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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)]
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)]

I had no idea what Moonspell sounded like before going to the show other than "metal". My fiancée was into them years ago when she first became aware of metal and gothic music and wanted to see them. Most of the metal bands I listen to stopped making music by the mid-90s or they are newer bands playing goth-, symphonic-, and power- metal. I was also curious as I had never been to a metal show at WGT and I know how much Europeans (especially Germans) love their \m/.

A good portion of Kohlrabizirkus was filled for the headliner. Fists and horns were in the air the second the lights when out. The band exploded onto the stage and began pounding the metal into the eager masses. As all metal bands should be unless you play black or doom metal, they ran around the stage, jumped around, head-banged like the Hair Bangers from Brütal Legend, made stupid faces, and were absolutely exploding with kinetic energy. The guitarists and bassist regularly threw the goat while playing and the singer knew how to whip the crowd into a frenzy. The drummer sat in back with his double bass drumkit rocking the Jack Sparrow look, banging those things as fast as Jack can bang the wenches.

I asked some people about the songs they were playing. The responses were that they played mostly hits from their 8-9 albums, including as the singer put it, their favorite song. Hits or not, it all sounded like good ole ass-kicking metal to my virgin ears. I had a great time watching the enthusiasm of both the band and the audience. I'm often surrounded by people standing around with their arms crossed. These people were here to rock out and show the musicians they love them by singing and clapping to songs they like. Speaking of clapping, I'm often dismayed when I go to rock/metal shows in North America where people cannot clap in time. There may have been people in this crowd who couldn't keep time, but I couldn't hear it as each beat of the song had a loud unison clap to accompany it.

Beyond the music, they had plenty of videos to go with their set, which very well done with different themes. One of the great ones was a snowy forest scene which started burning. Eventually the flames coalesced to form a fiery stream tracing infinity. This was followed by ghostly spirits swirling around the trees. As they played their "favorite" song, giant drops of blood ran down the screen. Their final video cycled through different faces and symbols.

I was very impressed by Moonspell's showmanship and musicianship. It was obvious their fans love them. I had a great time.

[Close Review]

Review | Pictures

 


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)]