With the spring release of (if) - The Memento Ritual Project every DIARY OF DREAM fan was waiting for a tour in support of the new album. But the guys made themselves scarce, increasing eagerness, just to come up with a festival and bands that not really wanted to fit to each other. DIARY OF DREAMS on tour with DEATHSTARS, DOPE STARS INC. and LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE as replacement for The Birthday Massacre… Hmm, odd billing. But well, better this way as no tour at all I’d say. After some twists and turns, changes and the usual proceeding to get accreditations and photo passes only one show was left for me (coz of vacations where I don’t get any free days) and this was the tour kick-off show at Bochums Matrix, and this show turned out to be a bomb-like event…

…Literally! Thank to some Islamist comedians crowd was left in the cold for almost 2 hrs, while a bigger contingent of police was rummaging through every corner of the Matrix, just to find… nothing. It all appeared like a not so serious practice, since there was no bomb squad, no dogs, no ambulance, nor was the area roped off.

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After being body-checked and identified (with ID card only) people rushed in front of the stage of the tube where :: DOPE STARS INC. :: kicked off the show with strongly shortened setlist (5 tracks). The cute Italians made the best out of this situations and played an energetic show, added by a live drummer this time for a more powerful and organic sound. They visibly enjoyed their short stint, played their asses off and rocked the Matrix. Captured in the photopit (wow, never seen before in the Matrix) sound was great. Only lights sucked again badly *argh*

Also :: LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE :: were forced to play a short show. Added to the bill at a very short run they played a respectable show without any problems or downer. Only thing that got on me nerves was the stage acting of singer Rob, who tried too much to be like Ville Valo. And failed. He isn’t even halfway that sexy and lascivious as the Finn is. First rows were also smiling about bass player Peter, who strikingly looks like a certain and notorious Mr. Drews. No offense! Peter Kafka is a musician light-years above the mentioned dude. However, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE had fun on stage and especially axe-man Oliver Nicholas was banging his head off, caring for some action on stage. Well done!
Setlist: We Shouldn’t Be Here, To Bleed Or Not To Be, Dear Amy, Amber Girl, Sacrifiacial Lamb, For Bad Times, Ave End

Swedish Death rockers :: DEATHSTARS :: first changed the INTO DARKNESS FESTIVAL TOUR into their own ones and kicked off with a pre-intro… damn… *rubs ears*… that’s K.I.N.G. by Satyricon!!! Fucking hell! What a joke…. leading over the album intro and Night Electric Night, the title track of the new album. Metal fans were known afterwards ;) Girls started instantly screaming when Mr. Whiplasher entered the stage (hahaha… wtf. Can’t they use some more interesting pseudos? *lol*). What hell of noise. Anyway, he tried it the sexy way too and likewise failed. Seems like his hips didn’t want to roll the way he wanted. A bit stiff hm? DEATHSTARS also had to face some technical problems; the CD player had some dropouts for the synth parts what made the band stopping the track and leaving stage for some beer till the player was fixed again. Regarding the hullabaloo made around the band and the screaming girls the show was rather lame. Seems like the guys need to warm up themselves first. And please, Mr. Skinny needs some proper food, he looks like to be anorexic.
Setlist: Night Electric Night, Motherzone, Semi-Automatic, The Mark Of The Gun, Tongues, New Dead Nation, Chertograd, Blitzkrieg, Blood Stains Blondes, Cyanide, Death Dies Hard

The first on INTO DARKNESS FESTIVAL TOUR day awaits its first grand finale with :: DIARY OF DREAMS :: getting on stage. Audience almost completely changed. Girlies left, almost, and the ladies came to the fore *coughs* DIARY OF DREAMS removed all banner what made photographers hoping for better lights… well, dream on! DIARY OF DREAMS afterwards delivered a great show with five new tracks embedded in their usual setlist, focusing on material of the lastest releases. Audience was in good mood but far away from being frenetically enthused. Strange situation you only seem to have here in North Rhine-Westphalia. Everywhere else fans are freaking out. Since neither Daniel Meyer nor Torben Wendt are available for the tour a new face behind the keys appeared. It’s Mauri, actually drummer in Gaun:A’s second band Stoned Age. DIARY OF DREAMS was the only band tonight playing their full set including two encores. The guys looked relaxed and in good mood, able to electrify me and others, letting us dance all around ;) Great show!
Setlist: Intro, Wahn!Sinn?, The Plague, The Chain, The Wedding, King Of Nowhere, Hypo)crypticK(al, Soulstripper, MenschFeind, Reign Of Chaos, Poison Breed, Kindrom // AmoK, The Curse

Already during the DIARY OF DREAMS doors got opened for the usual Friday disco madness. There was no in- and outcoming afterwards but luckily we weren’t in a hurry. The dreamers actually were supposed to party! And so they did till the early morning while watching all these attendees in the Matrix. Was fun. Great prelude for an ongoing festival event. Toooooo bad, that the beginning was already the end for me ;(

story & pics © Dajana