Written by:	Dark Angel
Published:	December 02, 2003
Event:	Opeth, Lacuna Coil

I am so happy to have been able to witness this amazing band. I could tell that the crowd was anxiously waiting for them to come on stage and I was as well. I can easily say that all of our expectations were met as soon a Cristina Scabbia opened her mouth, bellowing out the sweet sounds that circumference Lacuna Coil. She is as beautiful and as enchanting as I expected. All six performers, especially co-singer Andrea Ferro riled up the crowd with passionate hand gestures and body language. Playing songs like 'Swamped', 'Tight Rope' and 'Entwined', the band sets the mood with their synchronized head banging. I can't remember the last time I've been so mesmerized by a band's performance.

The set list was, of course, mainly focused on the newest release Comalies with the exception of a beautiful song in Italian, 'Senzafine'. Marco Emanuele Biaz, guitarist and Marco Coti Zelati, bassist, joined on the left side of the stage along with other guitarist Cristiano Migliore on the right leading us into powerful refs that embodies songs like 'Heavens A Lie' and my favorite 'Humane'. I felt that all three played clean and stayed tight with the other performers, proving that Lacuna Coil is just as impressive on stage as in the studio.

It was interesting that Cristiano Mozzati had his drums set up to the right of center stage. I got the impression that he was a little crammed, sandwiched between Opeth's set and Miglior, but with a charming stare which he seemed to be giving me, I could tell that wouldn't stop him from showing us all of his talents. They played for about 50 min, playing more than half of the songs off the Comalies album. Leaving the crowd stunned, Lacuna Coil left the stage. I was very thrilled with their performance and can't wait until they come to the NW again.

The crowd, lingering still entranced from Lacuna Coil, breathlessly waited for their metal gods to hit the stage. As I expected Opeth shook us all when they came on stage blasting us out of our trance with songs like 'Wreath'. The horrific vocals and spiritual leads and rhythms that flow out of this song set the ambience for the enigmatic performance still to come.

The show went on as stunned faces shown through the dark in awe as a hurricane of aggressive drums, played by Martin Lopez, echoed through my mind leading me through the euphoric state I had entered and Martin Mendez's impeccable bass performance only sustained me there as Opeth played 'Deliverance' with energetic passion.














Only Mikael Akerfeldt's amazing vocal ability along with his and Peters Lindgren's precise guitar playing could give songs like 'Harvest' and 'The Drapery Falls' justice on stage. Then, as if in a lucid dream, I stared on and 'A Fair Judgement' sucked me into it's enchanting interludes and seductive trimmings. All avid fans in the crowd, along with myself, showed appreciation when 'Advent' was played off the Morningrise album along with others from Blackwater Park, but Deliverance was of course the main focus.










Opeth has this beautiful element about them that just engulfs you in their godly eloquence. Rendering their beautiful performance to the crowd, proved that they're true gentlemen and worthy of a divine title. I can only navigate the sense of hearing Opeth live, the show was much more riveting than I had prepared myself for. It's an honor to be a witness to this amazing talent.

Time slipped by and I really don't know how long they played, but I do know that several hundred fans went raging for an encore, chanting and almost begging for Opeth to come back on stage. Mikael Akerfeldt showed a sincere gratitude towards the Portland crowd and more songs were played until the show had to end. Opeth, exhausted, left the stage, leaving me to my astonishment.

I hear that Opeth is coming to our Northwestern shores once again to play in support of their new album Damnation. Between the 15 of July and the 5 of August. They're co-headlining with Porcupine Tree. [Ref. The Official Opeth site, News] If you Portlanders missed this April 30 show, than you'd better not pass up your chance to catch them when they come again.