August 20th, 2013
Unfortunately we arrived too late to catch any of Starkill’s set. Having seen them within the last year, it didn’t feel like a huge loss. As most people could be overheard highly praising this band, it seems likely that the up-and-comers will be back on a future date anyways.
Arsis delivered a fairly formulaic, predictable set. While they have albums that are quite good, it didn’t feel as thought it translated onto stage this evening. While there was nothing to genuinely complain about regarding Arsis’ set, it lacked the kind of excitement that one hopes for from a live act. Perhaps it was the slightly muddy sound and not being able to clearly hear vocals, or perhaps it had something to do with seeing Arsis on other occasions where the performance had that spark, but I just couldn’t get into their set. There were, however, numerous Arsis fans in the crowd who appeared to be quite satisfied.
Fleshgod Apocalypse was welcomed to a myriad of cheers from the audience. The presence of a female vocalist was a new, and great, addition to their live show. While the female vocals were lost for the first part of the set, they were clearly discernible by the end. Fleshgod was exciting, providing enough well orchestrated musical variety and energy to draw the crowd in. Raised fists and enthusiastic fans were abundant during the Italian’s time on stage. They worked as a well-oiled unit, incorporating vocals from several band members and never producing a dull moment. Dare I say it, but they stole the show on this night.
The headliners, Wintersun, were greatly anticipated by the crowd, appearing on stage to chants of their name and exuberant cheers. The Finns played for over an hour, with individual songs containing both faster tempos and slower breaks. While there wasn’t as much movement from the crowd as during the openers, this seemed appropriate considering Wintersun is a band that demands being watched rather than moshing to. Not being too familiar with Wintersun’s material, I still found them to be enjoyable, fronted by perfectionist Jari Mäenpää. With a sold out crowd, Wintersun left their many fans still wanting a few more songs at the end of the evening and anticipating the next time these Finns tour.
