Metallica and Manowar... Two bands that both begin with the letter M. The similarities pretty much end there. One interesting difference I noticed recently was how differently they handle problems during a concert.
At the recent Metallica concert in Aarhus the sound suddenly cut out after first verse of "For Whom the bell tolls". The band kept on playing their instruments as if nothing had happened. Their monitors were still working. At the beginning people were singing along, but after 1½ minutes of watching the band go nuts on stage but unable to hear anything a large part of the 50.000 people were starting to whistle and boo. Kirk played his guitar solo alone on stage as the rest of the band had now left. He stopped mid-way and left the stage. After 15 minutes of waiting the band came back on stage and went directly into "Wherever I may roam". After this song James said
"Sorry about the intermission, Lars had to go back and set his hair. He has to look good for his people... We had some PA problems... It's metal, you know...". "For Whom the bell tolls" was never played again.
At the Earthshaker Festival in 2005 Manowar was headlining. They were playing "Outlaw" and two-thirds of the way through the band stops playing because of sound problems. They stay on stage, talk to the audience and work on fixing the problems for 10 minutes and start a second time on "Outlaw" only to cut it off again. After a couple more minutes of working on the sound they start over for the third time and make it through the song and the rest of the concert.
One of these crisis handling situations shows confidence, determination and demands respect, the other does not.
Besides Metallica, who
did in fact play a good show, my concert excursions included a surprisingly fabulous Bryan Adams concert, a great night with the Danish Dream Theater Jam as well as a nice D.A.D. performance. Much to my regret I never made it to the Magic Circle Music Festival this year. With the announcement that next year at the MCM festival, Manowar will celebrate the 20'th anniversary of "Kings of Metal" by giving away 20.000 beers and playing their first six albums live during two concerts in two days, including the first ever live rendition of "The Crown and the Ring" I
am going there, no matter what.
And now.... The playlist.
Eyefear - A World Full of Grey
Australian progressive metal. Quality music that should be checked out.
Devin Townsend presents: Ziltoid The Omniscient
A marriage of Douglas Adams and Metal. The result is brilliantly insane.
King Diamond - Give me your soul... Please
Finally got the real deal. First impression is good. Only the story is not as captivating as I'd hoped and takes a while to get going. Still, in the end it becomes rather charming. King puts on a slightly different vocal performance this time around but musically this is vintage KD with plenty of memorable moments and strong atmospheres. Still growing but it doesn't sound like it can surpass The Puppet Master.
Turisas - The Varangian Way
Symphonic Viking Metal that captures a grand atmosphere. The opener "To Holmgard and beyond" is breathtaking.
Candlemass - King of the grey islands
Check out the review
Harem Scarem - Higher
One of the best discoveries in a long time. Filled with little melodic gems. "Torn right out" is just... wow!
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Strong, powerful, aggressive, melodic. Another worthy addition to the Symphony X catalogue.
Pride of Lions - The destiny stone
Fantastic music that gets me in a good mood, anytime, anywhere. "What Kind of Fool" is the most played song of the past month.
Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
One of those albums I will never get tired of.
Nelson - Because They Can
Wonderfully sedative album.
Read the review
Kane Roberts - Saints and Sinners
This great album is still getting plenty of spins. Must be heard loud.
CD purchases of the month
Dionysus - Sign Of Truth
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
King Diamond - Give Me Your Soul... Please
Sonata Arctica - Unia
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Takara - Eternity -The Best Of 93-98
Talisman - Genesis
Talisman - Talisman
Tony O'Hora - Escape Into The Sun
