HammerFall, Edguy, Into Eternity & Engage at Jaxx

Engage represented the local power metal talent and raised a few eyebrows with their excellent play. They were excited to be opening for bands they admire and brought in quite a few of their own fans. Set highlights included Enslaved and the Maiden classic Hallowed Be Thy Name.

Canadian hybrid Death Metallers Into Eternity were a little out of place on this all power metal bill, but well received nonetheless. The band were making their 3rd stop at Jaxx this year and will be back next month opening for another power metal heavyweight, Stratovarius. Bassist Troy Bleich (nearest to camera, far left pic) told me before the show he got a Giant Food Bonus Card. "WTF - I might as well as much as we play here. This is like our 2nd home"

Guitarist Tim Roth (far left) and vocalist Stu Block. Stu thanked the crowd for their enthusiastic response and for supporting IE's brand of new metal (death style). Of course after he said new metal, he had to clarify it with the comment "Not Nu-Metal! That shit sucks!" LOL - can't we all just get along.

The guys just before going onstage. They were very excited to be touring America and are looking forward already to coming back.

Edguy - Wow! Was I the only one completely blown away by these guys. I think not. I knew they would be good but had no idea they would be this overwhelming live. Tobias Sammet (far left & right) is a bundle of energy with a tremendous stage presence. Comparisons to a young Bruce Dickinson would not be out of line. A tremendous voice and a knack for getting the fist pumping anthems in gear. A great talent.

Edguy concentrated on some incredible songs from their 2004 release, "Hellfire Club" including Lavatory Love Machine, The Piper Never Dies and King of Fools.

I have not seen a Jaxx crowd so into it and energized in a long time. You had to be there.

I had hoped they would do Mysteria and the incredible Tears of a Mandrake, but it was not to be. I had no complaints though and now have something to look forward to on their next visit.

Edguy will be making many new fans during this tour. I think Nuclear Blast had better start making more CD's.

Merchandise quality was very impressive. Sales were excellent to say the least. I ran into one fan who had bought 4 shirts. There is no better way to show your support for artists. (IMO)

The schedule. Was close for a while - last song ended shortly before midnight. Not many people left early.

The band was kind enough to let me grab a pre stage shot. Both HammerFall & Edguy were very friendly and accommodating. Not always the case in the metal world.

Frontman Joacim Cans (far right) has studied music at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA and it shows. He has an excellent voice with great range.

HammerFall suffered a little from the hurricane named Edguy that had just blown through and it took them a little time to recharge the crowd. Eventually they did and it was full speed ahead thereafter. Guitarist Oscar Dronjak. (middle & far right)

Hammer of Justice was an evening highlight with an incredible guitar solo. Guitarist Stefan Elmgren (far right)

HammerFalls latest release :" Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken" is one of their best and has been getting constant rotation in my CD player. Another Nuclear Blast winner.

HammerFall has not been in America for quite some time and this was their first ever headline tour. They can come back as often as they like as far as I'm concerned. This is a quality band of the highest magnitude.

The crowd was still there and still into it at the very end. My congrats to the fans for showing these Euro Metal brothers what a first class American crowd can bring.

HammerFall & Edguy brought the very professional FOH Sound Engineer Ernst Seidler and Tour Manager Jörg Zaske.

The HammerFall set list. Not mentioned was a little Enter Sandman intro for a few seconds. Nice touch.

Edguy's Tobias Sammet. Picture taken by loyal Jaxx fan Edgar Ortiz. View all of Edgars other pics here. They are better than mine BTW. Thanks Edgar! I need all the help I can get!

Jon Pacella aka "Vito" of Bloodlines fame took this great shot of HammerFall at the proverbial Final Curtain. View more of Vito's pics at :

Gratitude goes out to the metal community for the overall support of this show. Jaxx Night Club appreciates it and will try to keep the good stuff coming!

Promo Stuff

The Swedish templars of metal are on their fifth crusade and proudly present their new record “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken”. HAMMERFALL stand for powerful, majestic, true and melodic Heavy Metal. This time Hector, the mighty warrior well known from all the HAMMERFALL covers, crushes trough the ice with his hammer. They are back and will once again serve their mission by fulfilling every metal heart around the globe with their Metal brew. The new single “Blood Bound” shows the traditional and heavy side of the Swedish act. A memorable chorus, straight and heavy riffs, thundering drums and the pounding bass power – and the outstanding vocals of Joacim Cans. The same can be said also for the other nine tracks on “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken” – which will without any doubt become metal hymns for the eternity.
Like on “Crimson Thunder”, HAMMERFALL had Charlie Bauernfeind (Blind Guardian, Helloween and others) in the producer seat. Yet again Charlie proved he ranks amongst the top metal producers ever. For a different twist this time HAMMERFALL decided to produce in Denmark at the famous Lundgaard studios in Veijen (Subway To Sally and others), while the mix was done at the Mi Sueno studios in Teneriffe. HAMMERFALL sound strong again – tracks like “Fury Of The Wild”, “Born To Rule”, “Secrets” or “Blood Bound” are the best example that they could even improve on the high standard set with “Crimson Thunder”. Yet listeners will be surprised with the variety on the new record with its progressive parts, classical and orchestral elements, symphonic influences, acoustic tracks and everything in between semi-ballads and Speed Metal monsters.
HAMMERFALL have become one of the leading and most successful metal acts of our time. Their debut album “Glory To the Brave” entered the German charts on position 38; in a time when nobody thought about classical Heavy Metal. The following records reached even higher positions and even gold-record status in their home country of Sweden. Last year the live documentary “One Crimson Night” was released on 2CD and DVD, and it featured an unforgettable show in Gothenburg in front of almost 4.000 crazy HAMMERFALL fans. That night the band also received the gold-record for “Crimson Thunder” in Sweden. Now “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken”” shows what the band has been working on during last year. Be aware of the hammer – and remember that a metal heart is hard to tear apart!

read a review of “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken” at Metal Perspective

Edguy came into existence in the little town of Fulda in Hessen, Germany. The name Edguy, supposedly, was thought up by vocalist Tobias Sammet and guitarist Jens Ludwig and was created as a way to make fun of one of their teachers whose real name was Edgar. Tobi began playing music as a child, even if the instrument he learned to play at that time - an electric organ - was probably not his instrument of choice. Tobi and Jens met in school and they soon began playing music together, Jens with a real electric guitar and Tobi with his 'lame organ'. Dirk Sauer, who also went to school with Tobi and Jens joined as a second guitar player and with Tobi playing bass lines on a keyboard, all they needed was a drummer. They found one in Dominik Storch, whose father owned a drum kit. In 1994, the four determined teenagers recorded two demo tapes: 'Evil Minded' and 'Children of Steel'. Their first real album was put together in 1995 and was called 'Savage Poetry'. The Edguys only spent two weeks in the studio for this one. 'Kingdom of Madness' followed in 1997.
With the release of 'Vain Glory Opera', which includes vocals from Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch, the Edguys deservedly had their big break. However, drummer Dominik Storch left the band and was replaced by Felix Böhnke. In 1999, 'Theater of Salvation' was recorded. With this album, Tobi stopped playing bass and handed this task over to Tobias Exxel who would be their bass player from now on, thus completing Edguy’s current line-up. The following year, the Edguy's re-released their first album 'Savage Poetry', taking a little more time in the studio this time (3 months).
Tobi’s side project, Avantasia I an II, deserves mention here, because with his spirit and enthusiasm, Tobi managed to gather together some of the greats in Heavy Metal to sing and play on these album. The project includes Helloween’s Michael Kiske, Virgin Steele’s David DeFeis, Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel, and Rob Rock, to name a few. With his unparalleled dedication, Tobi did not forget about Edguy while working on the Avantasia project. Edguy’s latest album, 'Mandrake', was released in 2002 and it reached a status it deserved.
Since then, the band has worked a lot touring and finally the fans got rewarded with a live album 'Burning Down The Opera'. In February 2004, Edguy's new record deal with Nuclear Blast took shape with the Kings Of Fools EP, which was only a prelude to their latest effort 'Hellfire Club'.
More than anything, Edguy is about believing in yourself. No matter how sad you might feel some days, leave it to Tobi and the rest of the Edguys to lift your spirits. Tobi’s bottom-line message has always been: believe in yourself, don’t let anyone scare you, and don’t let anyone get you down.

Biography by Emalaith

Promo Stuff

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