 Today we present you the review of the first solo album of former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon, which will be released on march 31st.
The album, entitled "Shine", makes us discover a whole new style that is very different of her previous perfomances.
Click below to read the review. |
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 Today, we met with Sharon den Adel in Paris. Robert, Ruud and her were there to promote their soon to be released new album: The Unforgiving. We talked about the concept of the album, about the story of the comics it’s based upon and also about the movies that will revolve round it. Since we were given the chance to listen to the new songs, we were able to talk about the big step that the band is taking by bringing us an all new sound, very different from what they’ve done until now, and yet, still perfectly true to what Within Temptation is. |
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 This concert wasn’t supposed to be special at all: small venue, normal setlist length, no guest, no Ronald... Hence the expectations weren’t high, and it’s probably why the show wasn’t jinxed from the start! Against all odds, it was amazingly good! Even if the audience was the typical Dutch audience (understand dull…), the atmosphere was festive and dynamic. The band members were totally into the show. And Charlotte was so happy that she even ate one confetti or two! :) On a more serious note, Charlotte is getting more and more pro and charismatic every day. |
 Let’s honestly say that we mainly came to Enschede to finally see Krypteria perform again. The first time in Utrecht set the standards high: nice venue, nice stage and a kick-ass show. And tonight didn’t depart from the rule. Even if the band only got a very small part of the stage, it didn’t stop them from radiating that energy their music is all about. They nicely won over the audience and woke everybody up in a record time. On the downside, only one thing: the set was painfully short. Next time: headliner show! |
 On February 28th, after 3 years of tough waiting, we had the pleasure to meet again with the 4 inhabitants of Krytperiapolis! :) Six months after the release of their last album My Fatal Kiss, they presented us with this new record, the way it was created and the way they feel about it now. We talked about the importance of live experience in their music. If you haven't listened to their record yet, don't wait any longer. |
 Supposedly this was going to be a very special concert, turns out it wasn't really that different from normal gigs. Apart from guest appearances by Floor and Marco (who by the way had big microphone problems), there wasn't really anything special about it. The sound wasn't very good, music tended to be much louder then vocals up to the point where you would have to look at Charlotte to know she was actually singing.
The whole thing also had a kind of sad atmosphere to it, because this was after all Ronald's last gig.
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 The Night Of The Proms is not a metal rendez-vous, and yet, this evening was by far the best we had in a long time. First, it was a huge venue and the audience brought a lot of emotion to the show. The atmosphere was magic and, of course, being able to see our metal queen singing Stairway To Heaven together with John Miles was a unique moment. She also sang two WT songs: Ice Queen and Stand My Ground. The intro before Ice Queen was both aesthetically and musically perfect since it was a Mother Earth and Ice Queen combo played by an orchestra! One didn't even miss the rest of the band! :D |
 Things were off to a bad start, beginning with the choice of the venue. Elysée Montmartre is just too big for Delain. Besides, promotion for the show was quasi inexistent. Hence, the venue wasn’t crowded and people who were there didn’t seem to know what they came for. The audience wasn’t won over from the start, and the band didn’t make a big effort to change that fact. The concert mechanically happened… song after song… but it was very deceiving. But Charlotte was there, she performed, even if she was very sick a few days before. The effort is worth mentioning! |
 It turned out to be a really special evening for Whyzdom, they were joined on stage by their backing vocalists. This gig concluded their tour with Delain. Both bands were very pleased having worked together. One could tell that the band members really enjoyed performing, and put everything into it, allowing the audience to really be part of the show. They really form a good performing band. And it’s always a pleasure to hear Daughter Of The Night live! |
 That band had quite a good energy out flowing. The singer had an interesting voice -a powerful one- but I can’t say I was a big fan of her style on stage. Her attitude was way too much aggressive, and not in a good way... more in a sexual ‘look at me’ kind of way. But well, the band doesn’t exist anymore. |
 This concert was by far the best concert of Delain! The atmosphere was electric! The French audience is known for its enthusiasm and just proved that again. Each band member let itself get carried away by the warm welcome of the crowd. The atmosphere went crescendo during the whole show, and therefore when Charlotte announced that it was the last song, the crowd kept on screaming and singing “No! No! No!” without letting them play it. There was a lot of complicity exchanged. Technically speaking, the sound and the lights were perfect. 10/10! |
 One year after their first concert, this young band got the opportunity to open for Delain in Paris. And well, I might say that they perfectly grabbed their chance. They managed to radiate good energy and their enthusiasm was a pleasure to see. The sound wasn’t perfect though, Telya’s voice was a little bit covered by the instruments. But, well, her charisma won us over anyway! And just one word about the final headbang: way to go! |
 This was the first concert of the band in Italy. Fans were expecting them and they brought them a lot of tasty presents. But when the show started the atmosphere was not as good as expected. People were kind of dull which is weird coming from a Latin crowd. The performance wasn’t perfect: bad lights and sound. The setlist was disappointing as well since it featured rather slow songs combined in a soporific order. And while the new single April Rain was awaited for, it wasn’t played at all. |
 This band was a very nice discovery. The musical style didn’t seem interesting at first since it was neo metal but the band members made it worth it anyway. They were extremely communicative, especially the singer and the bass player... maybe a little bit too much towards women, but still, in a nice and enjoyable way. The crowd enjoyed it and was perfectly ready to welcome Delain afterwards. |
 This Italian band launched the night with energy! There were a lot of interactions with the audience and the tone was set pretty quickly. Even if they didn’t look that professional, it didn’t matter a bit since they succeeded in warming up the crowd. Their musical style had nothing to do with Delain, but it didn’t kept This Grace from having a good time, together with the crowd. |
 Heavenly was the headliner of the festival and weirdly it didn’t feel like it. They played late in the evening and a lot of people already left. It didn’t help them to play after Kragens because it felt like the band didn’t feel at ease on stage. The lights were particularly bad and the singer had some problems holding the notes. |
 What’s nice about Kragens is that they looked far more experienced than the other bands. They covered the stage perfectly and the singer was very charismatic. You could feel the metal spirit and it was really nice to look at. Like Style Trip, you could really see that they were happy to be here and that they felt at home! The crowd was very receptive as well. |
 Even if the venue wasn’t that crowded, the atmosphere was very nice during this concert. The band members had a good energy and it got to the audience. The good mood was enjoyable! Unfortunately, the lights weren’t that nice, but it didn’t necessarily came from the band since it was like that al night. Cool show anyway! |
 This show was a bit disappointing. Musically speaking, it was regular heavy metal, nothing less and nothing more. The musicians were enthusiastic and tried to develop a good atmosphere... but it didn’t work that well. The singer seemed not to be relaxed. It felt like there was some kind of reserve. He just didn’t seem to enjoy it enough. |
 Crushing Blow was the first band to play. It clearly has many drawbacks, among which the fact that the venue was partly empty. The festival started quite early and people were only starting to show up when Crushing Blow appeared on stage. Anyway, the show was good. The audience responded well to the energy they brought. They were the only female fronted band that night and it surely didn’t keep them from perfectly launching the night! |
 Since the crowd was quite enthusiastic about the support act, we could expect a warm welcome for the leading one, and, quite frankly, it wouldn’t be fair to only call it ‘warm’. People really brought a lot of energy to the show and there were a lot of interactions. The crowd sang along on almost every song. The only negative point would be the groupie attitude of some of the girls in the audience. They literally went crazy each time Roy walked on their side of the stage. The hysterical screams and gestures were clearly too much! |
 Tonight, Delain played as a support act for Kamelot. It was their first concert in France since the release of their new album April Rain. Even if the music style of Delain is not that close to Kamelot’s, the audience seemed to really appreciate the band. They gave them a warm welcome even if most of them didn’t know the songs. Ronald was very sick and barely standing on stage, but it seems that the crowd carried him throughout the show. |
 We met with Martijn just before Delain's 7th concert in France, this time supporting Kamelot. We talked a lot about the release of their second album April Rain. He answered some questions about the writing process and the structure of the songs. Martijn also explained to us that they were working on a tour in France as well as on a special show in the Netherlands. |
 This concert was a big performance. The lights were amazingly nice and the pyro effects very enjoyable. The band members covered the stage very well and Roy was extremely charismatic! The Dutch audience, usually so calm, was clearly having fun and showing it, which is not that surprising since the concert was sold out. That day was Oliver’s birthday, and it was celebrated with a nice birthday song! Besides everything else, there were two special guests that night: Simone Simons featuring on The Hauting, and Amanda Somerville featuring on Love You To Death. |
 Unfortunately, this show wasn’t better than the previous one. It was only shorter since Delain played as a support act for Kamelot. The setlist was once again disappointing. The songs Virtue And Vice and Control The Storm aren’t heavy enough. When only three “old” songs are played, Sleepwalkers Dream isn’t a good choice because it’s far less dynamic than A Day For Ghosts or Silhouette Of A Dancer for example... Again, the sound was quite bad. The audience didn’t seem to be into the show. |
 Serenity was the first band to play that night but it didn’t feel like it at all since the crowd gave them a warm welcome. The atmosphere was very nice and the band seemed to enjoy it a lot. The singer was quite charismatic. Of course, the lights weren’t that nice... as it was the case all evening. But everybody seemed to have a good time, that’s what matters! |
 This release party was quite disappointing. First of, one song of the new album wasn’t played: Start Swimming. It would have required an acoustic set and the band didn’t think it was a priority... The sound was bad. We could only really hear the drums. Therefore it was difficult to judge the quality of the new songs on a live level. The lights sucked big time: there only seemed to be a white one and it didn’t even light up the faces of the band members. Besides, the Dutch audience was once again sleeping. The highlights of the show were Go Away and Lost for those two songs were the only dynamic ones that night. Still, the band was really enthusiastic about that release, so let’s wait for more. |
 The last time we saw HammerFall play, it was in Wacken and it was a kicking ass show. People were crowd surfing everywhere and the stage set was beautiful. So this show was a little bit disappointing. The lights weren’t that good. The band members and the audience were having fun but the magic didn’t operate. Besides, after the energy that Sabaton brought on stage, it was difficult to do better. But well, the hammer will surely fall another time! |
 They arrived on stage like bullets! The lights were explosive and perfectly fit for the musical and esthetical style of the band. The singer was extremely charismatic and covered the stage admirably well! It was difficult to stop staring at him! It’s nice to see such performers! Sabaton’s show definitely was the highlight of the evening. |
 This classic heavy metal band was opening for Sabaton and HammerFall. They brought some energy to the stage and covered the space quite well, but, during the concert, people were still arriving in the venue and the audience was mainly waiting for the two other bands to show up. So they did quite a nice job entertaining those who were listening. |
 Tonight, Lordi played in Lyon in front of an audience that seemed quite… hum, let's just say asleep. Of course the arrival of the monsters on stage, together with some nice fireworks, awakened the first rows of the venue, but, well, nothing spectacular happened amongst the crowd. And yet, the show was awesome. The Finnish monsters appeared to be, once again, great entertainers. Aesthetically, the stage looked like the scene of a horrorflick, and new elements were brought up on stage all along the show: burned dolls, chain saw, bazooka, beheading material… well every detail was thoughtfully chosen and this whole production, along with the enthusiastic presence of the musicians, made this evening an exquisitely funny and enjoyable moment.
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 This was a regular heavy metal performance. It wasn’t that original but it was simply nice to look at. The singer and the musicians seemed to have fun on stage and they didn’t keep it for themselves: they interacted with the audience. The singer was rather charismatic. There also was a good interaction between the band members. Nice concert. |
 This concert was musically ok. Without knowing the band before the show, it was possible to really enjoy the songs. But, the singer seemed to be so self-centred that it was difficult to avoid hating him a little bit! Besides, hiring a girl dressed like a ... hum let’s just say not that much dressed... coming and going during the concert and being sexually provocative, is a move that’s subject to objection. |
 The venue was really crowded when the Marseillais arrived on stage. The audience couldn’t wait to see them and the band received a damn warm welcome. Of course, things didn’t stop there. The atmosphere got hot, and remained that way the whole show. And it soon became clear why the crowd was supporting them so much: the band members infected them with their energy and there was a lot of interaction. Candice was always on the very front of the stage, and even if the many crowd surfers didn’t make it easy, she stood her ground until the end! |
 Sikh faced the difficult task of opening for Eths in Marseille. They put a lot of energy into it. The singer really tried to get to the crowd. He even had the courage to jump from the stage. Not sure it worked out fine for him, but hey, he tried, that’s what matters. The band succeeded in waking up the crowd in time for the headliner. |
 We met with Candice and Staif from Eths before their concert in Marseille, their native city. We talked about their tour in South America for their last album Tératologie. They explained to us how this album was created, and in which way it's different from their first EPs Autopsie and Samantha. Since Tératologie was released in October of 2007, we learned that they just started working on some new material. The interview is available both in English and in French. Don't miss the subtitled video message. |
 This event was brought to life by the mind of Joost van den Broek and took place three days after Christmas. For that special night, the keyboard player of After Forever (RIP) gathered a nice amount of metal vocalists and musicians, as long as a classical orchestra. The idea was to use some great metal songs to tell a story. Here are some of the artists present that day: Doro Pesch, Chuck Billy (Testament), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Mats Levén (Therion), Johan Edlund (Tiamat), Ian Parry (Consortium Project), Floor Jansen (After Forever), George Oosthoek (Orphanage), Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion). The evening exceeded all expectations: it was simply magical! |
 It had been seven months since we saw Kingfisher Sky for the last time. In the same venue where they once amazed us, they came on stage to play the songs from their debut album Hallway Of Dreams. To be completely honest, the concert was not as good as the last one, which doesn’t mean that it wasn’t enjoyable! It only means that it will be very hard to surpass this unique concert. But the band showed us that they have all the elements to get there again. Thanks for the nice evening! |
 We were happy to see this band again. We didn’t quite appreciate their performance the first time. We thought that there wasn’t enough energy going on. Well, this time was better than the first one. The singer seemed much more confident on stage than 10 months ago. It also felt like the band members were enjoying themselves more. And of course it was a nice surprise to see Luuk van Gerven play bass guitar that night. |
 Just before Kingfisher Sky's second concert in the Boerderij, we met with Ivar de Graaf, the drummer and co-founder of the band. We talked about the debuts of Kingfisher Sky, especially their first album Hallway Of Dreams. We also discussed the writing process of the second album, which has already started. |
 Le Poste à Galène is a very small venue in Marseille. It wasn’t full, but there were a lot of people waiting for this atypical band. And it’s safe to say that no one was disappointed! The duo covered the stage perfectly. They are only two of them, but they have enough energy to entertain the crowd for a whole concert. This performance was refreshing! |
 After the concert of Korpiklaani in Marseille, we had the nice surprise to be able to meet with their bassist Jarkko Aaltonen. We talked about the Finnish Fire Tour and some other old gigs. He also gave us his point of view about the evolution of their music. We learned that the writing of the next album was well started, and that the release date was planned for the 16th of September 2009. It was a really nice meeting! |
 The headliners of this Finnish Fire Tour gave a great performance. Even in this quite small venue, the lights were amazing and the sound was good as well. The musicians seemed to be in a jovial mood, and this feeling quickly spread to the audience that was more than willing to join the party. It was a festive and pleasant way to spend the end of the evening. |
 The last time we saw Battlelore was at the Metal Female Voices Festival in 2007. At that time, we were a little bit disappointed because we were expecting much more energy from them. Tonight, the energy was there, at least at the beginning, and the audience really appreciated it. The beginning of the setlist was gripping but the effect seemed to progressively tail away. And finally, the lights were awful and it was hard to fully enjoy the costumes and makeup. |
 That night, Kivimetsän Druidi was the second band to play and their performance on stage made the evening take a turn for the better. The lead singer seemed really enthusiastic, and her cheerfulness seemed to win everyone over. Their music was a nice discovery and it’s clearly something worth listening to. Don’t miss them if you have the opportunity to see one of their concerts. |
 The greatest achievement of the theatre tour was the magical atmosphere that both the stagecraft and the musical production managed to create. The lights were very soft and they evolved in harmony with the music variations. The musicians who don’t belong to the usual line-up were standing behind a see-through projector screen. All we could see were their silhouettes which looked like the shadows of some dancing ghosts moving alternately from dark places to fiery glows. The images that were projected on the screen were not too omnipresent and they fitted the environment well. If you were seated in one of the upper circles of the theatre, you really could appreciate the combination of all those unusual elements. While the first part of the show was mainly acoustic, the second part consisted of electric songs played in the usual way. This is the only little thing that would have required some improvement. |
 When Within Temptation announced that there was going to be a Theater Tour, we immediately knew that they would come with something really special. But, the truth is that when you really appreciate a band and when you see them regularly, you tend to forget how a thrill it was to see them on stage at the very beginning… Well, the first tones of this concert instantly refreshed our memory. The feeling was magical. When we heard the intro of Towards The End, it was like a sudden shiver running through us. That night was an exquisite way to rediscover what makes this band one of a kind. |
 Well, the problem with Epica is always the same: Yves seems to be bored like hell, but this time he wasn’t the only one: Ad also wore a happy face... Simone was into the show, but still doing a lot of funny faces which tend to make you forget that the music is kicking ass. Mark knows how to handle French audience; he was enthusiastic as usual, but maybe a little less into the show. The crowd wasn’t that enthusiastic as well. Nothing special happened. |
 This concert was a pretty nice surprise. The musical style isn’t that original on the paper and yet it sounded interesting. While the musicians were well focused onto the show, the lead singer seemed to have a good time and shared it with the crowd. |
 This band is clearly gaining experience and getting more professional. The performance was good. Each band member tries to bring some energy to the mix. They try hard and the crowd appreciates it. Parts of the audience really welcomed them well. It was a nice show to look at even if the way the singer moves can feel too much inspired. |
 Bad lights, a lot of smoke... Kane made it difficult to take nice pictures. They were playing as headliners of the evening, so the crowd welcomed them nicely. |
 It was quite nice to see Within Temptation at the Appelpop festival again. Two years ago, the show was memorable so this night had to come up to our expectations. And it kind of did. Sharon was particularly dynamic and cheerful. She played her role perfectly and the fireworks brought their usual kicking ass touch to the show. The audience was theirs from the beginning to the end! |
 Before Within Temptation's concert in Appelpop, Robert Westerholt took the time to answer some of our questions. We talked about the release of the Black Symphony DVD. Another part of the discussion involved the upcoming Theater Tour. We talked a little bit about the future and more precisely about the next album. To conclude, we came back on the Rock en France performance, where WT opened for Metallica. |
 Well, I don’t have anything to comment on since it wasn’t a show, but let’s take the opportunity to talk about the band members of Within Temptation. What’s extremely nice about them all is that they always take the time to have a chat. It’s not something that they’re forced to do. They simply do it, without being condescending or anything. They’re just themselves: funny, nice, kind. It’s not something that happens often with a band of their range. And since you’re about to watch some photos, two words about Sharon: exquisitely beautiful! |
 We met with Stef Broks and Jochem Jacobs, the drummer and one of the guitarists of Textures, right after their show in Appelpop. We mainly talked about their last album Silhouettes. They told us how the writing process usually goes. We talked about the general atmosphere of the album and they explained to us in which way this album perfectly fits the band's idea of making music. They also looked back on 2008 and we evoked their project of touring in North America next year. |
 Agua de Annique played on the small stage of the Appelpop festival. The performance was nice as usual. Anneke sang her songs, sometimes standing, sometimes sitting, but always smiling! The crowd seemed pretty receptive to the show. One of the downsides though was that they played so early that the lights of the day were still too present and they took away part of the magic! |
 Leaf’s an acoustic pop rock band. Since it’s not really our kind of music, it’s difficult to judge the quality of the show. Anyway, the lights were nice, and the band members interacted quite well. |
 Within Temptation opened for Metallica. The band seemed very enthusiastic about it and you could see that they put their hearts into it. Unfortunately, the large majority of the Mets fans present that day were narrow-minded people. They booed and screamed insanely as soon as the first note rang without even trying to listen to the music. It’s really sad to see such a display of disrespect. |
 Unfortunately, Gojira were the first to play this evening and when they started the first song, half of the crowd was still waiting outside the gates of the Grand’Place of Arras. As a consequence, a lot of Gojira’s fans could only guess which songs their favourite band was playing far away from them. The persons who were already in seemed to enjoy the show, even if they didn’t demonstrate loads of energy. |
 Despite the fact that everything was ready on stage, the concert still started 25 minutes behind schedule. But the band made up for it! Sharon and Robert were in an extremely good mood, and even if Sharon had some voice problems, she kept singing until the end. She also moved and smiled much more than usual. The headbangings were perfect! Don’t miss the Ice Queen video! |
 Among the persons attending this free festival, only a few seemed to be there for Delain. As a consequence, the beginning of the concert was a bit disappointing. People weren’t into it. But, soon enough, the atmosphere started to warm up and it didn't stop until the end. The band and the crowd really connected, and everyone was jumping on The Gathering at the end. |
 This Belgian gothic orientated band exists since 1996. They released three albums and an EP. The last album is called Last Crusades and was released in 2007. Even at this small free festival, they seemed to have a nice fan base who didn’t hesitate to sing along each time the singer let them do so. It was a nice performance. Check them here: http://www.starindustry.be. |
 Vegas For Millions is a 4 years old Dutch rock band. The band is composed of three musicians: a bassist, a drummer and the singer who also plays the guitar. They released their first album in 2007. Since then, they keep doing what they did before: touring in the Netherlands. Check out their music on their official website. |
 Delain played at 5 PM, and it wasn’t very crowded in front of the stage. If it’s any consolation, the band that played after them didn’t get half of this audience. Therefore, the atmosphere wasn’t that good. Only a small part of the crowd was interacting with the band. The energetic combo of songs: Sever, A Day For Ghosts and Pristine came too late and, thus, didn’t get a chance to wake up the crowd. |
 Silkstone released their first album For A Reason in 2003. Five singles were released in the same period. Their second album Here In Your World was released in 2008 and has been listed for 4 weeks on the Dutch Albums Top 100. Check this rock band official website. |
 This very young Dutch band describes itself as an emo orientated rock band. They released one demo so far, but they already show a lot of energy on stage. The singer knows how to behave live, but he still needs some practising to keep his voice up. Let’s wish them all the best in the future. Their website is still awaited for, so check their MySpace page instead. |
 This concert was clearly better than the previous one in Bathmen two years ago. Tonight, Within Temptation played just before their trip to Spain. So they seemed perfectly rested. Therefore, they radiated lots of good energy. The fireworks were nice, and the Dutch audience was totally into it. Once again, the concert was visually perfect! |
 For starters, let’s say that Charlotte was just stunning. She was smiling a lot. She seemed relaxed and enjoying herself. After a series of concerts that didn’t go smoothly, this event was the perfect occasion to shine, and they did! No technical problem this time. All the band members were very happy to play. Let’s hope this night was the sign that luck has turned! |
 This rock band was the first one to play that night. They were very dynamic on stage, which is a really good thing. But, unfortunately, there were two many quiet songs in the setlist and the atmosphere wasn’t “deep” enough to allow the audience to stay focused on the show. Besides, instead of trying until the end, a few of the band members lost their concentration as well. |
 This gig was one of the best of 2008. The special energy that radiated that night was exceptional. What’s really amazing is that Kingfisher Sky is very young, but they already display a kind of unity that makes them shine altogether, along with their music. It was very nice to have a cello player as a live guest. The sound of the different instruments was perfectly set, especially the drums, which (sadly) reminded the early stages of Within Temptation. |
 This 5-months old band performed in an extremely interesting way. First of all, their musical genre is fusion, which is characterized by variations in tempo and rhythm. But each one of the dynamics that the band chose to play was linked to the other ones by a story that the singer was reading with a perfect British and charismatic accent. The atmosphere that they manage to build was an ideal opening for Kingfisher Sky. |
 It had been a long time since our last concert of Epica, and, despite all of the critics that we expressed regarding Simone in the past; we were delighted to see her back on stage. This concert was unique since the band played their debut album The Phantom Agony. It was a great present for the fans, and the perfect way to welcome back Simone, who totally enjoyed herself on stage. And bravo for the special disco version of the song The Phantom Agony! |
 To be perfectly honest, this concert wasn’t so good. The sound was very bad set, and, because of a technical problem, Charlotte couldn’t hear herself and the show had to stop for a few minutes. As a consequence, the setlist was shortened, and both the band and the audience weren’t into the show. It was pretty chaotic. Let’s hope it won’t happen again. |
 It was nice to hear the first notes of Lost and Found again. The venue was less crowded than in Paris, but the people were very enthusiastic as well. The sound was once again really good, and the voice of Anneke was once again perfect. The cover of Earth and Fire had again a very energizing effect. As for Witnesses… Please don’t stop playing it: “It’s such a wonderful feeling”! |
 We met with Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) in between the two concerts that Agua de Annique played in France. Therefore, she was able to give us her impressions about the French audience. We discussed a lot of matters related to ADA first album Air, as well as the next album. She also answered our questions about her past and upcoming projects and appearances asides the band. |
 The next day, Agua de Annique did an acoustic performance in – as Anneke cutely pronounced it - “the Fnac”. It was a good occasion to hear songs which weren’t played live in Paris: Yalin, Pretty Girl, Old Lies, Into Temptation, Blackbird and Take Care. And it was also very nice to enjoy the voice of Anneke and Joris in this acoustic context. Next concert? Hum… “Maybe tonight!” |
 This concert was the 2nd show of Agua de Annique outside the Netherlands. Anneke seemed very happy to play in Paris again, and the audience was even happier to meet with the ex-singer of The Gathering. The venue was full, and the audience gave a very warm welcome to the band. The atmosphere was filled with emotion, and the setlist was very pleasant. When do we meet again? “Maybe tomorrow…” |
 The Swedish band was awaited for, and they clearly didn’t disappoint anyone. The show was very professional and powerful. No time to breath. The setlist was a perfect mix of old and new songs and the audience screamed all along. It’s really cool to keep playing the old stuff. Of course, Angela's charisma was huge and all the comments she addressed to the crowd were very nice. Keep growling! |
 The temperature in the Bataclan was as always extremely hot. No need to warm up, and yet this Dutch band did a really good job in opening for Arch Enemy. The audience was very receptive to them and enjoyed the music a lot. The singer was very dynamic and he didn’t hesitate to lean forward in order to sing with the audience. Really good show! |
 It’s always weird to attend a concert in the Netherlands after attending one in France. First, people are unusually polite, second: they are totally sleeping during the show. The band members seemed more rested than in Paris a month ago, except for Charlotte who gave us all a dreadful fright during SOAD. But well, as she perfectly put it: “The show must go on!”, and it did! |
 After his Detonation concert just before Christmas and his guest appearance with After Forever the same evening, it was nice to see Koen Romeijn on stage again. Unfortunately this time he didn’t growl. The rhythms of the Cardamon music were mainly slow. Some songs sounded like Autumn music. For those of you who like atmospheric things, try it here: http://www.cardamon.nl!
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 The cafe was completely full for the release party of the new Ayreon album: 01011001. A lot of guest musicians were there for the event: Floor Jansen and Joost van den Broek (After Forever), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Magali Luyten, Wudstik, Marjan Welman (Autumn), Liselotte Hegt, Robert Soeterboek, Lori Linstruth (Stream of Passion), Peter Vink, Ed Warby (Gorefest), Ben Mathot. |
 For those who don't know this band yet, we're talking about a Dutch band co-founded by one of the former drummers of Within Temptation: Ivar de Graaf. The whole show was very enjoyable and its main interest laid in the peaceful atmosphere that the band managed to create. The setlist was a perfect balance between calm atmospheric songs and more energetic ones. |
 This show was Delain's first one as headliners in France, so the pressure was high. But everything worked out extremely well. The concert was sold out. The crowd was crazy, so crazy that Charlotte had to wait a lot between the songs to be able to cover the cheering screams. In a way, this concert was even more enjoyable than the one that the band did in the Zenith. |
 This french band was not received that well as a support act for Delain. The problem was mainly due to the musical genre of Jadallys, which didn't perfectly fit the one of the headliners. Indeed, whereas Delain's music is known to be rather energetic, Jadallys' one turned out to be much more atmospherical and calm. |
 Just before a sold-out show in Paris, we interviewed Charlotte Wessels from Delain. We talked about their recent European tour as headliners. Charlotte gave us a lot of information concerning their upcoming album. To conclude, she drew a little portrait of each band member. |
 This was the last concert of AF before Xmas, and the band offered a few presents. We had 3 special guests: Dennis Schreurs from Severe Torture, Koen Romeijn from Detonation, and last but not least: Floor’s sister, Irene, who sang alone on Who I Am. Follow In The Cry was the occasion of a little Jingle Bells cover. Floor never looked better. But logically, at this time of the year, the audience was exhausted, and thus a little bit sleepy… |
 Detonation is a technical and melodic death/thrash metal Dutch band from Utrecht. Their performance tonight was very good. The singer is a great grunter, and the melodies bring a very nice touch to the whole thing. Go check a part of the performance on their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/detonationnl. The video is called: Heavy X-mass Fest. |
 Unfortunately, I only heard a few songs of the setlist, but the energy was there once again! This band is now an integral part of the Dutch “gothic” metal scene and it’s surely a matter of time before they become more famous. Check out their new album Falling From Grace. |
 This show was the last try-out before the Eindhoven gig. We had the big honor to hear an acoustic version of Forgiven on stage. A lot of French people were present that night, and we were armed with confetti, serpentines and balloons (watch the Ice Queen video!). Therefore, the atmosphere was much more energetic than the usual Dutch one. |
 This third part of the show was a perfect conclusion! Charlotte looked much more relaxed, and all the band members seemed to enjoy themselves a lot. So did the crowd actually! One question though: why no Deep Frozen? Anyway! Thanks a lot to the guests, and congratulations to Delain: mission completed! |
 After 6 electric songs, among which the new song Stay Forever, the band members went back on stage, all dressed up, for the acoustic session. Charlotte wore a long white dress, and the guys classy costumes. It was the occasion to hear a second new song, untitled yet, as long as two covers: Cordel (The Cranberries) and How Can We Hang On To A Dream (Tim Hardin), both of them really well interpreted! |
 Finally! The awaited special show, in a very special venue: the Broerenkerk Church! Did this special evening with Delain exceed our expectations? Yes it did! The evening was divided in three parts: electric set / acoustic set (everyone suited up!) / electric set. Sharon den Adel, Liv Kristine, George Oosthoek and Guus Eikens were all happily present. A major moment! |
 A kick ass show for a kick ass band and a kick ass singer! :) First of all, Chibi is an amazing performer! Extremely charismatic! She loves being on stage, and she clearly makes sure that the audience has fun too. Her interactions with the crowd are surprisingly true. And the so special atmosphere of the band is also present on stage, stronger than ever! |
 The first thing to say about this band is that they have a very dynamic singer, which radiated a lot of energy to the show. But this is not surprising, since they are German, and German bands are usually great performers. Their musical style was also dynamic, as well as refreshing and various. The female bass player vocal backups were interesting. |
 We met with Chibi and Rainbow before their concert in Lyon. After a quick presentation of their evolution these last 8 years, we talked about their last album Walking With Strangers. They gave us details about the writing process, the concept behind it and the artwork surrounding it. To conclude, they explained to us how their fans support is important and rewarding. |
 Lycosia played that night with their new line-up for the first time. Unfortunately, the evening was running late, and all the consequences were on them. They didn’t get the time to do their soundchecks, and they only played for less than one hour. But all the members were focused into the show, and thus the performance was very good anyway. |
 This band was the first one to play. People were still arriving during their show, so the conditions weren’t ideal, but they did a good job. Listening to them was pleasant. The singer even disappeared from stage, to reappear a few seconds later in the audience. He sang from there a few minutes, and then went back on stage. |
 This concert was very special for Leaves’ Eyes because they were recording their new DVD. The set, a huge Viking boat, was beautiful. The lights also looked extremely nice. The band members seemed very pleased to be there, and they enjoyed the event a lot. The crowd was completely into the show. Let’s now wait for the DVD release in 2008. |
 Epica delivered a very good performance! Even if they weren’t the headliners that night, a huge part of the audience was there for them, and they made sure to make it clear! It was amazing to see the crowd so into the show. The fire effects added another dimension to the concert, and it’s really something which suits Epica well. |
 The band members of this German band were very dynamic on stage, and it resulted in a great performance. The crowd welcomed them extremely well, and the band appreciated it a lot since this concert was their first in a long time. It was definitely a pleasant moment! |
 This concert was certainly a good one, but compared to the one in Paris, it was clearly less powerful. The band members were motivated, but the crowd was not reactive enough. Anyway, it was our best Delain concert in Belgium! :) |
 Just before a big signing session, Mark Jansen answered extremely nicely our questions regarding Epica. We talked about their first US tour as headliners, their last album The Divine Conspiracy, an eventual second single, their experience with Nuclear Blast, and their CD presentation. |
 We met with Kris Scheerlinck, ex member of the Belgian band Sengir, guitarist and founder member of Valkyre, and also Gaelle Pruvost (keyboards & additional vocals). We talked about the evolution of the band from its creation in 2004 to the extremely recent release of their new 4-track CD called Consolamentum. |
 This time, the sound was very good, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. I’m wondering if the singer of the band applied to Tuomas Holopainen during his casting phase, because her way of moving on stage makes her an amazing clone of Tarja Turunen, but sadly not on a vocal level. Besides, the use of samples for the male grunts was a big mistake. |
 The concert of Battlelore was a little bit disappointing because we were expecting a much more dynamic performance. The sword of the singer brought a lot, but not enough! But since their last CD Evernight is very enjoyable, let’s just wait for another occasion to see them. |
 Draconian came all the way from Sweden, and they were the only doom band of the day. They delivered a very good performance, and the audience seemed to appreciate it a lot since the only feedbacks that we got were very positive. |
 The performance of this french band was really enjoyable. The singer was extremely dynamic, and it conveyed a lot of power to the show. The musical style of the band was very different from the rest of the bands present this afternoon, and it was kind of refreshing. Definitely a band to look into. |
 Valkyre was the first band to play this afternoon, and they opened the second day of this festival very well. Unfortunately, we missed the first couple of songs, but the performance got to us anyway. The audience seemed to appreciate, especially their last song A Good Day To Die, which concluded the setlist perfectly! |
 First of all, it was surprising to find this particular band, playing between Delain and Within Temptation on a few European dates. Their musical style is indeed quite different from the two other ones and the biggest part of the audience wasn’t there for them at all. So even if they delivered a great performance, the crowd didn’t seem to realize it, nor to appreciate it. |
 We interviewed Delain a first time earlier this year, before their first concert in France. Tonight, we met with Charlotte Wessels again, just before Delain’s 5th French gig. We talked about the band experiences with the French audience. We also mentioned Delain’s burning issues. And finally, we discussed the band’s future. |
 Just before Within Temptation’s concert in Paris, we spent half an hour talking with the guitarist Ruud Jolie. He answered our questions about the US Tour, the upcoming special concerts in Eindhoven and Rotterdam (with the Metropole Orchestra), the new single, the multiple nominations for Belgian, Dutch and European awards, and also the special relation that the band has with their fans. |
 After taking a nap during the second support act, the crowd was all rested and ready to get crazy again, seizing each opportunity they got to scream for Jane Doe. As promised during the show in the Bataclan, the band played 3 special songs: Aquarius, It’s The Fear and of course Jane Doe. They also added Final Destination to this special setlist. So dank je wel from all the French fans, and especially to Sharon, who was more dynamic than ever! |
 Delain was the first band to play, and yet, it just looked like the whole audience came for them. The crowd was totally into it, screaming, singing, jumping on The Gathering! And I won’t even mention how crazy it got when, once again (thanks!) Sharon joined Charlotte on No Compliance. The band members seemed extremely happy, and it just felt right, because they deserve it! |
 The setlist of this concert was the same as the previous ones, but for the first time in quite a long time, and this is a personal point of view, we found nothing bad to say about the show. It was a good AF show, very professional, but also very energetic and exciting. Everyone enjoyed the performance, and on stage, the atmosphere was perfect. |
 This venue was much better than the Trabendo: larger stage, brighter lights... So the conditions were good enough to let us enjoy this new setlist. Estranged was still there, Monolith Of Doubt was back again, and it was extremely enjoyable! No more Cry With A Smile, but Lonely instead. Bas is singing the Metallica cover again, and with this full-lenght setlist, we were able to hear Dreamflight! :) |
 This concert was the first one of the French part of the European tour. The venue filled up slowly, but soon enough, there were enough people to make a decent audience. Fortunately for us, the sound engineer of AF did a better job than the one of the support act, where you could hardly hear the singer's voice… But yet, it wasn’t perfect. The lights were very bad, not powerful enough, and thus the stage remained very dark. |
 On this second day of the Raismes Festival, all the band members of the french band Syrens Call took the time to answer our questions about their 10th anniversary, their musical background, as well as their planned future. For now the interview is only available in french, but the english version will be online as soon as possible. |
 Unfortunately, we didn’t see the whole show, but the performance seemed good from where we were standing. The stage set was original, the sound was good, and the audience seemed into it. It’s always interesting to see more than 5 people on stage. |
 After Forever in France!!! Finally!!! And they came with a great surprise: a whole new setlist, with songs like Estranged, Yield To Temptation and Beyond Me. Unfortunately though, the lights weren’t as good as in the Gotthard show, and the smoke totally swallowed up Joost. Besides, and forgive us for this personal message: Dutch AF fans we miss you!!! |
 This concert was the first perfect performance of the day. We perfectly felt the experience of the Swiss band. Aesthetically, this show was the best: the light engineer did a really great job. The band entertained the crowd, who sang back without hesitation each time Steve Lee asked for it. |
 Ok first of all, let’s not say that our attention during the Misanthrope show was strongly distracted by the Floor Jansen’s improvised signing session that took place next to the stage… Instead, let’s just say that the French band succeeded in doing extreme metal, and the audience seemed 100% with them. Well, maybe 99%… :) |
 The Taiwanese quintet was eagerly awaited, but unfortunately, the concert was kind of spoiled by an awful sound. We couldn’t hear a word of what the female lead singer sang. As for the male one, his rare interventions also remained unheard. Therefore, since all the band members proudly wore a Metal Female Voices Festival t-shirt, we can only hope that their performance there will be better. |
 Koritni already played on the first day of the festival, but on Sunday, there were there as a Guns N’ Roses cover band. They played some classic songs, with the same energy they used tp play their own songs the day before. Despite his young age, the Australian ex-singer of Green Dollar Colour clearly knows how to handle a show. |
 The French band opened the second day of the festival. The sound was good, the band was happy to be there, and thus the atmosphere was pleasant. The band members tried their best to interact with the audience.
To learn more about this interesting band, read the interview. |
 The ex-singer of Deep Purple perfectly ended this first day of festival. His ability to perform was really pleasant. The show was aesthetically enjoyable, and dynamic. Glenn Hughes was totally into the show and his pleasure to be here was communicative. Great charisma, great show! |
 This concert was very atmospheric, which is just logical when you know the style of the band. It was the perfect occasion to catch some rest before the last concert of the day. The lights were perfect, the musicians were into the show, and they took the audience with them. This atypical moment (atypical compared to the other bands of the day) was relaxing. |
 The Finnish were welcome enthusiastically. The atmosphere was very festive. The crowd was all theirs, from the start to the end. Everybody danced, everybody jumped, and everybody enjoyed the good performance. It was a pleasure, even if you’re not a fan of this kind of metal. Kiitos! |
 Black Bomb A is a French band that describes itself as a crossover between hardcore and metal, a kind of Hardcore n’ Roll. Well, a sure thing is that they definitely know how to handle a crowd, and make it go crazy. The union of two voices, with completely different range, was interesting, and seeing one of the singer throw himself off the stage to sing with the audience was perfect! |
 It was pleasant to meet Delain in France again. The crowd was clearly not the typical 'Delain fans' type. It wasn’t a done deal at all. And yet, they succeeded in touching the audience. The atmosphere got better and better as the concert went on. Now we just have to wait until October, 8th in Paris! |
 S2D2 is a French band made up of a singer, a guitar player, a bass player and a drummer. They describe their music as a mix of rough energy, explosive melodies and intense guitar solos. They were the first band to play on the main stage, and their fans made sure their screaming was loud enough to make this moment enjoyable. It was an honest opening. |
 Unfortunately we missed the first four songs, but the rest of the show was good enough to make up for this! Even if the crowd didn’t seem "metal oriented", the atmosphere was quite energetic. The sound was ok, and the lights were good, which compensated the fact that there was too much smoke. And we eventually got the pleasure to hear The Gathering a second time as an extra song! |
 Before the awaited comeback of Sander on stage, Floor Jansen answered some of our questions concerning Sander’s absence, their work with George Oosthoek, the upcoming European and North American tour as well as their experience with their label Nuclear Blast. We also had a sneak peek at the 'welcome back' cake that the band was going to give to Sander. |
 Finally! Sander is back on stage!!! And George was also there, to sing on a few songs. Sander’s legendary bad luck stroke once again, and he had to put up with a few technical problems. Floor’s microphone also decided to switch on mute several times. However, all those little incidents weren’t big enough to spoil the general excitement of seeing the band as a whole again. All the luck possible to Sander! |
 This concert was very special, because it was the last one (or maybe not...) with George! The colors on the stage were pretty bad: it was difficult to see the faces of the band members; the sound was amazingly loud, even if it got better during the show. But, the atmosphere was great; all the die hard fans were there, to fittingly say thanks and goodbye to George. You rule man! |
 This was our first concert of Delain on a stage with a catwalk. So we were looking forward to seeing Charlotte walk on it. Unfortunately, the members of Delain seemed rather shy, and the catwalk remained empty most of the time. Besides, the sound was not so good and something was missing… maybe because the band was already excited and stressed out about their performance at the MTV awards the same night. |
 This three piece rock ’n’ roll band played just before Delain. Their music was quite common, and even if they didn’t seem that experienced and famous, the singer put quite an air wearing sunglasses. It wasn’t an undying memory. |
 The Tivoli is a really nice venue, because of this all afternoon, the sound was perfect. Epica’s sound didn’t infringe the rule, which was enjoyable. All the elements were gathered for a good show. Mark’s usual good mood was very pleasant. His grunts keep giving a very powerful touch to the show. One thing keeps missing though: Simone’s concentration and/or involvement. |
 After their first concert in the Netherlands, all the members of Krypteria answered some of our questions, and they did it extremely nicely. We talked about the evolution in the style of the band, from their musical project to their last album Bloodangels Cry, which is clearly heavier than all their previous releases. They also explained to us how they tackle the writing of new material. |
 This concert was amazing. It’s refreshing to see a band so energetic. We were wondering what kind of performance the German four piece was going to deliver, and the result was really impressive. The singer Ji-In is very charismatic, so charismatic that she deserves to be called “the German Floor Jansen”! (top level in the scale that values the degree of charisma of female singers :p) The guys were also 100% into the show! |
 After their concert in the Tivoli, we did an interview of Silas (guitars/grunts) and Hadassa (vocals) from the Dutch band theNAME. We also took a few pictures of the whole band, which means, in addition to the ones already named, Mike (bass) and Salvador (drums). We talked about the creation and evolution of the band, and also about their last album Recognition, released in July 2006. |
 This concert was a very good surprise. The first important thing to say is that theNAME sounds far better on stage than it does on CD, which is due, and you’ll read it in the interview we did with the band, to the way the mix was done. The performance was energetic and heavy, the voice of Hadassa was strong, and the cover of Britney Spears was funny. So it was a very enjoyable moment. |
 It was our first concert of Delain in a small venue, so we were hoping for a good atmosphere. Well, it was definitely better than usual, but Dutch people are still pretty calm… too calm actually. Sometimes you even wonder if they don’t miss the excitement of the event… Besides, the lights of the venue were awful, not enjoyable at all, neither for the eye, nor for the camera. |
 A New Dawn is a Dutch “double female fronted” metal band. Besides the two clear lyrical voices, the female bass player grunts, and she does it easily, and powerfully! The show was both impressive and interesting. This is clearly a band to check out and to follow. Here’s their website: http://www.anewdawnband.nl. |
 The weather was good, the concert was good, what else? Hum, it was our first concert without Ray, which was sad, but Ronald was there, all focused on what he was doing, and the result sounded great! As always, all of them were nice and smiling a lot. The only negative point was the setlist: 3 songs were removed, due to a lack of time. One thing is sure: time flies during pleasurable moments. |
 This concert was full of surprises. First, George was there, although he was supposed to be on holidays, which means that De-Energized was on the setlist! Yeay! And George was not the only one present that day: Sander was also there to enjoy the show, first backstage and then in the audience. It was great to see him interact with the band as he used to. Let’s wish him a quick recovery! |
 After a long and difficult wait, particularly during Cradle Of Filth, WT finally arrived on stage. First thing that comes to mind: amazing lights. Best lights ever actually! It was a pleasure from the beginning to the end. The band was at its best, totally into the concert. The crowd enjoyed it a lot too; there was a good atmosphere, too much drunk crowd surfers maybe… but still very good! As for the videos: open your eyes and close your ears. |
 Of all the bands that played, After Forever was the first female fronted one, and the audience seemed not to care at all about them. As a result, the crowd was dead during the concert (well except for some diehards). There was no atmosphere at all, or maybe an uncomfortable one. The band seemed uncomfortable as well, and thus, they didn’t succeed in convincing that they were worth it. A setlist without any grunts didn’t help either. |
 Aaaah! Best concert of this year! It was some great After Forever!!! The atmosphere close to the stage was perfect. And Floor was more charismatic than ever, totally into the show, dressed like in the Energize Me video clip (thus very well!). Thank you for the Digital Deceit video: "french!!!" Come on Sander, come back to us, so that everything will be complete!!! |
 Fanclub day #2, the return… a little bit better, but still extremely boring and annoying. The organisation sucked big time. A lot of waiting, and for what? A tombola? A quizz? A signing session where you only had the time to say 'thanks' (if you were lucky)? Come on!!! Fortunately, the rare times when we saw them, the band was true to themselves: nice and funny, and the acoustic session saved the afternoon: a huge thanks for Restless! Keep the band, fire the organizers! |
 This concert was disappointing. First, Mark wasn't there, and even if his replacement, the singer of Oceans of Sadness, was pretty good, it wasn't the same. Then, the sound was awful; we could hear neither the samples, nor Simone's voice. Besides, the atmosphere was kind of weak, maybe because Simone wasn't focused… BUT! The last song of the setlist, Consign To Oblivion, was huge! It was the perfect way to conclude the show. |
 Our first concert of Delain in Holland! Unfortunately for the band, the organization of this free festival was very bad, and they had a very hard time making everything work. But they did, and the concert was very pleasant. The sound wasn't perfect, but the smile of Charlotte, and of course the good mood of the guys made us forget all about this. |
 It was again an average After Forever show, which is positive, because 'average' in the AF world means 'very good'. George was there again, which was enjoyable. The only shadow was that we weren't on the same side as the Die Hard fans, and thus the atmosphere around us was a little less festive, but still ok. |
 The first word that comes to mind to describe this concert is hot! Damn hot!!! ‘Hot’ because as Robert rightly pointed it out, this venue felt more like a sauna than like a concert hall. Also ‘hot’ because the band and the audience was extremely involved in the show. It radiated a special energy that made the biggest part of us able to jump and sing until the last song. Hum… who said Sharon was hot??!!! Identify yourself!!! :) |
 This concert was great as usual, but unfortunately too short… BUT the surprise in it was damn huge! The last time we talked to him, Martijn had underlined the fact that the participation of Sharon on No Compliance wouldn’t happen soon since they couldn’t find the time to rehearse… Nobody could have guessed… And yet! Sharon came on stage, when we less expected her, and it was awesome!!! Thanks guys… and girls!!! |
 After the amazing concert in Lille the day before, everyone - both on stage and in the audience - was expecting something huge. And well… it wasn’t huge at all. The crowd was literally sleeping. Except some groups of people, spread here and there in the audience, no one was screaming, nor jumping. The band must have been as surprised as us, to find their selves facing this old people’s club. Come on people!!! |
 For this particular show, the Dutch ‘Die Hard’ fans of Delain had decided to make a surprise to the band. They had traveled a long way to come and see them in France, and of course they had kept it a secret. When she saw them, Charlotte was extremely touched, and it gave the show a whole new dimension! Everyone was pleased, both on stage and in the crowd. Dutch people you rule! Come back soon! :) |
 Just before their first concert in France, we did an interview of Martijn and Charlotte from Delain. They answered our questions extremely nicely… We could have guessed since, well, Martijn is a Westerholt, and Charlotte is as cute and nice on stage than off stage!
You will learn that a new single will come for sure! :)
And to conclude, they recorded a little video message for all the French fans and future fans! |
 This concert was the first one of the Dutch band Delain in France. And the French audience welcomed them pretty well! The Zenith awakened as soon as the first song began. The crowd was immediately touched by their energy, and even if the album had only been available in France for a short time, it seemed that everyone knew it already. May this concert be the first of a long series! |
 Despite an audience not extremely crowded, the atmosphere of this concert was very enjoyable. The band was in great shape. The crowd interacted with them: screaming, jumping… which created a very dynamic spirit. A lot of energy was exchanged, and well, isn’t it perfect when you know the main theme of the new After Forever album? |
 This show was meant to be really special since it was the release party of the new album. And well, it actually exceeded our expectations! The concert lasted for 2 hours! The Queen of metal Doro made an appearance for 2 songs! Having those 2 powerful women on stage was truly unique! Only one thing could have spoiled the picture: the absence of Sander, but George Oosthoek (ex-Orphanage) replaced him for the grunts, in an extremely charismatic way! |
 It’s harsh to be back to reality. Organization sucked. ‘Security’ only meant forbidding cameras. Making sure the public wasn’t too violent wasn’t any of their concern. And French crowds are hysterical and disrespectful. They spent all of their time squeezing people to reach the first row. Fortunately, the band was awesome, happy to be there and to speak French! It’s great to see that popularity doesn’t change them! And well done with WHYD on stage! |
.jpg "After Forever Try Out @ W2 (Den Bosch, NL) - 23.02.2007") This second try out show was a real kick in the ass. All the band members enjoyed themselves on stage, and the audience could feel it and interact with them. All the stress of the first try-out was gone. The new album is a perfect energizer, and it’s already difficult to imagine that some of the new songs won’t be played live again in a few weeks. LET THE NEW TOUR BEGIN! |
 After a listening session of the new album before the performance, the band presented for the first time all the new songs (except for the last one: Empty Memories), to which was added the B-side that will be on the Energize Me single: Sweet Enclosure. The show lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes. As some of the songs have a complex structure, it will take a few listening of the album to really enjoy them live. |
 After 4 months and a half since the Appelpop performance, the band presented a 1h45-long setlist, including some songs that hadn’t been played for quite a long time: Emphasis and Glorifying Means. And to add some more fun to the mix, Floor’s voice conveyed to the Heart cover Alone an extremely powerful dimension. Floor rules!!! And so does the whole band!!! |
 Despite a small lack of experience on stage (which was probably mainly due to stress), Icaros proved to be a very promising Dutch band, with a lot of qualities that must not be ignored. Let wish them the best, and don’t miss their first release! |
 After the listening of The Heart Of Everything, Sharon and Robert came in to talk about some burning issues concerning the new album. Far away from the usual fan hysteria, they seemed relaxed and happy about their new ‘baby’, and answered every question without any pretension, only simplicity. Concerning the choice of the first single: they’re huge fans of Keith Caputo, and therefore are proud to present What Have You Done ! |
 The band played a setlist far more atmospheric and calm than the ones they performed in summer festivals. Weirdly, the result was a much more enjoyable concert, filled with emotions. This intense experience was perfectly concluded by Strange Machines, asked forcefully by the audience, and greeted with wild applause afterwards. |
 This amazing show marked the end of the European tour for 2006. The band was there 100%, and so was the Dutch fanclub, who deserves a huge “thanks!” for their warm welcome among them! It’s also nice to know that French crowd isn’t the only one that sings out of tune. But, let’s keep in mind that a setlist which only lasts for 40 minutes is an awfully frustrating torture! |
 A first row in front of the stage catwalk entirely French, for an entirely enjoyable concert! The (not so) Silent France was there to welcome back Sharon’s headbangs on the recently all new The Howling. The band was happy to play at the Appelpop Festival for the 4th time in a row, and the jumping audience thanked them more than enough! Was it the last Within Temptation’s jumping event (??!!) since the new album feels much more like headbanging? |
 A little tent, a big crowd, and a huge band, just after a strange tiny red man’s performance… Yes! We are definitely talking about an After Forever’s gig! And for the audience’s biggest pleasure this night: Beautiful Emptiness! What else could you ask for? Maybe The Final Countdown??? Ok! You’re served! |
 This concert was pretty interesting. The little red man radiated a special energy that gave the show a nice dimension. As soon as the concert began, Stefan took possession of the stage. All eyes were on him. He ran and climbed everywhere. It was a very good performance. |
 The perfect concert… for those people who really appreciate Autumn! Nienke looked good… she sang ok… the Bibelot is definitely an unusual and pleasant venue, but… of course you need to like the band! If you don’t, keep looking at Nienke’s mouth, maybe she’ll suck you up in a whirlwind and will teach you all the things you need to know to become an Autumn addict. |
 Never heard of this band before the show, but it was definitely interesting. Of course Ellen (vocals) needs to gain in assurance, but she will, no doubt about it. The band seemed to really enjoy itself, so don’t miss them if you can attend one of their shows, and make you own opinion. |
 Who would have imagined that an After Forever show could fail? Hum! Anyone? And yet! Nobody’s perfect. This one concert was a pure disaster. Sander’s guitar wouldn’t work, Floor mixed up some lyrics, and then she nearly fell off the stage… Yes, quite particular. But hey! It’s still After Forever, and it rocks even when it doesn’t!
Fortunately, there was an after party, with a very interesting Floor/Joost combo! “(Floor) How I do I get you alone?”
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 A warm gothic audience, a headliner position, a lot of fireworks, a german-speaking Sharon, the exclusive new stage set, The Howling only for the 2nd time (damn dutch who had it the day before!), what else…? Oh yes! Sharon nearly suffocated on stage… Stop panicking! Of course it’s hyperbolic! She just choked for a few minutes because of the smoke… And so did the 1st few rows in the audience. Robert, any comments? “Fireworks are cool!” |
 The atmosphere was pretty festive for this German band! The stage set was original, definitely not gothic! And yet, the audience responded well, especially when the marine wheel caught fire! Germans always know exactly how to entertain the crowd and make the show! |
 This mix of gothic and pop music was quite an unexpected surprise. Chibi (vocals) has her own style and definitely knows how to catch attention. She isn’t Angela Gossow, but the girl certainly knows how to grunt! Too bad it was only for one song. If you need a soft gothic fix, don’t hesitate! |
 Could Anneke have chosen more pop-style clothes? If she had walked in the festival enclosure amongst everyone, we would have only seen her! Well done! The band keeps its own style, without wondering about what people think or say. It's quite rare, and they should take credit for that! And above all that, it works! |
 The concert started very badly as the singer arrived on stage with a German army kepi… Well, even if this kind of style can freeze more than one's blood, the energy and know-how of the band totally erased this first impression. The show was bold, even when the singer shared a huge French kiss with the bassist! |
 Now that Vibeke is leaving the band, it's a good time to decide if Tristania is worth it on stage or not. Well, every element was there: the female voice, the grunts, the powerful background, even the clear voice, and yet… somehow entering the show was not the easiest thing to do, it was even an impossible thing to do… Maybe next time… |
 It was our second concert of this young German band. It was once again a pleasure to listen to them. The energy of the band perfectly fit the energy of the titles. Their enthusiasm and generosity combined with an undeniable professionalism made of this performance a very pleasant moment! |
 Who would have guessed that this ordinary concert, in this equally ordinary city, would have been the best ever? Quite an unexpected surprise! An awesome one actually!!! The lights were perfect. Sharon strolled majestically on the catwalk. The band was there 200%. And to make this evening even more special, when everybody was preparing to jump like hell on Ice Queen, the first notes of Jane Doe rang out, pleasantly surprising our incredulous ears!!! |
 After an endless and extremely hot wait, the band made it on stage about an hour late. Although they probably weren’t so fresh after a day on the roads, they definitely refreshed us with their enthusiasm and energy. And to conclude this great day, they generously offered their fans an unplanned meeting of two hours, the perfect occasion to tell Sharon that if you want to say “Thanks” in Italian, you have to say “Grazie!”, and not “Grazi!”, even if it’s cute! |
 Well! Second concert of this Norwegian band! Even with ‘the’ perfect spot in front of Vibeke in the front row, it was too hard to make it until the end of the concert. Yes, it was boring… Why? Can’t really explain… It’s a feeling, a boredom feeling whenever this however good band performs. Maybe next time? |
 13 people on stage, even more instruments, is this what it takes to make an awesome show? Of course not, but it’s so rich and unforgivable this way! This atypical German band was the best discovery of the day, and Italy was the dreamed country to make it, as their last album is all about the Italian Renaissance. Only 6 days after Italy won the World Cup, Haggard showed the “campioni” how much they appreciate “la bellezza del paese di Galileo”!!! |
 Italy vs. France again? Who is going to win this time? Will the French members of Nightmare kick the ass of the Italian crowd? “C’est pas facile !” But of course they did! And they did create a very cheerful atmosphere! They legitimized their presence with their own special energy, and the Italians surely appreciated it! |
 After an extremely rough wait in the first row during the shows of Exodus and Enthroned, After Forever eventually arrived on stage, and brought the proof that you don’t necessarily need to scream like a pig and make violent music to be powerful. The concert was ok, but somebody should have told the drunk smart asses that slammed during Being Everyone that it was no longer Enthroned on stage! |
 It was only 12:40 AM when the concert began, but all the people that had problems waking up due to bad hangovers definitely missed something! There was a great interaction between the band and the crowd, who was everything but asleep. Besides, it’s really quite impressive to see the musicians play so fast in front of you! And of course, there were the usual water bottles throwing by ZP. |
 What is there to say? Hmm… ‘Yuk’ maybe! Ok, something a little bit more constructive: never leave a concert of The Gathering before Strange Machines for a Lacuna Coil show. Still not convincing…? The Italians were pretty aggressive on stage. It’s up to them, but if you want to look aggressive, at least you got to sing something substantial! And it wasn’t the case. |
 After a not so enjoyable wait during the Stream Of Passion concert, we were amazed to find a spot in the middle of the front row. But! It wasn’t so amazing after all since in front of us stood a huge speaker that only allowed us to see Anneke face. Anyway, the concert was great, and the band succeeded in making us want to see them again. |
 Finally! The day had come to see the German smart asses on stage! After a long intro that perfectly maintained the suspense, Hellfire Tobi made his entrée, dynamic as always. The Belgian crowd was all theirs, reacting to each request. “Would we enjoy getting laid ?” Of course Tobi ! You’re funny… But it isn’t always enough. Because in the end, compared to a DragonForce show, it was almost boring. |
 Trivium played just before Edguy. Their show was very powerful and the crowd responded extremely well: pogos, crowd surfings, dust flying everywhere… One thing is sure: the atmosphere got very warm and everybody enjoyed it. Edguy even sounded a bit dull after that. |
 It was our first Epica concert in Holland, and it was a massacre! Not that the band was bad this day, but the permanent technical problems certainly didn’t help them. Mark hardly made it on stage, and mainly tried to get some sound out of his guitar from backstage. The samples were barely audible, which even made it difficult to recognize some of the songs. The good side of all this is that the setlist was arranged and one song was added. |
 Well! It was the first WT fanclub meeting, so let’s not be too harsh! The look-a-like contest was maybe a reasonable idea, but it was kind of boring… Fortunately, the sense of humour of the band once again made the trick! Special mention to the wardrobe presentation of Sharon! Making the dummy fall was the perfect way to set the tone of the evening! Making a pass at it was certainly another way to go! Too bad we had to leave before the Delain concert! |
 This concert was kind of special, since it was organized by the Dutch fanclub of Nightwish. For the occasion, the band did an exclusive cover of She’s My Sin, which made us realize that Tarja is not so irreplaceable after all!!! (Way to go Floor!) Too bad AF didn’t take more liberties with the song, it would have been very interesting to see how they could make it sound like their own music. |
 The band gave a very good concert. They enjoyed themselves on stage, and even if the audience was there for After Forever, Regicide succeeded in surprising them, and making them ready for what happened next. The atmosphere was as enjoyable on stage as it was in the public. Happy memory! |
 The concert started well. It was a regular AF show, so definitely good. But! The more the show went on, the better it got! It was extremely hot, everybody was sweating. Maybe it added to the general excitement. And then came the crowning piece: a huge Final Countdown. Everybody jumped like hell! This memorable event left us exhausted; wondering when would be the next show! |
 It’s a sad thing to say, but Within Temptation shouldn’t play with After Forever as a support act, especially if they’re coming back from Portugal, and if they are tired. After Forever made such an amazing impression that it was difficult to really appreciate the WT show. Everything sounded less powerful. Even Sharon’s special way of moving didn’t get to us, maybe because she did it out of habit, without really feeling it. But hey! It’s still Within Temptation! It’s worth it! |
 After an awful wait in the rain and the wind, we finally arrived in front of the stage, surrounded by hysteric fans throwing themselves on the fences. Let’s call it the ‘Within Temptation effect’! Finally the time had come to see Floor and Sharon together on Beyond Me! And it was a damn great moment! Sharon cuter than ever, maybe a bit lost (and therefore even more irresistible), and Floor more charismatic than ever. Let’s hope this will happen again!!! |
 This venue is certainly one of the best ones in Holland! The lights were beautiful, the sound was perfect. The shape of the concert hall is original and allows the people that stand far in the back to see the stage without any problem. The concert was perfect: a long setlist, motivated band members. The energy was palpable! And Lordi winning the Eurovision made this night even more magic! |
 This second After Forever show was good. It was actually the first one in the Netherlands. The audience was quite different from the French one, calmer, but still participating. It was great to see how the band behaves “at home”. No surprise there: they rule everywhere! However, the venue wasn’t extraordinary and the sound wasn’t so good. Let’s wait and see some more! |
 Well, this concert nearly didn’t make it here. Due to a food intoxication in Paris, Doro was forced to cancel, and Sonata Arctica didn’t dare to do the same since the last time they should have played here, they had already cancelled. So here they were, with an exhausted Tony, who was more often on the ground than standing. Besides, the sound was awful, and if the crowd hadn’t sung along, it would have been difficult to say that it was SA on stage. |
 This concert wasn’t off to a good start since until one hour before the opening of the gates, there were only a few people waiting outside. After the opening, the concert hall still seemed a bit empty. Anyway, the show was a very good one. The lights and the sound were surprisingly good, the band seemed happy to be there, and the audience was certainly delighted about that. |
 How to comment on your first After Forever show ever?!! It was like … an electric shock! Well if there is a good part in an electric shock, it’s definitely what it would feel like. It was amazingly powerful, like nothing else before. The band was (and is!) extremely charismatic. The energy they gave the audience was palpable. Besides, this show was the last one of the European Tour, and the atmosphere was a skilful mix of festivity and professionalism. |
 This Apocalyptica show was really a unique experience, and living it at the Wacken Open Air made it even more special. The set-list was very well chosen, calm at the beginning, more and more dynamic afterwards. Hearing the crowd sing powerfully the lyrics of Nothing Else Matters during the song surely made shiver the strongest metalheads. |
 Too bad this concert was our first one, for we didn’t make the most of it. Of course the show was amazing, beyond everything we had wished for. We wouldn’t have changed places for the world! But, it didn’t stop there! The set-list was PERFECT. Enter, Jane Doe, so many songs we long for today!!! And we were so excited being there that we didn’t make sure to remember each detail of it… We surely remember Sharon and Robert singing together though! |
 3:00 PM: here we were, waiting on the sides of the Meet & Greet stage, convinced that it was Edguy’s turn to sign. Weird, it was supposed to start at 2:30 PM… Here’s something even weirder: Tobias is shaved off. Oh my god! It isn’t Tobias, it’s Robert!!! What the f***! And we didn’t even wait in the line!!! Fortunately, Sharon is adorable, and she also says hi to people on the sides! (Well, people on the sides that call for her!) |
 This show was cool… Not bad, not extraordinary. It was great to see the Finnish on stage, but they weren’t as dynamic as expected, and it was mainly due to the songs. The setlist was disappointing. Well, surely it’ll be better next time. Let’s conclude with an anecdote. It was early in the afternoon, and Tony had a lot of difficulties remembering it: “Hey Wacken! How are you tonight??!! Hum, today!” |
 Finally! An opportunity to see the band closely, to talk to them! Actually, it was our last chance, but we didn’t know it at the time. The signing session was planned at 7:15 PM. We arrived in the line about an hour before. We weren’t in the front, but we were close enough. Well, naïve thought!!! When the band arrived, everybody went crazy and started jumping over the fences, overtaking the civilized people in the process. Jerks are everywhere… :( |
 First Nightwish concert ever! Even if we were far away from the stage, this is still a very good memory. The band was powerful! It was a unique moment: being able to see them on stage for real, every one of them! Tarja’s voice was excellent. Only regret: it wasn’t the From Wishes To Eternity tour. But hey! It was good anyway! |
 WWe didn’t even hear of the band before this day. So “surprised” is a euphemistic way to describe our reaction, when we saw the band appear from the artists’ entrance. The temperature was about 40°C, and they performed entirely disguised, in a very dynamic way. The concert was amazing! “Devil is a loser, and he’s my bitch!!!” There you go!!! And we even had the exclusive chance to see them without their make-up!!! :) |
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