FIREWIND, KIUAS AND DEAR SUPERSTAR
LEEDS RIOS – 20/09/08
It’s a well known fact that gigs at Rios never start on time, so as I take my place at the back of the queue I’m taken aback as it hits home that the line is, in fact, moving! Looking around it would seem that the majority of the crowd are old enough to remember the whole glam thang first time around, yet with their blatant homage to the scene of yore, Dear Superstar are met with a seemingly indifferent reaction. Setting up the salaciously sleazy tone, the frontman gives thanks to Firewind for keeping them in condoms and clean undies for the week before taking a plunge and hitting ‘Rock Bottom’ as they work through all the groin-grabbing, lip-pouting clichés. Their contemporary edge slides into focus on such tracks as ‘Raised Voices And Confrontations’ as I’m struck wanting to place these somewhere between LA Guns and Avenged Sevenfold. While not the obvious choice of openers, Dear Superstar gave a spirited performance and will no doubt go down a treat when they support Hanoi Rocks in November.
My knowledge of Kiuas may render me as something of a layman but at the very least I knew the crowd could expect something more in line with the headliners. With a head full of dreadlocked hair, the vocalist looks like he could be in the running for Anders Friden lookalike of the year, and his deep, melodious vocals demonstrate his balls to still be fully in tact. There’s a contagious energy on the stage as the duo of guitarists bash out some rollicking riffs while the frontman spends every spare moment windmilling his was through the set. With a foot firmly rooted in the power metal pen, they go beyond the usual confines and the symphonic edge lent to ‘Warrior Soul’ has me penning the unlikely description “Dimmu meets Euro Rock” into my notepad. The band paint themselves in a more epic light as they plough ‘Across The Snow’ which has a real storm into battle swagger to it that seeks to crush us all in the crowd. Having been won over by their tight set, some crowd dwellers taking the bands advice and purchase a CD, enabling the band to justify their career choice to their mothers (and to do their bit for the economy, of course). Their mothers must be proud.
It was in 2006 when I was first introduced to Firewind, when, after missing their set at Prog Power a fellow festival attendee recommended the album ‘Forged By Fire’, which got me hooked. Having given their past couple of tours a miss due to logistical constraints and opting to give Dragonforce a miss, I had been eagerly anticipating their performance tonight. As the Greek five piece hit the stage I tackled my way down the front, dodging the raised horns and fists to steal some photos before taking a step back to enjoy the show. Snapping proved something of a hotfooted challenge as the on-stage musical mic-stand game sees the guitarists work the stage to the max. Gus G and co. have the on-stage charisma that draws your eyes to the stage like a magnetic forcefield, as they delve out a formidable attack of razor sharp riffs and overall there’s a solid crunch to the delivery that is imperviously solid and hermetically tight.
There’s a strong focus tonight on tracks from their latest album ‘The Premonition’ which is fine by me as it’s such an outstanding release. The band blaze in with ‘Into The Fire’ and proceed to work their magic with the more classic sounding ‘Head Up High’. ‘Missionary Man’ is undoubtedly one of the highlights as it is brought stunningly into the live setting, as is the Police-esque ‘My Loneliness’, as the rapid fretwork trails on leading a warm and alluring sound. There’s a machine-like accuracy to their delivery which sees them stick together so tightly, yet manage not to come off as rigid and over-rehearsed. While supporting the new album is a given, it doesn’t stop them going through some more familiar numbers like ‘Forged By Fire’ and the stunningly sullen ‘Falling To Pieces’ with it’s feel of dejected hope and the vibrant vocals of Apollo Papathanasio as he pours every drop of passion into his delivery.
Apollo leaves the band to their own devices up on the stage as they work through an instrumental medley while he fetches himself a cold one, which is exactly what I do as drummer Mark Cross bashes out a solo as he highlights his skills with the sticks. Returning for an encore, a labyrinthine keyboard melody rings out as the band appear in a fog of pink and blue light, and by the time the opening vocal line to ‘Maniac’ has been emitted, the crowd are already dancing like they never danced before, and as I dance my way back to the train station, I’m left thinking Dragonforce could learn a lesson or two from this band.
Luci Herbert
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