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BATTLE BEAST - EKLIPSE |
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| 2012-04-14
DE – Düsseldorf - ISS Dome |
| Long, long time NIGHTWISH fans had to exercise themselves in patience, tasting the stale flavour of waiting. Now, after four years the Finns have finally released their fifth record entitled Imaginaerum, an album that is also the soundtrack to a movie, telling the story of a very old songwriter with tremendous imagination. Imaginarium - a place devoted to the imagination • Imaginaerum – a fiery plea and passionate speech to your own fantasy and longings long forgotten, from a magic world beyond. :: pics :: And finally an extended European tour comes hot on the heels of the album release. A band like NIGHTWISH and the conceptual background behind the new record promises an extraordinary spectacle. To get straight to the point: expectations got exceeded and NIGHTWISH lived up to its reputation. Yes, I was full of anticipation. First, because I rediscovered NIGHTWISH with Imaginaerum (lost interest after Oceanborn) and second, I only saw them playing on festivals so far. This would be my first club show tonight. Hahahaha… ok, the • ISS Dome • isn’t really made to deliver cosy club concerts *laughs* Well, you know what I mean, NIGHTWISH as headliner with a long show and all that stuff around they are known for… etc. But first it seemed that the ISS Dome was a size to large for this event. From possible 13.000 perhaps 8.000 filled the hall at best. Although parts of the hall were closed and “hid” it all looked pretty empty.
However, I’d like to say that the missing quantum of people was still outside and in the lounge for cigarettes, beer and merchandise, while :: EKLIPSE :: got into their set at 7pm. EKLIPSE that is a classic string quartet consisting of a viola, 2 violins and a cello, in the gentle hands of four well-dressed girls (of Russian nationality if I got it right), wrapping current pop songs (from Hurts, Lady Gaga, Coldplay for example) into a classic robe. It all was looking nice, the girls, their outfits, the deco, but it all was so unexcitedly and unspectacular and not any bit sexy or the hottest thing the classic scene has to offer these days (as it was stated in promo sheets). Not at all! Response of the audience was much restrained.
Things changed
when :: BATTLE
BEAST :: got onto stage. I already had them last
November supporting Poisonblack and they really convinced me with
their live performance (as I was totally put off by them before).
Though, I found it daring to send them on tour with Nightwish.
But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. And BATTLE BEAST
really did a great job. Such delight in playing, passion, energy
and enthusiasm. The Finns were brimming with self-confidence,
didn’t care about these huge halls and arenas and thousands
of people seeing them. And yes, they have used the time in the
rehearsal room well, prior the tour. BATTLE BEAST played
much tighter and more professional as on their last tour. And
they made it to heat up the crowd. All songs came from the band’s
debut Steel. Great show, I could not stand still
but had to smile every now and then because of the song titles
and/or refrains ;)
Now, a special
briefing for us photographers because of the pyros, then a complete
photo ban for anything outside the two songs allowed, a little
break to take a breath… and then time has come as the white
frazzled curtain starts to billow with shadows behind and the
Imaginaerum intro Taikatalvi begins. The
curtain falls and :: NIGHTWISH
:: open with Storytime and the first fire compositions
volley around the stage. Wow. How fucking amazing is that? I don’t...
I can't stand still any second anymore and squirrelly move around.
Ah, now. During Wish I Had An Angel and Amaranth
I do my job with fantastic lights. Right after we have to give
our cams away and I start to rock out ;) It’s no secret,
I love, love, love the new album! Anette Olzon appears with a
bandaged hand (a broken finger) but it does not seem to limit
or to hold her back in any way. The drum kit got built up high
with a huge LED screen behind, displaying wonderful landscapes.
Mr. Holopainen tries to hide behind huge keyboard constructions
that may be based on the Sibelius monument in Helsinki, slurping
red wine when not headbanging. Bass player Marco Hiatala and guitarist
Emppu Vuorinen rock the stage. And always again songs get accompanied
by fires, even in different colors, smoke and confetti fountains.
Tooooooooo bad that we are not allowed to take any photo. It breaks
your heart as a photographer to see all these wonderful sceneries,
the pyros… with nothing in your hand *sighs*. In between
guest musician Troy Donockley appears on stage playing an Uilleann
pipe and flutes, while two songs are played as acoustic versions
to reduce pace and add variety. Instead of classic lighter lights
people were prompted to use lights of mobiles and compact cams.
Wow, what a view! Very much impressing. Anette is brilliant when
she sings Imaginaerum songs and it is easy to realize
how much talent and capability Tuomas Holopainen owns to perfectly
make songs for each singer. So it likewise gets revealed that
older songs were perfectly made for Tarja. No matter how great
and impressive Anette sings and performs, she can’t shine
as Tarja would have done at those. No nagging, no quibbling. It’s
just a fact. And it of course did not narrow the show any tiny
bit. Anyway, although NIGHTWISH play over two hours, time
flies and I so don’t want to leave band and stage. The grand
finale is magnificent, breathtaking. They use everything they
have on fires, smoke, lights, confetti, all in one, while Imaginaerum
releases the crowd into the night. What a show! Unbelievable!
Epic! Definitely a highlight in 2012!
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| story & pics © Dajana |
