some NY state law which prohibits all age shows from going past midnight. Next time I will travel to Worchester and see them at the Palladium =D.

For more information on these bands, visit:
Into Eternity - www.intoeternity.com
Nevermore - www.nevermore.tv
Opeth - www.opeth.com

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Blackest of the Black Tour - Niagara Falls, NY

We caught up with the Blackest of the Black tour at the Dome Theater in Niagara Falls, NY. If you have not heard of this yet here are the bands which are performing DANZIG, CHIMAIRA,BEHEMOTH, HIMSA, MORTIIS and THE AGONY SCENE. Arriving at the show at 6:40pm it seemed that two bands had already performed even though the ticket said 6:30pm for show start. Not sure what that was all about but I'm pissed that we missed Mortiis I have wanted to see him since the early days of the Ander Som CD.

Then came one of my Fav's Behemoth!! They destroyed the place with their audio barrage of aggressive extreme metal. This time on stage with their new axes provided by ESP they playing tracks from Satanic, Thelema, Zos Kia Cultas, and Demigod. Behemoths set was tight and brutal and as always they closed the set with "Chant for Exhaton", throw up your horns!! \m/. If you missed them on this coast, and your up for a Canadian drive, look for Behemoth to come back in Nov

Next up was Chimaira bringing back on with the American grown Metal. With the use of power chords and a mad double bass, Chimira brings to the stage, and engery that the crowd will jump up and down and start a pit. Chimaira will continue a headlining tour in the West Coast.

To finish off the night the legendary Danzig hit the stage with a full hour set of classic Danzig tunes such as; "Her Black Wings", "Twist of Cain", "How the Gods Kill" and finished the set with "Mother". Danzig still have what it take to put on a good show and with the added bonus of Doyle and a sweet thiry minute set of Misfits tunes how could you go wrong.

If you get the chance check out this show it just might be the best thing you do before the winter sets in ha ha. And get there early, despite what your ticket says.

For more information on The Agony Scene visit www.theagonyscene.com

For more information on Mortiis visit www.mortiis.com

For more information on Himsa visit www.himsa.org:81

For more information on Behemoth visit www.behemoth.pl

For more information on Chimaira visit www.chimaira.com

For more information on Danzig visit www.danzig-verotik.com

Check out the INTERVIEW we did with Nergal of Behemoth at the show, and our PHOTO GALLERY of Behemoth from the show.

  Posted by Shawn Ortis & Nadine Swiger ::

Anthrax & Judas Priest - Syracuse, NY

It was a good old night of Rock n Roll... From the older metal heads in the crowd,reliving their youth, to their 5yr old kids in the seat next to them... Judas Priest sums it up for the crowd, "I'm a rocker... And no one can take that away"

Anthrax took the stage for nearly an hour, as they played the songs from '85 - '91, giving us those pioneering tunes that set the stage for today's modern metal bands. Back with the original line-up, Anthrax doesn't miss a beat and displays how over 20yrs of thrash metal is served. Pick up their latest 'best of" releases, "Anthology: No Hit Wonders" and "Alive 2" as it's a good representation of what the live show is about. Check out the Interview that we did with Joey Belladonna.

The Metal Head madness continued as the godfathers of Heavy Metal, Judas Priest took the stage. Still entertaining with the many outfits of Rob Halford, the theatrics of being on risers high above the stage, crazy light shows, shifting backdrops, lead to a very old school metal way of performing. The crowd's iron first were raised, and the "Monster of rock," was "Impossible to stop!" If you haven't picked up the new Judas Priest album, Angel Of Retribution (march 2005) pick up your copy today.

For more information on Anthrax visit www.anthrax.com

For more information on Judas Priest visit www.judaspriest.com

Check out our photo gallery from the show:

  Posted by Nadine Swiger ::

Therion & Operatika - Poughkeepsie, NY

Therion have been around for just about 18 years and if you have not had the pleasure of hearing their sound allow me to fill you in. Therion started out as a death metal band up until 1996 when they released "Theli" which was a pinnicial new beginning for the band because they changed their sound from traditional death metal to a symphonic metal opera with live choir and orchestra. Still keeping their metal sound and mixing in the operatic dynamitic's set in history Therion as a pioneer in the metal scene.

Therion's sound is unique and exclusive to them; I have been listening to extreme musick for well over 15 years now and no one has captured the symphonic operatic metal sound better than Therion. With their current double cd release Lumeria and Sirius B they have finally ventured out across the sea for their first US tour and we had the honor of visiting with them at the Chance in Poughkeepsie.

Opening up for Therion was Operatika. Operatika have a four track cd out called "Dream World" which is very professionally done. They are fronted by a female vocalist named Slava. Her beautiful operatic vocals are in the style of After Forever and Nightwish plus the music is written and played extremely well with strong infulence of Luca Turlli and Helloween. This quintet is a group to keep your eyes out for; they have both skill and passion for the style of musick they play. I look forward to hearing a full length release from Operatika in the near future. Currently you can purchase their four track cd on their web site at www.operatika.com

Therion took the stage with a five piece choir, lead vocalist Mats Leven and the four main members Christofer, Kristian, Johan and Peter. They opened the set with the track "The Blood of Kingu" from their Sirius B release. I thought this track sounded great on cd but live it adds a whole new dimension to the sound. I was in awe at how powerful and tight the band sounds absolutey amazing!! There is nothing like a live choir to send shivers up and down your spine. Therion know how to put on a show with finesse and skill. They followed up their set with memorable tracks such as "Seven Secrets of The Sphinx" off of the Deggial release, following up that with tracks from their other releases "Vovin", "Theli", and "Secrets of the Runes". The set was just about and hour and 10 minutes of my life which I will never forget. I was honored to have the chance to see Therion live; they are very impressive and tight. If you missed them maybe you can catch them on their next US tour. But until then I urge you to go out and pick up one of their releases you will not be disappointed. For information on Therion you can check out their web site at www.megatherion.com.

  Posted by Shawn Ortis & Nadine Swiger ::