Reviews

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May 06, 2011
Combichrist Tour: 
Combichrist, Ivardensphere 
@ The Palladium - Upstairs [Worcester, MA (USA)]

 


April 10, 2011
Unsound Festival New York 2011: 
Lustmord, Void Ov Voices, Robert Piotrowicz 
@ Abrons Arts Center [New York City, NY (USA)]

 


March 27, 2011
Millipede Show: 
Millipede 
@ Darkroom [Chicago, IL (USA)]

 


November 19, 2010
Combichrist Tour: 
Combichrist, Aesthetic Perfection, Ivardensphere 
@ Webster Theater [Hartford, CT (USA)]

 


September 30, 2010
The Swans Tour: 
Swans, The 
@ The Middle Cafe - Downstairs [Cambridge, MA (USA)]

 


August 04, 2010
Tragedy For Us Tour: 
Iszoloscope, Ad·ver·sary, Cervello Elettronico 
@ Champions Cafe [Everett, MA (USA)]

 


July 03, 2010
Steel Hook Prostheses Tour: 
Steel Hook Prostheses, Bereft, Sewer Goddess, Xiphoid Dementia 
@ Club Choices [Somerville, MA (USA)]

 


May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Satori 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Sardh 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Eldar 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 24, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 4: 
Nurse With Wound 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Schallfaktor 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
The PCP Principle 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Flint Glass 
@ Werk II [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Seventh Harmonic 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Loell Duinn 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 23, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 3: 
Arcana 
@ Schauspielhaus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Ashram 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

I arrived at the venue late and missed the beginning of their set, but I still managed to catch the majority of it. The music was stunningly beautiful. It was haunting, soulful, and melancholy with a glint of hope. As with their albums, I only have one single complaint - the singing.

Edo Notarloberti is an accomplished violinist playing in several bands and also has a solo career. He tends to write dark melodies that resolve to lighter notes. Luigi Rubino is an amazing pianist who is trained in the classic and modern composition. Ashram combines their talent and composition skills to create paradoxes in their music - depressive yet joyful, modern yet classical, dark yet hopeful. It was such a pleasure to hear them play. I didn't mind Sergio Panarella as long as he stuck to playing acoustic guitar.

Whenever I listen to their albums, I often feel like nails are being dragged across a chalkboard when vocals come into a song. I don't want to give the impression that he is a poor singer or performer. He's not. He's actually quite good when judged alone. I just don't feel vocals are necessary in their music, especially the deeper sounds and tones he produces. I could see myself liking his style of singing if the backdrop music was a style I deemed appropriate, but the singing at the Volkspalast was even worse than on the albums because the vocals were mixed to be even louder than they are on the CDs.

I did learn a wonderful trick at the show. If I deprived myself of sight, I could filter out the vocals in my head and mainly hear everything else. That did wonders for me and how I've listened to their music since getting home from the festival.

They did play a few songs without vocals, which pleased me greatly. "Maria And The Violin's Strings" and "Elizabeth" off their last album were simply incredible to hear live as was "Behind The Clouds" from Luigi's solo project. The combination of piano and violin of these first two songs sent chills up my spine. They have always reminded me of heartbreaking scenes in movies where the protagonist is about to lose his love and must throw caution to the wind, profess his love, and hope she might feel likewise. "Behind The Clouds" felt like a lullaby leading the dreamer through dark, frightening landscapes.

They finished their set and came back out for an encore. I'm not sure if they did this on purpose (opening band) or if they were told they had more time and we were all cheering loudly. Two or three more songs were performed, including "The First Was A Death Woman" from Edo's solo project.

The three of them crammed onto the bench with Sergio manning the low notes of the keyboard, Edo the middle, and Luigi the high notes. This high tempo song was played by six hands on the same keyboard with Luigi reaching over to play some extra mid notes as well. Everyone could see how much fun they were having and the audience loved them. It was cute number and an uplifting ending to their performance.

[Close Review]

Review | Pictures
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Sonne Hagal 
@ Volkspalast: Kantine [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Sigillum S 
@ Volkspalast: Kuppelhalle [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 22, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 2: 
Moonspell 
@ Kohlrabizirkus [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1 [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1: 
Conjure One 
@ Agra Hall [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]
May 21, 2010
Wave-Gotik Treffen 2010 - Day 1: 
Kirlian Camera 
@ Agra Hall [Leipzig, Saxony (Germany)]

 


May 16, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 5: 
Covenant, Rotorsand 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

 


May 15, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 4: 
FabrikC, Terrorfakt, Nachtmahr, Destroid, Memmaker 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

 


May 14, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 3: 
Alien Vampires, Combichrist, Absolute Body Control, Decoded Feedback, SAM, Synapscape, Komor Kommando, Iszoloscope 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]

 


May 13, 2010
Kinetik Festival 2010 - Phase 2: 
Leæther Strip, Tyske Ludder, Imperative Reaction, 16 Volt 
@ Usine C [Montreal, Quebec (Canada)]