Reports

NORDIC METAL MAYHEM TOUR 2007

3.11.2007
Masters Of Rock Café, Zlín (cze)
CAST IN SILENCE, THUNDERSTONE, NOCTURNAL RITES

Two Nordic bands, used to roles of support bands, have set out on tour with heroic name "Nordic Metal Mayhem Tour 2007". Swedes Nocturnal Rites and Finns Thunderstone have joined their forces to conquer fame and glory for themselves. Although, it was clear from the beginning that staging at Masters Of Rock Café would be sufficient.

I expected calmer atmosphere in front rows off the stage without squeezing and having my ribs squashed by eager fans trying to get ahead of me. Warming up was ensured by German metalist Cast In Silence. Waiting for the beginning, I realized how the club wasn’t filling up any more and the attendance was really poor. About hundred people couldn't provide breath taking mood but german band obviously didn't care about it at all. After releasing their first CD yet they are just enjoying the tour. Band image caused a few smiles on spectators faces as guitarists dressed in white shirts ran onto a stage. When afterwards joined with vocalist dressed in trousers, braces and white shirt, I thought we were looking at the waiter from a nearby bar. Its a little pity Cast In Silence performs most of their songs in the same style. Their music style based on one or two riffs without any support of keyboard gets a bit predictable in time but a pleasant surprise came at the end of the set with a cover of well-known Voyage Voyage. This song fits perfectly to the band´s style and despite a vocalist´s poor performance I have to admit, this was a good choice.

First were to come Thunderstone. Unexpectedly there was an earthquake in the band cast before this tour. Activities in the band terminated musicians on delicate positions - vocals and keyboards. However, the band acquired reinforcement. First of them was a singer Tommi Salmela from Marco Hietala's Tarot. Second one should have been even shining. No other than "Mr. Keyboarder" Jens Johansson from Stratovarius. Unfortunately he had to refuse in the end. So on his place was called up less known Jukka Karinen from Status Minor. Tour of Thunderstone relates to their actual CD Evolution 4.0, where the band is trying to set itself free from style of Stratovarius and similar bands. And it was evident at once, the band wants push ahead their new CD. Whole set, based on new records, regularly took turns with older ones. Mood was improving rapidly, hands in the air increasing, one excited fan even climbed to the stage and dived into the thickening crowd. Unfortunately, not thick enough from stopping people of spreading out at once. After checking his limbs he decided, that one jump is enough for this evening. Change behind the microphone was recognized, vocals couldn't be same as on the CD, nevertheless Tommi Salmela performed convincingly. If he learned songs only for this tour hurriedly, hats off. A pity that keyboards were a bit lost in the backround behind a thunder of an guitar. When keyboards played solo, it was OK. When played guitar too, it wasn´t so good. Perhaps earplugs in my ears done that, but loudness was terrible. Hit Forevermore pleased me most and after an hour and an extra bonus was stage free for the main feature of the evening.

Whereas Cast In Silence and Thunderstone visited Czech Republic for the first time, Nocturnal Rites are pretty well known mainly in Moravia. But as a headliners for the first time they did a great job. When Nocturnal Rites started to play, finally I was satisfied with filled club. There was some free space left but club seemed full enough. Swedes used this support and started concert at full throttle. First 2 songs - started as their last CD 8th Sin. Evidently, there were only true fans of band in the club, immediately recognizing all the songs. Jonny Lindqvist cheered up the audience substantially and when the fans screamed "heeeeey" many times, they were even joined by security guard. After a couple of songs it was all the same, whether an old song or a new one being played, every fan was singing refrains without assist of a singer. During concert Jonny couldn't forgive to compliment excelent czech beer. After a couple of sips he started hunt for someone to accommodate in his new favourite country. I'm always amused, how lesser-known bands are taking pictures of crowds of fans. Cast In Silence sufficed with one photo at the close of the concert, Thunderstone and Nocturnal Rites even recorded the whole show by a mini-DV camera. Shadowland, Never Trust, Not The Only, It's evident, that the band can select from a long list of hits and they outplayed fellows from Thunderstone easily. In the song The Iron Force Jonny even ran amidst the fans. Other members didn't want to fall behind with fun. Especially guitarist Nils Norberg, who demonstrated guitar play with teeth on his heptachord guitar. After an hour Nocturnal Rites disappeared, but fans knew, band had to finish concert with some regular hit - Fools Never Die.

What can I say, we saw an excellent show, which in my opinion deserved a bigger audience, but that can change in time.

(corrected by ru_77)

Horez • 06.12.07
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