Now that I've had two weeks and have listened to the album in its entirety a good 10 times (at least), these are the tracks from Kamelot's new album, The Shadow Theory, that I consider to be my 5 favorites.
1. Vespertine (My Crimson Bride) [track 11]. An almost instant favorite, this song is so classic Kamelot that I almost expect Roy Khan to be singing it. It stands out among the rest of the album, and although I love the heavier, darker sound they have now, I appreciate this throwback to when they were a bit more upbeat and power metal. Despite becoming my favorite so quickly, and despite listening to it many times (on repeat on a few occasions), I show no signs of getting tired of it.
2. Burns to Embrace [track 5]. There's something chillingly beautiful about a choir of children singing, "We are the last to walk the Earth." It was a great choice to end the song that way, basically saying, "If things don't improve, there is no future and this generation will be the last." I appreciate the apocalyptic imagery and sound of the outro, especially after the majority of the instruments cut out to focus more attention on the children's voices. And the chorus in general is pretty great, whether it's sung by Tommy or the apocalyptic children's choir.
3. In Twilight Hours [track 6]. While I'm normally not the biggest fan of female vocals and adding them unnecessarily into every male-fronted album, I really like the duet on this song. Especially after I learned it well enough to sing it. Ballads are always fun if they're well-done, and I really like this one. The male and female duet works really well with the lyrics here, and doesn't feel like it was done for the sole purpose of having a female guest singer.
4. Kevlar Skin [track 7]. This one's lyrics remind me of Darth Vader, so as a Vader fangirl, that's a plus. ("Underneath this kevlar skin, I'm waiting for you to uncover me. And in this armored prison cell, I'm hiding my scars - come discover me." And overall, it's just a good metal song. The speed and heaviness of it hearkens back to my favorite song from the previous album (Revolution) and I like that sound a lot.
5. Amnesiac [track 4]. "Say my name, no beautifying filters. I'm craving that honest pain." I love this line about craving something honest and raw in a sometimes overly-airbrushed, social media-dominated world. Another great chorus on this song.
Overall, I like the album a lot more than I was expecting to. I don't know why I thought I'd be disappointed, but I definitely wasn't, and the more I listen to the album, the more I like it. Really cool lyrical themes and amazing vocal performances throughout the whole album. The drums are fantastic, as well, even if it isn't Casey Grillo doing the drumming. It's basically impossible to listen to this album without drumming on something. I guess I should have expected nothing less from Kamelot, but I still try to go into things with the realization that the artists aren't perfect and there will be letdowns once in awhile. This isn't one of them, however.
April 20, 2018
October 09, 2015
Falconer @ ProgPower, Part 2: Song-By-Song
As promised, this is my song-by-song review of Falconer’s set at their final live performance on September 11, ProgPower USA, Atlanta, GA.
Sorry it has taken me almost a month to get this up! Thanks to Kassandra, who helped me out by sending me this photo of the setlist, I wrote all the songs down and began reviewing them one-by-one the day I got home from Atlanta.
However, I had so many thoughts to jot down and organize that it has taken me a long time to get them all together. In addition to the setlist provided and my own memories, I have been reviewing videos from the show to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything I wanted to say. Reviewing the videos has helped me embed all the memories in my brain, some of which I may have otherwise forgotten due to being so caught up in the moment. As a side note, reviewing other people’s videos and knowing I was there (I’m even visible in many of them) has made the memories of my experience even more magical.
So here is PART ONE of my set review. These are my opinions of all 18 songs performed at Falconer’s last live show, as viewed from the front row of the main floor -- where else would I have been?
If you read my introduction, you know that you have definitely come to the wrong place if you are expecting an unbiased review. Remember, this is a review written by one of the band’s and the singer’s biggest fans who has been dreaming of seeing them for years -- and it will be written as such. So you will want to go elsewhere for your unbiased opinions!
I also apologize in advance for my overuse of the word beautiful.
1. Halls and Chambers
An appropriate song to open with, since it is from their most recent album. But it wouldn’t have mattered which song they opened with. I, and the rest of the crowd, would have gone wild over any song considering how long most of us had waited to see them perform live, period. Halls and Chambers is a good enough song, but it hasn’t necessarily been a favorite until now. Now, it will always be the first song I heard them perform live, which gives it its own special quality.
2. A Quest for the Crown
I thought it was cool how they went straight from a song off of their most recent album, to a song off of their very first album. The band even made note of this on stage, with Mathias saying that they were going to give us a good selection of songs spanning their 16-year career. Which they definitely lived up to!
3. Locust Swarm
Back to the newest album again with this one. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this song. Definitely nothing negative, but nothing that makes it stand out that much, either. It was Falconer, and you can’t really go wrong with any Falconer song -- especially live!
4. Enter the Glade
A signature song and always a fan-favorite, of course this had to be included in the setlist, and the live version was just as good as the album version. My only complaint is that they didn’t do the extended outro (including that one last riff that sneaks up on you after moments of silence), which I always enjoy when I listen to the album version. The major thing that struck me about hearing this song live (and this might sound silly, but)… listening to the lyrics and seeing Mathias on the stage above me, I felt as though he were singing about himself -- not on purpose, of course, but listen to the lyrics and they seem to fit, beginning with the opening line -- “Listen to me, children, and I will fill your ears, with all the sweet things you love to hear.” How appropriate! And say whatever you want about Mathias’ stage presence (although he appeared to be enjoying the music more in recent performances than in older videos), but with that godlike voice of his, we all know that he owns our souls whenever he’s on the stage. “Kneel in front of the man who was sent by God!”
5. Catch the Shadows
YASSS. Out of the 12 songs included in their setlists at Wacken and Falun, this was the one I was most excited to see live. Mathias introduced it as one of his absolute favorite songs, and it’s one of mine, too. It might not have quite made it into my top 10 songs, but the bridges that feature only Mathias’ voice and a piano (“As the sun descends in the sky…”) are some of my favorite moments in any of Falconer’s songs, and the only part of this entire set that I actually filmed. I could listen to these parts over and over. Beautiful! I only wish the piano had been included in the live performance -- that’s the only thing that could have made it better!
6. Upon the Grave of Guilt
From Catch the Shadows, the band went straight into this track, almost as if they weren’t two separate songs. I would have appreciated a moment to catch my breath in between, a moment to appreciate the previous song and cheer and scream before the next one began. Regardless, this is a great song and always a fan-favorite, whether it’s live or on the album, so it didn’t take me long to get into the Grave of Guilt spirit.
7. The Past Still Lives On
I recently included this on my list of Falconer songs I feel are underrated, so I was quite pleasantly surprised that they chose to play this one. I thought I was the only person who truly appreciated this song, so it was nice to be proven wrong. Mathias’ prologue to this song stated that the band wanted to do some different/unexpected things (I am paraphrasing, as I don’t remember the exact words used) to commemorate this being their final show. This was the first of the unexpected tracks they played, but there would be more to come. My favorite part of their performance of this song was the intro -- it sounded really cool live, with a lot of emphasis on the drums, and the whole crowd clapping to the drumbeat, almost mimicking the two-beat pattern of a heartbeat. Maybe it took someone in the medical field to make that connection -- I’m sure the band didn’t even do it on purpose -- it isn’t as noticeable on the album version because it’s more bass than drums -- but it almost seemed to have a subliminal message: music is life. It also, in a way, mirrors the lyrics, which speak of history and people of the past “living on.”
8. Age of Runes
This is my favorite track from Black Moon Rising, so I’m glad it was one of the ones chosen for the setlist. It is definitely one of the most headbangingest (yes, that’s a word now) tracks in their discography, and therefore the song I had the most fun head banging to live. LOVE that opening riff.
9. Wings of Serenity (acoustic)
The trio of acoustic songs thrown into the middle of their set was something I don’t think anyone in the crowd was expecting, and I think a lot of the diehard fans really lost their minds over it, especially those who love Mathias’ voice as much as I do. The trio began with Wings of Serenity, which was recorded in acoustic form for the recent re-release of their self-titled album. I truly consider this to be one of the most beautiful moments of live music I have ever experienced. This is another song that has always been a fan favorite, and while the acoustic version on the album was beautiful, the a capella chorus near the end was even more stunning live with an entire crowd singing along. To me, live music shouldn’t be just entertainment, it should be a spiritual experience. Falconer and its sea of fans totally nailed that with this song. As you can see in the video I embedded (filmed by Kenji Kobayashi), the crowd waits silently until after Mathias has finished the first chorus, and then goes wild with cheers and applause. You can see the look of satisfaction and joy on Mathias’ face, and then it seems his voice becomes even more gorgeous for the second verse, as he sings with more passion and conviction.
10. Long Gone By (acoustic)
YAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSS. This has always been one of my favorite songs (not quite making it into the top 10, but it probably would have been #12 or 13 if the list had gone on longer -- right behind Catch the Shadows or Ridom, Ridom). I was NOT expecting them to do this live. It was introduced as one of their most requested songs, so clearly I am not the only one who loves it, but it still shocked me. My friend Karin, standing right next to me in the front row, was almost in tears. The fact that they performed this song was such an unexpected, but incredible surprise!
11. Portals of Light (acoustic)
Another very unexpected and awesome surprise to finish up their acoustic set. There isn’t much to say about this performance, other than it was lovely and a fantastic treat for diehard fans who have waited ages to hear songs like this performed live and/or acoustic.
12. Svarta Ankan
From the acoustic trio, the band went straight into the Swedish trio. I actually prefer the English version of this song to the Swedish one, but both versions are great, and it’s always nice to hear Mathias sing in his native language.
13. Himmel Sa Trind
WHOOHOO! This song was not played at Wacken or Falun. I was hoping they would add it for ProgPower and was SO GLAD they did. I recently listed this as #5 on my list of favorite Falconer songs. It is actually the only one of my top 10 that did get played live, except for the obvious Grave of Guilt and Clarion Call. I love this song so much, and loved getting to hear it live at last.
14. Vargaskall
My only complaint here is that they don’t include the intro (“Ah-ahh… ah-ahh…”) OR the outro (an a cappella version of the chorus with changed-up lyrics). That really surprised me, since the final chorus, or epilogue, if you will, is pretty important to the story of the song as I understand it. It’s also a really beautiful ending, and in my opinion, the best part of the song, so I don’t understand why they didn’t include it. I love it when metal bands include a cappella verses or chorus in their live sets, especially when they have a singer as good as Mathias.
15. Royal Galley
Not a lot about this one really stood out, but it was definitely a crowd-pleaser. The vocalizations after each line of the chorus were particularly fun for the fans to sing along with. However, this is another song where I wish they’d done the extended outro, instead of cutting it off. A good 25 seconds were cut off the end, and while I realize it was just the same short riff played over and over, I think the crowd would have gone wild for hearing the entire outro played live. Or maybe that’s just me.
16. Northwind
Great song, great performance. Nothing special to add. After this song, the band said goodnight and did their faux exodus, which wasn’t fooling ANYONE, but did lead the crowd to begin yet another rousing chorus of “FAL-CON-ER! FAL-CON-ER!” for the third or fourth time of the evening. These chants throughout the night were actually some of my favorite moments, and you could tell how touched the band members were by the crowd’s enthusiasm, and the sheer volume of our voices inside the arena as we chanted their name.
17. Mindtraveller
After a few minutes of the crowd’s chanting, Mathias returned to the stage and asked, “Are you missing something?” After all, every diehard fan in the venue knew that the band wouldn’t possibly end their set without performing the next two songs. After the rest of the musicians returned to the stage, band leader and songwriter Stefan Weinerhall took the mic for the first time that night. Stating that, 15 years ago, he had been unsure if Falconer would even get a contract, as the songs he wrote were unconventional for heavy metal -- especially after choosing Mathias as a vocalist. Stefan’s emotions, as well as those of the rest of the band, were obvious as he thanked the crowd, noting how incredible it was to be on a stage in the United States with so many adoring fans after being so unsure of the band’s future 15 years ago. He then asked the crowd to sing the guitar riff from the very first Falconer song he ever wrote. Everyone already knew what it was; you could even hear a few people shout out its title. He played the first few notes of Mindtraveller, and then the crowd took over, singing the entire intro. Mathias encouraged everyone to clap their hands in the air. Another beautiful moment of unity among Falconites. Mindtraveller has never been my personal favorite of Falconer’s songs; in fact, I used to not like it very much. It was after seeing a video of it performed live (I believe in 2007) that I began to like it. Seeing it live in person reminded me of that, and was definitely a great experience.
18. The Clarion Call
My favorite thing about this performance was how excited guitarist Jimmy Hedlund was, jumping and dancing around the stage as it began. Standing really close to Jimmy, it was great to see that his enthusiasm was so strong, throughout their entire set, but especially when this song was introduced (you can also see it well on the video below, filmed by Anthony DeCristantis).The same excitement Jimmy showed was palpable among the crowd as well, as what is arguably the band’s most popular song was performed. And then at the end of the song, as Mathias blew kisses to the crowd, picks and sticks were tossed out, and the band took its final bow, the sea of Falconites once again erupted into a chant of “FAL-CON-ER! FAL-CON-ER!” My only complaint about their performance of this song is that it was their last one. Despite being 18 songs and close to two hours in length, it went by much too fast. I don’t think anyone wanted it to end. I know I didn’t.
Next time on the Falconer/ProgPower review series: A broader, overall look at the performance, and a list of songs I wish they had played.
Sorry it has taken me almost a month to get this up! Thanks to Kassandra, who helped me out by sending me this photo of the setlist, I wrote all the songs down and began reviewing them one-by-one the day I got home from Atlanta.
So here is PART ONE of my set review. These are my opinions of all 18 songs performed at Falconer’s last live show, as viewed from the front row of the main floor -- where else would I have been?
If you read my introduction, you know that you have definitely come to the wrong place if you are expecting an unbiased review. Remember, this is a review written by one of the band’s and the singer’s biggest fans who has been dreaming of seeing them for years -- and it will be written as such. So you will want to go elsewhere for your unbiased opinions!
I also apologize in advance for my overuse of the word beautiful.
1. Halls and Chambers
An appropriate song to open with, since it is from their most recent album. But it wouldn’t have mattered which song they opened with. I, and the rest of the crowd, would have gone wild over any song considering how long most of us had waited to see them perform live, period. Halls and Chambers is a good enough song, but it hasn’t necessarily been a favorite until now. Now, it will always be the first song I heard them perform live, which gives it its own special quality.
2. A Quest for the Crown
I thought it was cool how they went straight from a song off of their most recent album, to a song off of their very first album. The band even made note of this on stage, with Mathias saying that they were going to give us a good selection of songs spanning their 16-year career. Which they definitely lived up to!
3. Locust Swarm
Back to the newest album again with this one. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this song. Definitely nothing negative, but nothing that makes it stand out that much, either. It was Falconer, and you can’t really go wrong with any Falconer song -- especially live!
4. Enter the Glade
A signature song and always a fan-favorite, of course this had to be included in the setlist, and the live version was just as good as the album version. My only complaint is that they didn’t do the extended outro (including that one last riff that sneaks up on you after moments of silence), which I always enjoy when I listen to the album version. The major thing that struck me about hearing this song live (and this might sound silly, but)… listening to the lyrics and seeing Mathias on the stage above me, I felt as though he were singing about himself -- not on purpose, of course, but listen to the lyrics and they seem to fit, beginning with the opening line -- “Listen to me, children, and I will fill your ears, with all the sweet things you love to hear.” How appropriate! And say whatever you want about Mathias’ stage presence (although he appeared to be enjoying the music more in recent performances than in older videos), but with that godlike voice of his, we all know that he owns our souls whenever he’s on the stage. “Kneel in front of the man who was sent by God!”
5. Catch the Shadows
YASSS. Out of the 12 songs included in their setlists at Wacken and Falun, this was the one I was most excited to see live. Mathias introduced it as one of his absolute favorite songs, and it’s one of mine, too. It might not have quite made it into my top 10 songs, but the bridges that feature only Mathias’ voice and a piano (“As the sun descends in the sky…”) are some of my favorite moments in any of Falconer’s songs, and the only part of this entire set that I actually filmed. I could listen to these parts over and over. Beautiful! I only wish the piano had been included in the live performance -- that’s the only thing that could have made it better!
6. Upon the Grave of Guilt
From Catch the Shadows, the band went straight into this track, almost as if they weren’t two separate songs. I would have appreciated a moment to catch my breath in between, a moment to appreciate the previous song and cheer and scream before the next one began. Regardless, this is a great song and always a fan-favorite, whether it’s live or on the album, so it didn’t take me long to get into the Grave of Guilt spirit.
7. The Past Still Lives On
I recently included this on my list of Falconer songs I feel are underrated, so I was quite pleasantly surprised that they chose to play this one. I thought I was the only person who truly appreciated this song, so it was nice to be proven wrong. Mathias’ prologue to this song stated that the band wanted to do some different/unexpected things (I am paraphrasing, as I don’t remember the exact words used) to commemorate this being their final show. This was the first of the unexpected tracks they played, but there would be more to come. My favorite part of their performance of this song was the intro -- it sounded really cool live, with a lot of emphasis on the drums, and the whole crowd clapping to the drumbeat, almost mimicking the two-beat pattern of a heartbeat. Maybe it took someone in the medical field to make that connection -- I’m sure the band didn’t even do it on purpose -- it isn’t as noticeable on the album version because it’s more bass than drums -- but it almost seemed to have a subliminal message: music is life. It also, in a way, mirrors the lyrics, which speak of history and people of the past “living on.”
8. Age of Runes
This is my favorite track from Black Moon Rising, so I’m glad it was one of the ones chosen for the setlist. It is definitely one of the most headbangingest (yes, that’s a word now) tracks in their discography, and therefore the song I had the most fun head banging to live. LOVE that opening riff.
9. Wings of Serenity (acoustic)
The trio of acoustic songs thrown into the middle of their set was something I don’t think anyone in the crowd was expecting, and I think a lot of the diehard fans really lost their minds over it, especially those who love Mathias’ voice as much as I do. The trio began with Wings of Serenity, which was recorded in acoustic form for the recent re-release of their self-titled album. I truly consider this to be one of the most beautiful moments of live music I have ever experienced. This is another song that has always been a fan favorite, and while the acoustic version on the album was beautiful, the a capella chorus near the end was even more stunning live with an entire crowd singing along. To me, live music shouldn’t be just entertainment, it should be a spiritual experience. Falconer and its sea of fans totally nailed that with this song. As you can see in the video I embedded (filmed by Kenji Kobayashi), the crowd waits silently until after Mathias has finished the first chorus, and then goes wild with cheers and applause. You can see the look of satisfaction and joy on Mathias’ face, and then it seems his voice becomes even more gorgeous for the second verse, as he sings with more passion and conviction.
10. Long Gone By (acoustic)
YAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSS. This has always been one of my favorite songs (not quite making it into the top 10, but it probably would have been #12 or 13 if the list had gone on longer -- right behind Catch the Shadows or Ridom, Ridom). I was NOT expecting them to do this live. It was introduced as one of their most requested songs, so clearly I am not the only one who loves it, but it still shocked me. My friend Karin, standing right next to me in the front row, was almost in tears. The fact that they performed this song was such an unexpected, but incredible surprise!
11. Portals of Light (acoustic)
Another very unexpected and awesome surprise to finish up their acoustic set. There isn’t much to say about this performance, other than it was lovely and a fantastic treat for diehard fans who have waited ages to hear songs like this performed live and/or acoustic.
12. Svarta Ankan
From the acoustic trio, the band went straight into the Swedish trio. I actually prefer the English version of this song to the Swedish one, but both versions are great, and it’s always nice to hear Mathias sing in his native language.
13. Himmel Sa Trind
WHOOHOO! This song was not played at Wacken or Falun. I was hoping they would add it for ProgPower and was SO GLAD they did. I recently listed this as #5 on my list of favorite Falconer songs. It is actually the only one of my top 10 that did get played live, except for the obvious Grave of Guilt and Clarion Call. I love this song so much, and loved getting to hear it live at last.
14. Vargaskall
My only complaint here is that they don’t include the intro (“Ah-ahh… ah-ahh…”) OR the outro (an a cappella version of the chorus with changed-up lyrics). That really surprised me, since the final chorus, or epilogue, if you will, is pretty important to the story of the song as I understand it. It’s also a really beautiful ending, and in my opinion, the best part of the song, so I don’t understand why they didn’t include it. I love it when metal bands include a cappella verses or chorus in their live sets, especially when they have a singer as good as Mathias.
15. Royal Galley
Not a lot about this one really stood out, but it was definitely a crowd-pleaser. The vocalizations after each line of the chorus were particularly fun for the fans to sing along with. However, this is another song where I wish they’d done the extended outro, instead of cutting it off. A good 25 seconds were cut off the end, and while I realize it was just the same short riff played over and over, I think the crowd would have gone wild for hearing the entire outro played live. Or maybe that’s just me.
16. Northwind
Great song, great performance. Nothing special to add. After this song, the band said goodnight and did their faux exodus, which wasn’t fooling ANYONE, but did lead the crowd to begin yet another rousing chorus of “FAL-CON-ER! FAL-CON-ER!” for the third or fourth time of the evening. These chants throughout the night were actually some of my favorite moments, and you could tell how touched the band members were by the crowd’s enthusiasm, and the sheer volume of our voices inside the arena as we chanted their name.
17. Mindtraveller
After a few minutes of the crowd’s chanting, Mathias returned to the stage and asked, “Are you missing something?” After all, every diehard fan in the venue knew that the band wouldn’t possibly end their set without performing the next two songs. After the rest of the musicians returned to the stage, band leader and songwriter Stefan Weinerhall took the mic for the first time that night. Stating that, 15 years ago, he had been unsure if Falconer would even get a contract, as the songs he wrote were unconventional for heavy metal -- especially after choosing Mathias as a vocalist. Stefan’s emotions, as well as those of the rest of the band, were obvious as he thanked the crowd, noting how incredible it was to be on a stage in the United States with so many adoring fans after being so unsure of the band’s future 15 years ago. He then asked the crowd to sing the guitar riff from the very first Falconer song he ever wrote. Everyone already knew what it was; you could even hear a few people shout out its title. He played the first few notes of Mindtraveller, and then the crowd took over, singing the entire intro. Mathias encouraged everyone to clap their hands in the air. Another beautiful moment of unity among Falconites. Mindtraveller has never been my personal favorite of Falconer’s songs; in fact, I used to not like it very much. It was after seeing a video of it performed live (I believe in 2007) that I began to like it. Seeing it live in person reminded me of that, and was definitely a great experience.
18. The Clarion Call
My favorite thing about this performance was how excited guitarist Jimmy Hedlund was, jumping and dancing around the stage as it began. Standing really close to Jimmy, it was great to see that his enthusiasm was so strong, throughout their entire set, but especially when this song was introduced (you can also see it well on the video below, filmed by Anthony DeCristantis).The same excitement Jimmy showed was palpable among the crowd as well, as what is arguably the band’s most popular song was performed. And then at the end of the song, as Mathias blew kisses to the crowd, picks and sticks were tossed out, and the band took its final bow, the sea of Falconites once again erupted into a chant of “FAL-CON-ER! FAL-CON-ER!” My only complaint about their performance of this song is that it was their last one. Despite being 18 songs and close to two hours in length, it went by much too fast. I don’t think anyone wanted it to end. I know I didn’t.
Next time on the Falconer/ProgPower review series: A broader, overall look at the performance, and a list of songs I wish they had played.
September 17, 2015
Falconer @ ProgPower, Part 1: Introduction
Everybody has That One Band.
Seven years ago, I fell in love with a voice. That voice was Mathias Blad’s on Falconer’s 2008 album, Among Beggars and Thieves. Falconer was a band I had never heard of until that year, when their new album began receiving ‘airplay’ on a power metal station on internet radio. His voice was what drew me to the band, and he quickly became my favorite vocalist. His voice spoke to me in ways I couldn’t describe. It took a little while for the songs to grow on me, but once they did, I became a huge Falconer fan (a.k.a. Falconite), and not just a Mathias Blad fan. Falconer has since become one of my favorite bands, for both its vocalist and its songwriting and musicianship. Mathias has also been my all-time favorite singer for a number of years now, a throne I don't think can ever be stolen from him.
Unfortunately, I knew this demand would do no good because (a) metal bands from Sweden rarely perform in Billings, MT. In fact, metal bands in general rarely perform in Billings, MT. And (b) Falconer had only done a handful of live shows in their entire history as a band. None of those shows had been in the United States, to my knowledge at the time (as it turns out, one of them had, but it had been a long time ago during the days of Kristoffer Göbel on vocals).
No, not literally. I’m still broke. Especially after this show. But one year ago, I received the news that Falconer would be a studio-only band after September 11, 2015. Which didn't change much of anything considering how infrequently they played live anyway. But there was one thing about that news that would change things for me: they would be playing their final live show at 2015’s ProgPower USA festival in Atlanta, Georgia. In the United States.
And see them, I did. I even lived to tell the tale.
Unfortunately for a lot of us, our One Band is a band that never goes on tour. Especially sad for those of us who live in the United States, and have favorite bands residing in Europe, meaning that even when they do go on tour, they don't come anywhere near us. I actually have a few of these bands, but one of them stands out - because their singer is a god at whose voice I fall down in worship. This is the story of what was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see my vocal god and the kick-ass band he sings in.
Six years ago, during the unfortunate time I spent in Billings, Montana, I created a ‘demand’ on Eventful for Falconer to perform there. Eventful, as I’m sure you can guess from the name, is a website for concerts and other events. One of its claims to fame (if you can call it that) was being the place where people could ‘demand’ that the movie Paranormal Activity be shown in their city, back when the movie had first come out and was being hyped as an independent B-movie that would only be shown in a few cities. I thought Paranormal Activity looked like it might be a good movie (I was wrong) so I joined the demand, which resulted in being automatically assigned an account with Eventful. I’ve barely used it since then, but I did join demands for a few bands I wanted to see live. Falconer was the only demand I ever created. When prompted to write a description of my demand, I wrote, “I need to see Mathias Blad live if it’s the last thing I do.”
I honestly thought that I would never see them live, at least not without winning the lottery and traveling to Sweden, or possibly to Wacken Open Air or somewhere like that. (WOA is, of course, on my bucket list.) I actually thought that it would be more likely for me to somehow wind up seeing Mathias Blad sing in a musical on a stage in Sweden than for Falconer to ever come to the United States. Seriously, I thought the odds of that happening were actually a lot higher. Never in a million years did I dream that the entire band would end up playing in the United States. They were the one band that I thought I would never see.
Then, one year ago, I won the lottery.
I. Flipped. Out. My reaction was literally that of someone who'd just won a million dollars, complete with the jumping up and down and screaming. I remember the exact moment I received this news. At the time, I lived in a house in Tempe, Arizona with two male roommates I had found on Craigslist. I lived there for a grand total of two months after moving back to the Phoenix area. I had just moved across the country, and hadn’t gotten back on my feet yet. I had been unemployed for two weeks so far and had no job prospects in sight just yet. I had very little money, if any money at all after such a big move. I was in the kitchen cooking some ramen noodles, and casually scrolling through Facebook on my phone when I saw a post from my friend Joan, who goes to ProgPower every year and is also a huge Falconite. The post was made to guitarist Jimmy Hedlund’s timeline, though I didn’t even notice that at first. All I saw was a reference to Joan’s “raptor shriek,” which she claimed could probably be heard all the way in Sweden, upon seeing the announcement video for the following year. Seeing the words “raptor shriek,” “Sweden,” and “next year’s ProgPower,” I immediately put two and two together... and stopped breathing.
Despite my financial situation, thoughts like “I can’t afford to go to Atlanta” or “How am I going to pay for this?” never entered my mind. I went straight to “I’M GOING TO SEE FALCONER” territory, and never looked back. Yes, it was three time zones away on the opposite end of the country, but it was still in MY country. Hell, even if it had been in Mexico or Canada… Falconer was going to be on the same continent as me, and I was going to be there. It was hard for me catch my breath for a moment. I couldn’t form cohesive sentences for several minutes, other than “OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I’M GOING TO SEE FALCONER.”
Now that my dream has come true, I have decided to do a song-by-song review of their entire setlist, which I will post in Part 2 of this review series, as my introduction has taken up enough space already. I had been looking forward to this for too long to do a one-page review of the entire show, so I’m splitting it into 3 parts: the introduction, the song-by-song, and then a general review of the overall performance and atmosphere, as well as a few extra songs I would have liked added to the setlist. There will also be a fourth (maybe even a fifth) entry, which will NOT be all about Falconer, but about my overall experience at ProgPower, the friends I met there, and the other bands I saw perform.
Stay tuned...
September 06, 2015
Top Ten Favorite + Most Underrated Falconer Songs
My internet was temporarily down yesterday, so I was unable to get my Friday blog post up on time. I also tend to miss my Tuesday posts lately, as it's been a busy couple of weeks leading up to my trip. We'll see if I can get back on track after I get home. If not, posts may be limited to once a week from now on, which is still an improvement over the neglect this blog has seen in the past.
Anyway, it is now the month of September. Yesterday marked one week until I get to see Falconer play their final live show at ProgPower USA. It is now only six days, thanks to my internet going AWOL last night. Five days until my flight. Four days until a lot of people get to begin celebrating ProgPower with Midweek Mayhem, though I personally will not be there until Friday's show.
One of Falconer's heavier songs, and the hard-hitting riffs made it an instant favorite. 2. Dreams and Pyres
This was actually the first song I heard by Falconer. This song made me a fan, and made me fall in love with Mathias Blad's voice. Incredibly well-composed and great performances by all involved. 3. En Kungens Man
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Tragic lyrics + beautiful acoustic guitar + Mathias' voice = amazing. 4. Child of the Wild, 2006 remake
A fantastic song from the moment it was originally released, but with the addition of Blad's vocals, it became twice the song it used to be. The instrumental bridge and the beautiful vocalizations near the end are some of my favorite moments in music. 5. Himmel Så Trind
I love the melancholy sound of the guitar. It reminds me of the cold depression of winter, but I can listen to it from the comfortable warmth of Arizona. I feel like this one is a bit underrated as far as Falconer songs go. 6. Vårvindar Friska
Another one of the most beautiful songs ever done by a metal band. No metal instruments in this one at all, but the piano and vocals make it. Since hearing this version, I've also listened to several other versions by other artists, and have yet to find one that came remotely close to being as beautiful. 7. Substitutional World
This is a totally badass metal track, but also includes a very musical-theatre moment with "The higher your lucky star rises..." I consider this the best of both worlds! 8. Carnival of Disgust
A great song all-around. And obviously the band knows it, since they made quite the epic music video for this track. 9. Upon the Grave of Guilt
I'm pretty sure everybody loves this song, and for good reason. It was the first track on their first album, and set the tone for their career. The music, lyrics and vocals were all a great look into the awesomeness that was to come. 10. The Clarion Call
Duh.
I believe Stefan Weinerhall himself has said this song isn't very good, but I think it's lovely! Particularly the piano during the first verse, and the low notes in the chorus. 2. The Past Still Lives On
I think the lyrics to this song are really cool. 3. Stand in Veneration
The a capella intro is amazing! It used to be my ringtone. The lyrics are pretty well-written too. 4. Ridom, Ridom
Maybe it's just because it was on a bonus disc, but I never hear anyone talk about it. This song is AWESOME. If my top 10 were a top 15 instead, this one would have been on it. 5. Dark Ages
Again, it's probably only because it was a bonus track, only appearing on the Japanese edition of the album. Still, it gets less recognition than I would expect for a song of its quality.
I am now preparing for my trip in ways that make it seem very real. Official packing is happening as we speak (except for while I'm typing this). I colored my hair with indigo yesterday so it will look good with my outfit for Corset Night. Today I made it to a third-party DMV location to replace my expired out-of-state ID with one the TSA will be less likely to reject when I get on my flight. I just have one last shopping trip, a few more errands to do, and to finish packing, and I will be good to go!
With only one week left to go, this will be the final installment of my once-a-week, pre-concert Falconer posts. It was hard to narrow down which Falconer songs to post to celebrate the milestone. So I've decided not to post any. Instead, I am sharing a list of my Top Ten Favorite Falconer Songs. I encourage you to listen to all of these songs, if you aren't familiar with them already. For those of you who are already Falconites, I thought you might find it interesting which songs I enjoy most. Feel free to share your own Top Tens, as well.
These are not necessarily in perfect order, and are subject to change at any time.
One of Falconer's heavier songs, and the hard-hitting riffs made it an instant favorite. 2. Dreams and Pyres
This was actually the first song I heard by Falconer. This song made me a fan, and made me fall in love with Mathias Blad's voice. Incredibly well-composed and great performances by all involved. 3. En Kungens Man
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Tragic lyrics + beautiful acoustic guitar + Mathias' voice = amazing. 4. Child of the Wild, 2006 remake
A fantastic song from the moment it was originally released, but with the addition of Blad's vocals, it became twice the song it used to be. The instrumental bridge and the beautiful vocalizations near the end are some of my favorite moments in music. 5. Himmel Så Trind
I love the melancholy sound of the guitar. It reminds me of the cold depression of winter, but I can listen to it from the comfortable warmth of Arizona. I feel like this one is a bit underrated as far as Falconer songs go. 6. Vårvindar Friska
Another one of the most beautiful songs ever done by a metal band. No metal instruments in this one at all, but the piano and vocals make it. Since hearing this version, I've also listened to several other versions by other artists, and have yet to find one that came remotely close to being as beautiful. 7. Substitutional World
This is a totally badass metal track, but also includes a very musical-theatre moment with "The higher your lucky star rises..." I consider this the best of both worlds! 8. Carnival of Disgust
A great song all-around. And obviously the band knows it, since they made quite the epic music video for this track. 9. Upon the Grave of Guilt
I'm pretty sure everybody loves this song, and for good reason. It was the first track on their first album, and set the tone for their career. The music, lyrics and vocals were all a great look into the awesomeness that was to come. 10. The Clarion Call
Duh.
And now for my list of five most underrated Falconer songs. I rarely, or never, hear these songs getting credit for being the awesome songs they actually are.
I believe Stefan Weinerhall himself has said this song isn't very good, but I think it's lovely! Particularly the piano during the first verse, and the low notes in the chorus. 2. The Past Still Lives On
I think the lyrics to this song are really cool. 3. Stand in Veneration
The a capella intro is amazing! It used to be my ringtone. The lyrics are pretty well-written too. 4. Ridom, Ridom
Maybe it's just because it was on a bonus disc, but I never hear anyone talk about it. This song is AWESOME. If my top 10 were a top 15 instead, this one would have been on it. 5. Dark Ages
Again, it's probably only because it was a bonus track, only appearing on the Japanese edition of the album. Still, it gets less recognition than I would expect for a song of its quality.
August 29, 2015
Weekly Falconer
Sorry I missed my Tuesday post. I have no excuse, except it's been a busy week and I forgot. So here's your Friday post instead, and once again, it is in celebration of Falconer. It is only two weeks now until I get to see them live at ProgPower USA. My outfit (as their performance falls on Corset Night) is complete, my friend from Austria who will be sharing this experience with me is about to get on a plane for the United States in a mere two days, and soon, packing of my own luggage will begin. As it draws nearer and nearer, it becomes harder to believe; especially when I realize how much money I spent on it. Between buying ProgPower tickets, reserving a hotel room, and paying for my flight, this is a very expensive trip all to see one band live. But worth every penny? Hell yes, it will be.
Today, we celebrate Falconer with my favorite song of theirs. It was Mathias Blad's vocals that got me into Falconer, but this song is one in which I feel the instruments are more impressive than the vocals. The riffs in this song have made it one of my all-time favorites. Every time it comes up on shuffle, I do a little happy dance in my mind. This is Herr Peder Och Hans Syster, from the 2011 album Armod, which features a real brother-sister singing team, Mathias and Heléne Blad.
As a bonus, I'm also sharing a car commercial that featured this song. Yes, a car commercial. That featured Falconer. This commercial blew every Falconer fan's mind when we first found out about it... and also let every Falconer fan down when we got to actually see it. While it's awesome that their song was used (and my favorite song at that!), it's comical, to say the least, that they chose the actors they did to fill in for the band members. I understand why the actual band couldn't be in the video, but whoever cast the roles clearly did not do their research, as the band in the commercial, particularly the vocalist, couldn't look less accurate. A long-haired, headbanging vocalist? Nope, definitely not the Mathias Blad we know. And that's part of his charm. But at least they got the logo right, and chose a badass song.
As a bonus, I'm also sharing a car commercial that featured this song. Yes, a car commercial. That featured Falconer. This commercial blew every Falconer fan's mind when we first found out about it... and also let every Falconer fan down when we got to actually see it. While it's awesome that their song was used (and my favorite song at that!), it's comical, to say the least, that they chose the actors they did to fill in for the band members. I understand why the actual band couldn't be in the video, but whoever cast the roles clearly did not do their research, as the band in the commercial, particularly the vocalist, couldn't look less accurate. A long-haired, headbanging vocalist? Nope, definitely not the Mathias Blad we know. And that's part of his charm. But at least they got the logo right, and chose a badass song.
August 22, 2015
Bi-Weekly Falconer Post
I'm a little late, as I had a very long night and was out late -- went to see a production of Gypsy that included two of my actor friends, and then had a late-night dinner with some of the cast members after the show. As a result, it is now 5:00 on Saturday morning. Who says musical theatre people don't know how to party? Anyway, since I haven't gone to bed yet, it is still Friday in my mind, and that means that it is exactly three weeks until ProgPower USA. Technically 20 days now, 'cause, you know, Saturday. But hey, 20 days is even better.
Because it's so late, and I do require some amount of sleep (thank goodness I don't have to work tomorrow), this entry will be short and to the point. The following is an example of why I cannot wait for the 11th to come around. This is just a video, and it has awful sound quality at that, but I'm still in a fit of ecstasy over the first song. That voice! After all these years I will finally hear him sing live. I especially can't wait for this song. Musically it isn't necessarily one of my favorites, but it showcases his voice so well... and that little vocal breakdown that occurs not once, but twice, has always been one of my favorite moments. I could listen to it over and over. Despite the horrible quality of this video, I have already listened to it several times, picturing how much more amazing it will be in person. Did I mention I'm really looking forward to this show?
August 19, 2015
Weekly Falconer Post
This week's pre-show Falconer post (leading up to ProgPower) consists of two music videos. First off, we have Falconer's first music video from 2005. Hopefully the band will have no hard feelings against me for posting this because it's quite a laughable video, and not intentionally. It was obviously very low-budget, and let's be honest, the video didn't turn out well at all. If I remember correctly, Stefan Weinerhall stated, before the video was even officially released, that it looked dumb and he was unhappy with it. Between the makeup, the staged headbanging and the horrible acting of the female lip-syncher who appears out of nowhere at the end (and isn't even the actual vocalist), this video is just plain bad.
That being said, I do like the song and its anthem-esque chorus. I would love if it, somehow, they decided to throw this into their set at ProgPower. With Mathias Blad singing it for what I believe would be the first time, and the crowd singing along with that chorus, it would make a fantastic farewell song for their final live show.
Anyway, without further ado, here's the video for Emotional Skies, from their 2005 album Grime Vs. Grandeur, featuring Kristoffer Göbel on vocals.
Now, to show what Falconer is capable of when they have a bit more of a budget... their awesome 2008 video for Carnival of Disgust, from the album Among Beggars and Thieves. A lot changed in 3 years, including the switch back to their original vocalist, Mathias Blad. Though the change in vocalist had nothing to do with the quality of their music videos, it did change the entire tone of the music when they brought him back. Check out the little vocal epilogue at the end of this video.
Now, to show what Falconer is capable of when they have a bit more of a budget... their awesome 2008 video for Carnival of Disgust, from the album Among Beggars and Thieves. A lot changed in 3 years, including the switch back to their original vocalist, Mathias Blad. Though the change in vocalist had nothing to do with the quality of their music videos, it did change the entire tone of the music when they brought him back. Check out the little vocal epilogue at the end of this video.
August 15, 2015
Tystnaden
Tystnaden is a band from Italy that I discovered several years ago. Though they've been around since 1999, it seems they've never achieved any significant amount of recognition, to the point that they don't even have an entry on Wikipedia and when I type their name into YouTube the first thing that comes up is a Swedish movie from 1963. In fact, I believe the band was named after this movie, if I remember correctly. Though the band is Italian, the word 'tystnaden' is not - it is actually Swedish for 'silence'
This isn't a band I've followed very loyally over the years. In fact, I didn't even know until just now that vocalist Laura De Luca left the band, which apparently happened a couple of years back. Laura was the vocalist on all of their album releases, but their Facebook page now has a ton of photos of new vocalist Giada Etro, who seems to have been performing live with the band as far back as 2013. That's what I get for not paying attention. That being said, I can't offer any opinions on Giada's vocals, as I've never heard her sing. Laura, on the other hand, had a very distinct voice and accent. The accent was a little strong for me, as it seemed she didn't actually speak English that well (and all of their lyrics are in English) but I do think she is a quality vocalist and can't be faulted for her accent. I can only imagine how horrible my accent would sound if I attempted to sing in Italian!
Anyway their music has been a bit hit-or-miss with me, but they do have several songs that I think are fantastic. They are touted as gothic metal, but some of their music is a bit too nu-metal sounding for my taste. However, not all of it is. I think that fans of bands like Epica and Lacuna Coil might like Tystnaden as well -- if they are fond of clean female vocals mixed with male grunty/growly vocals.
One thing that I really like in their music is how certain songs have very obvious Italian elements. One of the cool things about metal bands existing all over the world is when bands include elements of their country's traditional music in their metal.
Here are a few Tystnaden songs I really like. The first is a beautiful ballad that really speaks to me musically and lyrically. The other two are just really cool metal songs that also feature those Italian-sounding elements I spoke of.
August 11, 2015
One month until FALCONER
Back in September of last year, I made this post in a fit of ecstasy. I had just heard the announcement that Falconer would be performing their final live show at the ProgPower USA festival on September 11, 2015. This was huge news to me because Falconer's vocalist, Mathias Blad, is my all-time favorite singer, and I had been under the impression that I would never, ever have a chance to see them live. This is a mostly studio band who have performed only a handful of live concerts in their 15 years together. Of that handful, the majority took place during the short time Kristoffer Göbel was their lead vocalist instead of Mathias, who is unable to commit to touring due to his full-time job as a musical theatre actor. And of all the shows they've ever done, only one of them had been in the United States; it was 12 years ago and Kristoffer was vocalist at that time.
For all of these reasons, I, an American Falconite, thought that my chances of seeing Mathias live with Falconer were just about on par with my chances of seeing Elvis Presley. Until that day last year, I viewed it as so improbable that even putting it on my Bucket List would have been pointless. (Yes, I have a real Bucket List, and it does include attending certain concerts.) Plus, not only would this be their first and last show in the United States with Mathias, but their last live show ever; after this night, Falconer will continue as a strictly-studio band. This was literally a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I vowed that I would be there no matter what. Even though I had just made a move across the country and hadn't found a job yet, even though I would have to travel 2,000 miles to the concert venue, the question of "How can I make this happen?" never even entered my mind. I went straight into "I'm going to see Falconer" territory and never looked back. It was a blissful moment in which a halo of light surrounded me and a choir sang one heavenly note. I bought my ticket minutes after they went on sale (and they sold out within 6 days).
Now, only one month remains until that glorious day. An entire year of anticipation will come to an end in one monumental night.
Over the next month, many of the posts on this blog will be related to Falconer and ProgPower, to chronicle my preparation and journey toward one of the best musical nights of my life.
For now, I leave you with one of the most rare and beautiful Falconer songs: their 2006 remake of "Child of the Wild." This song was originally recorded with Kristoffer Göbel on their 2005 album, Grime vs. Grandeur. The following year, after Göbel had been fired and Mathias Blad had returned to the band, the song was re-recorded for their album Northwind. However, it was only released as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album. For the band's 15th anniversary, band leader Stefan Weinerhall was kind enough to upload the track to YouTube for all of us. Thanks, Stefan - for everything.
August 08, 2015
Hysterica's First Video - Lock Up Your Son
After ten years, two full-length albums and one EP, badass metal chicks Hysterica have finally released their first music video.
I love this band. Their first album was good, but their second one is one of my favorite albums. Almost every song on it is solid, one of those albums I can listen to all the way through without skipping anything. I appreciate that their music seems to incorporate several different subgenres of metal: power, doom, death, etc. but overall, it is just pure, unadulterated metal. I feel the same about their vocalist. She has some pretty impressive pipes, and I like that she just gets out there and sings her heart out. It sometimes seems like there are only two types of female singers in metal anymore: the "operatic" female voice and the "death growl" voice. This chick is just a metal singer who gives it her all.
When they announced last year or so that they had signed with a new label, I was hoping that something like this would happen. And I hope that they continue to move forward and receive the recognition they deserve. They have only released a 5-song EP on the new label so far, but the future is promising.
Hysterica seems to be continuing down the path of awesomeness with their new single, Lock Up Your Son, which has now been released as their first ever music video. It's a pretty straight-forward video, but I love the song!
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