SINGLE BULLET THEORY All Hope Lost
March 24, 2005
All Hope Lost opened for an already rapidly growing crowd and treated them to a blend of hardcore death thrash that was well played and mixed with copious melodic parts. Another great local band gracing the stage of Jaxx. I can't wait to see more of these guys in the future.
Single Bullet Theory's hardcore thrash attack was led by Matt DiFabio (ex-Pissing Razors) on guitar and vox. Hi Energy all the way, they kicked the volume level up a notch. Very professional set!
Progressive death masters Into Eternity soon proceeded to treat the crowd to some 1st class musicianship including great axe work by Rob Doherty & Tim Roth. Stu Block, despite being seriously under the weather with flu symptoms, sucked it up and gave it all he had on vox. Quite impressive!
IE's Stu Block
The Red Sox, the Patriots, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage - it's been a great year for the Boston area and now here comes New Bedford's own Beyond The Embrace. More proof of the quality metal resurgence in the US. These guys seriously kick ass. Opening with the title track from their newest release, "Insect Song", this was one unrelenting and punishing set!
BTE's Shawn Gallagher
BTE's triple guitar attack was going flat out and the Euro melodic influence was evident. This is a band that truly shines on stage. Wow.
Russian buddies Mikhail & Semyon. Long time Jaxx fans for more than 8 years, they made the long trip from Baltimore to see Amorphis and left the wives (a couple of seriously nice babes BTW) at home. They can be found at all the major metal shows. They also already bought their tickets for Soilwork-Dark Tranquillity. Did you?
Amorphis group photo before the show. These guys were extremely
friendly and accommodating both before and after the show, staying late to chat
and sign numerous autographs. MTV3 Finnish television was on hand to
interview Amorphis (and yours truly) as well as take some video of the show..
Finnish bands popularity in the US is growing and the internet is bringing the
whole music world much closer together.
Amorphis are a band that come across much heavier in a live setting. In a small club like Jaxx, their sound turns truly majestic
New Amorphis frontman Tomi Joutsen does not have the clean vocal range of former vocalist Pasi Koskinen, but he more than makes up for with a much more dynamic stage presence and solid death vox.
Esa Holopainen is a master of melodies and consummate guitar player. His side project band, Chaosbreed, are a death metal tour de force and worth checking out.
Amorphis played a wide selection of material from their many albums including the title track from "Far from The Sun" and "Day of Your Beliefs" from the same album. Tracks played from the "Tuonela" album included the classic "Divinity" and "Summers End".
Santeri Kallio was solid on keyboards all night and worked up a sweat.
Long time Amorphis guitarist Tomi Koivusaari.
Encore closer "Black Winter Day" was a crowd pleaser.
Amorphis left their fans very satisfied. This enthusiastic bunch traveled from Gaithersburg and DC.
These jumbo shots were provided by Jaxx fan Sherry Young. Notice the date change on the stamped photos. Yah - it was after midnight! Thanks Sherry!
Well, The Year of Finland at Jaxx ends round one. Round two due shortly
with Sonata Arctica. Amorphis has always been one of my favorite bands and
this was the best show by them (3rd) I've seen. The sound was almost
perfect, my only complaint being the keyboard was too low in the mix until the
end, but that's being nitpicky. Several of the songs were moving me to
tears and it doesn't get any better than that for emotionally moving music. (Of
course I tend to cry easily, just ask my divorce lawyer.)
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