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The group were founded by guitarist Yüksel Unutmaz in Katarinenholm 1994. But since then, he has exchanged the complete line up already twice. The second time was just last year. And now the singer's name is Blade, bassist, Alex, and Drummer Zteff. With these guys and producer Michael Wagener, he produced the album 'World Domination'. And it's this CD which gets promoted on this tour. No not quite, as Fatal Smile should have done so already once in the past supporting Vince Neil. But thanks to the Mötley Crüe singer, this went badly wrong. Never mind, now we got them up there on stage, and they try hard to give their best at this given short cut energy and light conditions. Fatal Smile go for Glamrock, as you can make out in their generell image immidiately. And I feel like transfered back into 1988 or even earlier in some ways.
They are spontainous and rock like hell... but.... thanks to some ugly feedbacks, it doesn't really fire off. I must admit, I feel sorry for these boys, as they did not have the chance to do a proper soundcheck beforehead because of time reasons. Shame, as this is powerful sleazerock, nothing new and a 1.000 times heard before, but it rocks. I for my part think, as this wasn't there fault, we should give 'em another chance, when they hopefully come back one day. What about a club tour on your own boys...?!!!! That would suit you so much better I assume. http://www.fatalsmile.com/ And you can actually name the band almost as a family entertainment. Because next to Simons brother Chris (guitar/Backing vocals) is also Sister Dodo (Keybords, Backing Voc.) participating. Seems to be a very musical family. And the rest consists of singer Ecki Singer, lead guitarist Uli Holermer and bassist Daniel Saffer. The title of the first longplayer is 'The Inner Demon', which gets introduced here. Stylistically Silverlane go for the Power Rock corner, sort of Kamelot or Avantasia style, but still sounding individual.
In this band I do also appreciate a lot the lead guitarist, Singer Ecki looks like a glamrocker with his extraordinary hairstyle, but he definately ain't so. But he is the focus up there, that's for sure, while the actual star of the band, Simon, is more going for understatement and doesn't even show off with long drumsolos. And this makes him pretty attractive. Obviously this guys from the very north of Bavaria get received very well at the audiance. And some fans storm the merch booth after their show to get Silverlane products. Yep
well, I confess, it's not quite my cup of tea. But as a journalist you
have to judge things rather neutral. And I can only say: Respect, this
lot could really get a name for themselves in the Hardrock machinery.
Halleluja, our ears start dancing a Samba Pa Ti and demand compensation for personal suffering a rape. And what a hell of a pyro show. Christ, who would have thought this, that this is possible here in our town, where they are so strict and against such a thing. But it really does happen in this moment, when the monster rocker step on stage. The outfits and costumes are still pretty much the same, and the fins still sweat about 30 liters of sweat during one show. Only the show itselves got a bit more extensive with more horror stunts. As
we all know, Lordi go for simple poprock melodies, played by a
rockguitar and also such a voice. But somehow it all doesn't suit
together in a way. I always have had this feeling. There has always been
the comparision with american rockers Gwar in the air. Only that Gwar is
as mean as they look like, with a mean show, very hard and much more
aggressive. That's probably the reason, why Gwar never hit it really big,
- not bearable for normal society. Lordi instead seem, despite their
masks and show, rather... how shall I describe it? - behaved. Even
though Fatal Smile had told us before the show, that they went out with
t he guys of Lordi the night before this. And these fins have boozed
them underneath the table. But extreme booze is nothing new in
Finland, is it?! We ain't allowed to shoot the first song because of the extensive pyros, and we only got track 2 and 3 of the Horror Picture Show...
Later on, I stand next to the pyro technician and watch him carefully. Because as soon, as he puts his fingers onto two certain buttons, it means, protect your ears as good as possible. Otherwise your middle ear Samba develops into sugar cottonwool. Because these big bangs goes close to physical harm.
Well
over all the whole event is rather average, nice entertainment, lots for
our eyes, not so nice for our ears. Apart from that, it's still easy
listening poprock without any huge demands and expectations, but you can
sing along with it. And let's face it, that this band has won the
Eurovision Song Contest was actually a big protest of the whole Hardrock
society in Europe, that their music gets a bit more recognition in the
international music business.But I fear, this strike happens only once
in a life time and won't be repeated that soon again. The tendencies for
this band here, don't look to well, what's up to the rather low
resonance of the new album and the lack of fans at their current
concerts. |
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Some Backstage Shots
you find at the Diary |