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2015-03-16 DE – Essen - Turock |
Full Moon Madness is everywhere! MOONSPELL have just released their 11th record (on March 6) and this one is once again quite a strong and powerful album. The new piece is entitled Extinct and its title track is as catchy as Scorpion Flowers (regarding newer tracks) and the classics are (let me refer to the masterpiece Irreligious). Of course, a new album needs to be supported live and for their tour MOONSPELL have chosen no-one less than Greek darkened symphonic Death Metal masters SEPTICFLESH, who also have released an amazing new record entitled Titan. So, those two great bands are sharing the stage – what a package and I cannot wait to see them both! :: pics :: Without further support bands it was supposed to be an early show on this Monday evening, though, the :: Turock Club :: was extremely well filled. And at the end SEPTICFLESH kicked off at a common time, 8pm.
While waiting longer than expected I couldn't help listening to the chats around and learnt that most people were here tonight to see Moonspell and didn't even know :: SEPTICFLESH :: and what they are about. Well-dressed with a SEPTICFLESH shirt I got asked several times and did my best to recommend the Greeks warmly to them ;) However, when the lights went out and SEPTICFLESH entered the stage the welcome was loud and strong, while the Greeks started thunderously with the new album's opener War In Heaven. WOW! What a show of force! Looking around quite a few jaws of those Moonspell-followers dropped down. Hehehe. SEPTICFLESH's sound was extremely dense, intensive to the max, and hit the crowd with an impact. And the guys played with enormous energy and enthusiasm. SEPTICFLESH just electrified the audience. No escape! As some of you might know, SEPTICFLESH have a new drummer, Austrian based Kerim "Krimh" Lechner (Decapitated, Vesania and others). He was actually invisible, vanished in tons of smoke, but was well to hear. Impressing drumwork! SEPTICFLESH couldn't have found anyone better. The Greeks played a 45 minutes set through the last three albums and of course focusing on Titan. What a stunning show that was! They have blown away everybody and everything and made many, many new fans tonight, who screamed and shouted for an encore, which unfortunately wasn't granted. If he show would have started at announced time… you know… ;)
Quick change over - a wonderful backdrop got uncoiled (would love to have it pure for some shootings ;)), while drums and keyboards got "dressed". :: MOONSPELL :: got welcomed almost frenetically. Ok, that was to expect ;) And they also kicked off with brand new material, the opening double Breathe (Until We Are No More) and Extinct, Ah, yes! The third track was already Opium, a classic, followed by Awake!. What a surprise. I expected those during the encore, if at all. Actually the entire set consisted of either brand new tracks from Extinct or classics from legendary Irreligious and Wolfheart albums (except Scorpion Flowers). Not that I would nag about such setlist, both records celebrate their 25th anniversary, but I would have loved to hear more new songs too. Singer Fernando Ribeiro was in best mood, talkative, close to his fans, and very thankful for the full house at Turock and German fans generally. MOONSPELL play their songs live much harder than on CD. That is nice on one hand, on the other it kills a bit of the atmosphere many songs own. Especially, since the singing of Fernando is live not that balanced and varied than on CD, and sounds sort of overdriven. Also orchestral arrangements went a bit under. Though, it was an awesome show with the fans freaking out, screaming, head banging and dancing. Here we finally got the so wanted encore. What a great night out!
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story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography |
