Reviews Archives 136

Hasta La Vista Baby and Speedy Gonzales reaches a new speed record in the desert of Utah, no better known as our good old Backstage venue. And by the way, Speedy Gonzeles is rather known under the name of Dragon Force coming from the UK. But first of all a Firewind is thunderung across our heads storming in from the the south east from Greece with at least mach 2. This support act here as well as Dragonforce the headliner are not that unknown in the Heavy Metal scene. And they belong to those heirs, who try to transfer the heritage of the eighties hardrock to the present day, though with a little more modern touch.

To be honest with you, what we get offered here tonight, is nothing new or even innovative. Apollo storms the front (the only guy in this group who's got a decent haircut, and yes he really goes under greek god's name) whereby he is rather new in Firewind, as well as their drummer german,english Mark Cross.
But the actual focus of the band is Kostas Karamitroudis, rather named Gus G. (git), who is the heart and the soul within the group, and you truly can feel this live on stage. Last june their fourth album entitled 'Allegiance' came out, and the result is this supportslot for Dragon Force. For the level of some greek gods, they got lots of power in their Achilles rist. The only weak point, to repeat myself - musically nothing new on the horizon. Whereby I don't mean the individual style, like AC/DC, who doing their thing for the past 35 years and have developed to an institution and style icon, but pull through a musical direction , which fights for it's life for the past two decades.

http://www.firewind.gr/

So, has it is said so neatly?!!! Zeus let's stay on the Olymp, and nothing can go wrong, when Apollo and co. do not take any further risks what's up to individual further development. Who cares! The greek mythology has been there as well for some thousand years, whether it's Poseidon, god of liquids,- cheers, or Athene,- goddess of wisdom. And for those two we still got a hell of a time.
Firewind.....?! No, the name doesn't necessarelly sound greek, but we gotta stay hard and heavy, don't we?!!!!

http://www.dragonforce.com/

And the king as well after a short break, including some sentimental tunes of 'Reign In Blood' of.... you know who... coming out of the amps with the double speed of light. Holy shit, even the fastesd mouse of mexico turns into a snail suffering from heyfever. Cheers and be good. A double shot would be just right by now. This multicult club from Britain breaks every dimension what's up to the speedlevel record in playing the six strings. Most of all Herman, yes that's his name, - Herman Li, the exotic imigrant from Hongkong island. Whereby the dot on the i lies on the surname. But it's not only the name of this youngster, which meets the expression multiculti, but als the whole combo, including two english guys ZP Theart on vocals, Samt Totman on guitar as well as the chinese boy, one scotsman Dave Mackintosh on drums and the french guy Frédéric Leclercq on bass... Stooopppp, - we got one more here, the russian keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov coming from the Ukraine. He seems to have invented the russian polka in a new dress.

These high standard sportsmen have found themselves on river themse in 1999. And one thing is for sure, this is pretty much the end of the so called Inhuman Rampage worldtour because the album, (the third one) came out last january. Meanwhile i got greenish pale in my face because of the sight of so much hair of our curly sue... sorry... angel and Mister Li. Jes.... I always thought, I got long hair. But compared to this, I look like a skinhead. And what's up to the enormous lenght of the hair, these two guys have not seen a hairdressers shop from inside during their lives. Now take the fact as well, that all of them are very slim with no inch fat too much on their bodies, then it's no surprise, that there is no sweating at all. Without effort the band burns at least 5.000 calories within one performance calculating an exact timing between bodyaction and musicianship. And DragonForce enjoy themselves most of all.

there is more within the set than on the list here

But even at the music of DragonForce I have to confess, that I could not really make a difference between all those songs exept the ballad, which is the only one anyway, - after the set. But maybe that's only, 'cause I dun' know 'em enought yet. I also neede a while to decide whether I like this here or not. But very often the first impression is not the last one thanks god for that.
Anyway, it's like Firewind before, - DragonForce don't create anything new, but only try hard to carry on with the oldfashioned 80s metal, but... like I said before - with a youthful new touch. And there's nothing to complain about. The question is rather, will this most talented lot survive within today's musical society, or rather swim along with thousand other's in this rockmusic ocean.... I don't hope so.

so.......

or so, - a little break has to be sometime....

One thing is for sure, with such a talent they honestly deserve the attention of the fans and the media. And their energetic stageshow leaves some of our german dead serious metal heroes far behind and let them look pretty old, - what's up to the performance as well as according to the visual aspect. Most of all I do like, that these boys don't take themselves and everything else quite easy, have a lot of fun up there and let the party explode including some wet experience raining down from stage giving it's blessing.

I wanna dedicate this review to all bavarian grumpy music lovers, who still live in the opinion, that this kinda music has to be performed with a dangerous suicide face expression and only headbanging attitude. And I would suggest, you all get up there and switch the turbodrive of Herman on at the musical battle with Sammy Totman. And first then, you may carry on with your philosophic comments about the art of heavy metal, served well for everybody's taste.. okay!!!!