Temperatures
around zero and an ugly sleet welcome the arrived fans, who form
a terribly long queue in front of the Backstage already shortly
before the doors open. The ones are in anticipation who could
purchase one of the much sought-after tickets in the pre-sale,
but I see some desperate faces as well – the tickets were
already sold-out more than one week before today, in spite of
the fact, that a lot of high-class acts such as Enslaved, Satyricon
or Moonspell decided to raise hell in Munich around the OPETH
gig. This impressively shows how popular the Swedes are nowadays.
because with about 30 €, the entrance is anything but cheap.
Both support
acts THE OCEAN and CYNIC benefit from the early
rush of the fans.
The multi cultural band from Berlin can definitely stir the crowd.
I haven’t heard anything from the guys previously, but however
am surprised by the clout of their songs, which gets strengthened
considerably by the dedicated live performance. For my personal
taste, I miss the inventive element in the sound, which at times
reminds of the noisy Rock of Cult Of Luna or the apocalyptic Doom
of Neurosis. Anyhow, some of the fans almost freak out and say
goodbye to :: THE
OCEAN :: with well-deserved applause after half
an hour.
The second
band on the billing is the Americans ::
CYNIC
::, which was laid to rest as a perpetual insider tip
1994, after bassist Sean Malone left the band. The band, surprisingly
for many, appeared onstage and visited Europe on a small (festival)
tour 2007.
By means of a lot of CYNIC shirts one can see slightly
the popularity of the technical aces in a demanding manner among
the crowd – which also shows that not implicitly everyone
came to see the main act only.
It should be clear to everyone at the outset, that the Americans
wouldn’t present an awesome show with handstands and whatnot.
Because they don’t just play jazzy licks, but almost every
song has perceived 150 riffs and as many different sounds respectively
effects in the guitar, bass and vocal sector, which requires utmost
concentration of the musicians. And this has the effect that the
predominantly new songs are performed technically fabulously and
the fans almost can’t hold off. However, those who are not
familiar with the songs, gaze magnetized towards the stage and
marvel at the skills of the musicians. A spark doesn’t ignite
thereby, because the guys are too statically busy handling their
instruments. Furthermore, Paul Masvidal’s (who helped out
Chuck Schuldiner on the masterpiece Human together with CYNIC
drummer Sean Reinert) vocals are idiosyncratic. Nevertheless,
a successful introduction, even though half an hour suffices absolutely
for me personally.
Songlist: Nunc Fluens, The Space For This, Evolutionary
Sleeper, Celestial Voyage, Adam’s Murmur, King Of Those
Who Know, Integral Birth
Both bands
were nothing but ornamental art compared to what has to follow
right now. :: OPETH
:: has been a very big fish in the Metal genre for
years and all times guarantors for exquisite live entertainment.
And the Swedes are in the best mood tonight, as the good-humored
keyboard player Per confirms to me during a conversation before
the entrance. The “new ones” Fredrik and “Axe”
have been in the band for a while now. That’s why I don’t
worry about them still not being integrated in the band. For they
are, as the following gig will demonstrate impressively.
The band enters the stage during the last tunes of the intro (the
band once again decided for a track of the eerie-beautiful soundtrack
of the Nosferatu movie as a bow before the German exceptional
Kraut Rockers Popol Vuh and this time the stirring Through
Pain To Heaven was chosen) and as the first notes of Heir
Apparent sound, there is no holding back for the Munich’s
crowd. The band senses that and presents an intense show to the
grateful crowd in return, the communication between the band and
the fans works great. Especially Mikael is in a great mood and
proves once more his entertaining abilities. The band goes on
with the Ghost Reveries hit The Grand Conjuration.
The song has approved as a live grenade and one can’t imagine
things without it at an OPETH gig. The rest of the concert
proceeds hit studded, no matter if it’s the neck breaker
Deliverance with its century outro, Hope Leaves
as a short breather or The Lotus Eater with its daring
but very effective clean vocals over the blast beats (the song
is very demanding for Mikael with its fast shifts between clean
vocals and growls – but that’s actually no problem
for the front man!). To satisfy the fans of older records, this
time Godhead’s Lament off the Still Life
album and Demon Of The Fall (My Arms, Your Hearse),
the band hymn par excellence, were chosen. The last-mentioned
marks the end of the regular gig. The crowd in Munich doesn’t
accept being fobbed off so easily and clamors for an encore. OPETH
rewards the fans in finally saying goodbye to them with The
Drapery Falls off the Blackwater Park album,
which has been disregarded at that time.
Songlist: Heir Apparent, The Grand Conjuration, Godhead’s
Lament, The Lotus Eater, Hope Leaves, Deliverance, Demon Of The
Fall // The Drapery Falls
To sum that
up finally, the motley crowd from young till old got their money’s
worth, even though the choice of songs of OPETH was somehow
predictable. Both support bands CYNIC and THE OCEAN
were treated fair by the crowd and definitely have gained the
one or the other new fan. That’s the way it has to be!
