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Swedish metal!

Last night’s concert was probably the best I’ve ever been to in my life.

I’d assumed doors were at 7pm and the show started at 8pm, but as I approached the venue around 7:30pm, I could hear there was a band on already. And it was very obviously Sonic Syndicate, as from a block away I could discern perfectly the burst-fire metalcore double bass stylings. I paid my 20€ and pushed my way through the hordes at the merch tables, made it onto the floor so I could watch Sonic Syndicate’s set. I was quite blown away by how well the crowd knew their material. I have both CDs, but I know that in the U.S. they’re a pretty obscure band still. Swedish metalcore isn’t taken very seriously in the States. (And yes, they’re metalcore. They might have melodeath influences, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re straight up metalcore. So no arguing in the comments, Jordan! <3)

After their set, the changing of the guard took place, with the metalcore kids receding to the merch tables, and all the melodeath fans lurching forward to fill the empty places on the floor. Dark Tranquillity came on next, and played a solid set. It was a bit short, and heavy on the new material, but they got the crowd moving and screaming along to the new songs. They even played a soft ballad from the new CD, called Misery’s Crown. One of my favorites! The setlist, near as I can remember, was so:

1. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)
2. The Treason Wall
3. Focus Shift
4. The Lesser Faith
5. The Wonders At Your Feet
6. Misery’s Crown
7. Punish My Heaven
8. The New Build

Next was Soilwork. I had really thought that the crowd was into Sonic Syndicate, but then came Dark Tranquillity, and I realized people were probably here for them. But as soon as the setup was finished for Soilwork, the lights dimmed, fog machines clicked on, and the SOILWORK banner was illuminated, the place went nuts. They stepped out on stage and opened with Bastard Chain.

I’ve read many times that the A Predator’s Portrait CD sold like bratwurst in Germany, and that night proved it to me. Soilwork knows their fans, and they played the strongest set of back-to-back stunners I’ve ever seen. Even though they’re Swedish melodic death metal, whose fans are usually pretty chill, last night was by far the most violent concert I’ve ever been to. By the time Soilwork went on, I was pretty close to the front rail, and I still got sucked into the enormous pit that erupted when they announced they were about to play One With The Flies. Their set list was approximately so:

1. Bastard Chain
2. As We Speak
3. One With The Flies
4. Rejection Role
5. Exile
6. Distance
7. Follow The Hollow
8. Stabbing The Drama
9. Nerve

Never have I seen a band offer such a succession of massive hits live. Ten thousand thumbs up to these guys.

I don’t have any pictures from the night, because it was much too chaotic for that. I was headbutting people left and right just to stay sane. My watch was also ripped off my arm and thrown to the wolves, so I’ll have to replace that at some point. Though I do finally have a cell phone, so at least I have some form of time-keeping device.

I’ll say nothing about Caliban, the headliners. They were pretty lame, but they’re from Germany, so they got top spot. And I don’t think Soilwork liked supporting them, because Strid (the vocalist) kept making the crowd yell for “Swedish metal.” Burn.

This is going to be one crazy year of concerts, man.