Having seen the same gig in Paris, I gotta say that from a guitarist point of view, this was a quite of a sweeping fest! All the guitarists that played on that night were great and skilled, but truth be told, Romeo slayed'em all. Even Loomis.
Even though I was a bit disappointed by SX' setlist. As you wrote, too much material from Paradise Lost, and the two new songs were the worst IMO.
Also Thaurorod was really enjoyable, especially for me since I reviewed two of their demos... Alas, they no longer play with the same singer and the new one sucks... while the former had that touch of majesty that made the band sound quite unique, the new guy is just your average power metal singer, and moreover his Italian accent shows in his pronunciation.

5 bands at a midweek show? Way too many imo. Just restrict it to the three (sx, nm, ps) That's more than enough.

I'm a bit sad i couldn't get to one of these shows, although i'm not too proud of Nevermore's last album. Symphony X is an excellent band.

I'm jealous!

>on the second ("Iconoclast") the guitars were almost thrash in their aggression
sounds cool

Written by Ag Fox on 11.03.2011 at 20:04

>on the second ("Iconoclast") the guitars were almost thrash in their aggression
sounds cool

Nope, doesn't...sounded awfully uninspired to me, especially this second new song called "Dehumanized". I didn't like "End of Innoncence" that much either but from what I remember it was better.

I'm about to see this show next thursday. Luckily in a venue where the sound is good and Nevermore have been welcomed on more than one occasion. But my ticket says it's a Nevermore headliner show and the others support. I don't care for the others, my two high points of that night will be Mercenary once more and Nevermore. I'm really looking forward to Mercenary once again. The new album isn't quite what I expected but René is awesome on stage and I really hope they don't just play new stuff. I would have asked you about it but as you don't know the band (which is, ... I mean, come on man!) I guess I'll have to find out myself. Nevermore seem to play the same set (with one or two variations since they started the tour. I've seen three of those shows yet and it was the same setlist on two of them. But hey, hellooo! It's Nevermore

I'm sorry your show didn't go too well. Bad sound is more than a downer on a concert. It's the very element that makes the scale go down on the 'bad' end. No matter how enthusiastic the musicians are.

Written by corrupt on 11.03.2011 at 22:05
my two high points of that night will be Mercenary once more and Nevermore. I'm really looking forward to Mercenary once again. The new album isn't quite what I expected but René is awesome on stage and I really hope they don't just play new stuff. I would have asked you about it but as you don't know the band (which is, ... I mean, come on man!)

I think I remember them announcing new and old songs as well. In Paris, the sound was good, the band was quite good, the music was... definitely not as good as the other bands on that night. I know it's a matter of taste so I'll just ask you for pointers as to which Mercenary songs I should listen to.
Also, the bassist/singer was bassless for half of a song, and I just couldn't hear any real difference - but at least the guy knows what to do when this happens, and he's got certain qualities as a frontman.

Written by wrathchild on 11.03.2011 at 22:45

Written by corrupt on 11.03.2011 at 22:05
my two high points of that night will be Mercenary once more and Nevermore. I'm really looking forward to Mercenary once again. The new album isn't quite what I expected but René is awesome on stage and I really hope they don't just play new stuff. I would have asked you about it but as you don't know the band (which is, ... I mean, come on man!)

I think I remember them announcing new and old songs as well. In Paris, the sound was good, the band was quite good, the music was... definitely not as good as the other bands on that night. I know it's a matter of taste so I'll just ask you for pointers as to which Mercenary songs I should listen to.
Also, the bassist/singer was bassless for half of a song, and I just couldn't hear any real difference - but at least the guy knows what to do when this happens, and he's got certain qualities as a frontman.

That remark about having to know Mercenary was more of a joke. I don't think I would be into them if it wasn't for my history with them. They had one (actually two) really good album, 11 Dreams. The title song and Firesoul are still their most requested songs today. After that, the key member, bassist and background singer, Kral left and their sound started to, well, develop. He was replaced on bass duties by René, who's the only singer left now, after the old one, the keyboarder and the drummer left last year. A friend of mine and I bought special tickets to a show in 2006 (I think), where the band invited two fans to stay with them for the day before the concert. We had quite a time that day and from that time on, they recognized us on shows, snuck us backstage on occasion and got us free drinks on other shows. So we've been in good contact since then and followed them around to shows we could reach easily. I remember this one show just behind the Danish border where they recognized us in the crowd and made an annoucement that some special friends were there and so they'd change their setlist to include one of our favorite songs. That was a really special night. And one of the last times we've seen them in the old lineup. So I'm really looking forward to the show on thursday. But for old times' sake at least as much as for the music. Their recent stuff isn't bad, but it first became gothenburg and now leans towards hardcore. Not exactly my taste. But if you want to take a peek, try Everblack and 11 Dreams. Both are pretty high-quality albums. I guess you would call the style melodic death, but not the kind you scare die-hard death fans to death with (haha).

Whoa, thanks for the comments!

@ Wrath: I liked the two new songs, actually

@ Corrupt: during the whole tour, I think both Nevermore and Symphony X are co-headliners, with a one-hour set each. As for the sound, well, it thankfully improved from Psychotic Waltz onwards, but given the existence of a venue with a perfect sound about 10 kilometers away, one can be pretty picky

Mercenary denish one hug I would like see Isreali one
Psychotic Waltz how ppl cant not like it? This shood be headliner, Nevermore and Wyphony X never be in such level, other prog bands never will reach such level, if there wont be Psychotic Waltz, I wont like prog metal(who's pretty boring genraly)
I have quaseten did thay play ''I REMEMBER*' if yes how it was, IMO song what stands out from other band songs,

EDDIT: There shood be more pics whit female bassist

Written by [user id=28338] on 12.03.2011 at 16:38

Good line-up for a midweek show indeed!

midweek, bands has shedue to follw, if all gigs be in weekend thanm Guns n Fucking Roses illusion 2 years tour would end maybe now

Written by Darkside Momo on 12.03.2011 at 01:35
@ Corrupt: during the whole tour, I think both Nevermore and Symphony X are co-headliners, with a one-hour set each.

I wasn't aware of that. So just another Nevermore one-hour show. The last two times I've seen them were festival shows and I was so looking forward to a real headliner show once again. I've only seen two of those in my life, all the other times were either festivals or opener shows. Ah well, still looking forward to it

Just returned from this show in Frankfurt. Nevermore and the Waltz were AMAAAAZING! Third time I've seen Nevermore and I thought I'd know what to expect, but they were just WOW this time around! And Psychotic Waltz were celebrated like headliners by the audience! I never thought they were particularly well known around this place, but people were actually singing along! And their show was truly mindblowing! Just a pity Symphony X had such a crappy sound.

Written by corrupt on 11.03.2011 at 23:48
They had one (actually two) really good album, 11 Dreams. The title song and Firesoul are still their most requested songs today.

Unfortunately they only played one of those two songs. And unfortunately it had been the one I like less. Mercenary overall failed to impress me.

Thaurorod were some decent yet harmless fun. Quite okay for an opener.

Written by Promonex on 17.03.2011 at 03:06

Just returned from this show in Frankfurt. Nevermore and the Waltz were AMAAAAZING! Third time I've seen Nevermore and I thought I'd know what to expect, but they were just WOW this time around! And Psychotic Waltz were celebrated like headliners by the audience! I never thought they were particularly well known around this place, but people were actually singing along! And their show was truly mindblowing! Just a pity Symphony X had such a crappy sound.

Written by corrupt on 11.03.2011 at 23:48
They had one (actually two) really good album, 11 Dreams. The title song and Firesoul are still their most requested songs today.

Unfortunately they only played one of those two songs. And unfortunately it had been the one I like less. Mercenary overall failed to impress me.

Thaurorod were some decent yet harmless fun. Quite okay for an opener.

I guess you can't blame them. They've had three albums after 11 Dreams now. When have Nevermore played The Sanity Assassin the last time (ok, last year. But that only proves my point). I guess Mercenary had 30-45 minutes playtime and six albums to pick from.
I'm still looking forward to tonight. Even after three of you guys saying they disappointed. If not for the show itself, then for old times' sake. Can't be too bad, plus Nevermore and Mercenary are the only bands I know in this lineup anyway.

Written by corrupt on 17.03.2011 at 10:13

Written by Promonex on 17.03.2011 at 03:06

Written by corrupt on 11.03.2011 at 23:48
They had one (actually two) really good album, 11 Dreams. The title song and Firesoul are still their most requested songs today.

Unfortunately they only played one of those two songs. And unfortunately it had been the one I like less. Mercenary overall failed to impress me.

I guess you can't blame them. They've had three albums after 11 Dreams now. When have Nevermore played The Sanity Assassin the last time (ok, last year. But that only proves my point). I guess Mercenary had 30-45 minutes playtime and six albums to pick from.
I'm still looking forward to tonight. Even after three of you guys saying they disappointed. If not for the show itself, then for old times' sake. Can't be too bad, plus Nevermore and Mercenary are the only bands I know in this lineup anyway.

You don't know Symphony X? I mean, come on man!

Well, I'm not blaming them for not playing the one song I wanted them to play. Neither am I blaming Nevermore for not playing "The Sanity Assassin", "Poison Godmachine" or "A Future Uncertain". I'm blaming them for not making much of an impression at all. Their frontman is quite good, he has a way of connecting with people, a lot more so than the dude they had 2 1/2 years ago, but the music just didn't do anything for me.

You should however stick around for Psychotic Waltz. I'm not overly familiar with their stuff either, I only know their debut album and haven't really gone crazy about it, but live they were what I'd call "bewusstseinserweiternd" in German (the English term "mind-blowing" comes close).

Written by Promonex on 17.03.2011 at 14:51

You don't know Symphony X? I mean, come on man!

Well, I'm not blaming them for not playing the one song I wanted them to play. Neither am I blaming Nevermore for not playing "The Sanity Assassin", "Poison Godmachine" or "A Future Uncertain". I'm blaming them for not making much of an impression at all. Their frontman is quite good, he has a way of connecting with people, a lot more so than the dude they had 2 1/2 years ago, but the music just didn't do anything for me.

You should however stick around for Psychotic Waltz. I'm not overly familiar with their stuff either, I only know their debut album and haven't really gone crazy about it, but live they were what I'd call "bewusstseinserweiternd" in German (the English term "mind-blowing" comes close).

Of course I know Symphony X. But the few songs I have listened to weren't my thing and so I didn't get into them. That counts as not knowing a band when it comes to concerts. I don't know the songs, I can't sing along, I don't know the band.

But anyway. I've just returned from the very show and I had a really awesome night. Thaurorod were, as Promonex said, quite fun and, without reading that comment there, I did stick around for Psychotic Waltz. But first Mercenary. I think I can see what you guys mean when you say there's not much in it. They definitely delivered, but I also realize that my view is biased there seeing how many of their shows I've attended and that, by now, I actually know the guys a bit. They're pretty much my homeband. I did enjoy the show. I haven't seen them opening with Into The Sea Of Dark Desires/World Hate Center for at least four years and playing Firesoul always makes me happy. But the recent material shows constant degradation of quality and the loss of Mikkel and Morten lies heavily on their stage appearance. Four men is just not the Mercenary I used to love, plus, the setlist was way too long on Metamorphosis. Still the show was full of energy and emotion. So when Psychotic Waltz entered the stage we were really disappointed. After the massive energy Mercenary conveyed, Psychotiv Waltz seemed to drain that energy back at first. Slow songs, emotionless band, you name it. But about two songs in, the sheer awesomeness of what we witnessed started to unfold. The ease in which the singer can change pitch by several octaves and how he can use his voice as more of an instrument than many a guitar player his. The emotion in their guitar works and the atmosphere in their soundscapes. Most likely no stuff I'd listen to on CD, but a great live experience.
Symphony X we skipped. Instead we went outside to talk to the guys of Mercenary. Much to my surprise, instead of Jacob and René, I found the Sandager brothers as part of an impressive group of Danish people who came to see the band (mostly old friends who came to Hamburg for a surprise visit). We had a good talk about their reasons for leaving/being kicked out of the band and the development since 11 Dreams. It was very enlightening and the guys were polite as usual and ready to answer every of my questions in detail.
Back in for Nevermore we experienced the high point of our night. These guys just never disappoint. Seven times I've seen them now, seven times I went home thinking 'AWESOME!'. Today, even Jeff Loomis seemed to have fun playing (which is not to be taken for granted given his usual business-like attitude towards live shows) and Attila once more played with his face just as much as with his guitar. They could definitely have picked a better setlist though. Not that there's a Nevermore song I wouldn't like to see live, but diversity is the key to a really good set and diversity is what this one lacked. As they mostly do, the furthest they went back was to Dead Heard In A Dead World and Enemies Of Reality was barely touched. It is awesome to see This Godless Endeavor live but there's just so much more stuff they could have played. Nevermore definitely need to start playing two-hour sets. They have way too much material and as far as this tour goes, I'd just have left Symphony X out of the bill and made serious room for all of it.

Written by corrupt on 18.03.2011 at 03:59

Nevermore definitely need to start playing two-hour sets.

That.

And did I mention that I caught one of Van Williams' drum sticks?

Written by Promonex on 17.03.2011 at 03:06

Just returned from this show in Frankfurt. Nevermore and the Waltz were AMAAAAZING! Third time I've seen Nevermore and I thought I'd know what to expect, but they were just WOW this time around! And Psychotic Waltz were celebrated like headliners by the audience! I never thought they were particularly well known around this place, but people were actually singing along!

Psychotic Waltz were quite big back in the day in only three countries. Namely, the Netherlands, Belgium and..... GERMANY So no suroprise there for me at all that there was singing along to them.
Also here in Amsterdam they were clebrated like headliners, and rightly so. Nevermore live is way too much like a standard groove metal band only Loomis solos were a redeeming fact and Dane's vocals.

To whoever said Psychotic Waltz are emotionless. WTF? If there was one band with emotion on stage in this tour it was PW. Quite psychedelic at times but full of emotion and energy. Not the jumping energy but the energy form within.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.03.2011 at 23:53

Written by Promonex on 17.03.2011 at 03:06

Just returned from this show in Frankfurt. Nevermore and the Waltz were AMAAAAZING! Third time I've seen Nevermore and I thought I'd know what to expect, but they were just WOW this time around! And Psychotic Waltz were celebrated like headliners by the audience! I never thought they were particularly well known around this place, but people were actually singing along!

Psychotic Waltz were quite big back in the day in only three countries. Namely, the Netherlands, Belgium and..... GERMANY So no suroprise there for me at all that there was singing along to them.

Perhaps, but the people who had been singing along were mostly in their twens, so they were 5-15 in PW's heyday.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.03.2011 at 23:53

To whoever said Psychotic Waltz are emotionless. WTF? If there was one band with emotion on stage in this tour it was PW. Quite psychedelic at times but full of emotion and energy. Not the jumping energy but the energy form within.

Well if that wasn't me. I only said they came through rather dull after the inferno that was Mercenary and I said that, once we got into the groove, they were quite enjoyable. So whatcha talkin'bout willis?