From Finland, Nuclear Blast Records USA presents:
April 13, 2005
Engage, from Richmond, are absolutely one of the best Power Metal bands the area has to offer and their style of music fit perfectly with headliners Sonata Arctica. Great melodies abound within their original compositions. Their playing and cohesiveness has taken a step forward since last I saw them a few months ago opening for Seven Witches. New song "Enslaved" featured a great opening riff and some searing guitar leads. This is a band to watch in the future!
Odin's Court, a power progressive outfit from St Mary's County, MD, continued the parade of highly skilled local musicians. This band has some really terrific songs with instantly catchy keyboard melodies on display. Frontman Matt Brookins has a great stage presence and this band just exudes talent and professionalism every time I see them. Jaxx is lucky to have bands that people would actually pay to see and are not just fillers for the National Headliners.
Division - venerable Jaxx veterans. I took a bunch of pictures of these guys because, frankly, they deserve it. They have supported the club for years and always draw a crowd of fans. Matt Crooks (guitar - far left) with evil stare.
This indomitable bunch always gives a solid performance with their brand of extra heavy power metal. Nice pic of Mike Blevins (guitar - far right) looking suitably pissed.
Great sound all night and the guitars came through loud and clear. The crowd cheered Division on before Sonata took the stage.
Robin and Jennifer (ex-Kittie and now in Suicide City) help with Sonata Arctica merchandise sales which were brisk. Keep a look out for a Suicide City appearance at Jaxx later this year.
Sonata Arctica appeared on stage following a thundering intro sample and the crowd erupted. Their first ever appearance in North America had been eagerly anticipated and they did not disappoint. Fans flew in from all over the country for this show including California, Utah and Texas.
Frontman Tony Kakko was engaging all night and the whole band was clearly having a good time with abundant smiles. Tony has a great vocal range and I would be surprised if he hasn't trained extensively to achieve this.
The predominately under 21 crowd were clearly in awe of Sonata Arctica and were, in my opinion, the most wildly enthusiastic crowd of the year. With coming shows due up including Hammerfall, Edguy, Stratovarius and Therion, many I'm sure, will be back.
SA played their new hit single (at least in Europe), "Shamandalie", from their latest release, Reckoning Night. "Replica" from 2000's Ecliptica was another crowd pleaser. The band saluted the crowd following a lengthy encore with a hand in hand group bow.
Well, Finland adds another fine metal band to the ever growing list of Jaxx alumni. Very impressive performance by this relatively young power metal battery. I'm sure we have not seen the last of them and look forward to their next appearance state side which will likely include more than 4 dates. Interestingly, the Sonata Arctica F.O.H. sound man had a decibel meter laid on the board the entire night and keep the reading in the 107-109db range. Loud, but not too loud, and incredibly clear with the keyboards and guitars both well up in the mix without overpowering the vox or drums. April's European Onslaught continues soon at Jaxx with appearances by King Diamond, Behemoth, Caliban, Mnemic, Europe and of course the almighty Swedish triumvirate of Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity and Hypocrisy.
The lads on the cover of Inferno Metal magazine.
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