SEPT 5th,2011
THE BLACK PATH OF
AMERICA TOUR 2011
Review By: Metal Mom
Photos By: Char Tupper
http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/vreid-the-black-path-of-america-tour-2011/
Time to drive into Vancouver for a true Metal show that took place at the Rickshaw Theatre. It was a great drive in, nice sunny September day, also Labour Day holiday for both USA and Canada. Now when I started out , I was not in a mood for any kind of a show, I mean my name is Metal Mom, and I do love my metal, just one of those days. Lets just say that I was completely taken aback, and in the best way imaginable.
First band, Vancouver’s own SCYTHIA, their songs tell an epic story, set to modern progressive metal, with a medieval touch. And they truly have this down to perfection. Most people miss the first band, because they’re local, but I can tell you, SCYTHIA is not a band to be missed out on. What also made them appealing, they have a style of dress on stage. Very suiting to their way of music. Great energy while they played, I hope to catch them again, it was really a great set to watch, taking you to the tops of the mountain peaks and descending down into the valleys. Combining folk and metal has worked for SCYTHIA.
Next is NECRONOMICON, rising from the depths of Eastern Canada, they brought with them their drive, their sense of decor, atmosphere and power to the stage. I have to say that they are black/death/symphonic metal all in one. Which is truly a remarkable sound , filled with powerful riffs, blasting drums and some gruff vocals to pulling it all together to make you take notice. I stood right up front for NECRONOMICON, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It was the only way to enjoy such a great band, one that knows how to put their music together to play a show and give the fans exactly what they want. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I had heard the name but never listened, and I got caught up thinking they were going to be like Dimmu Borgir. Oh boy how wrong was I, and I will also tell you, they don’t sound anything like Behemoth either. This band has what it takes to go further, I personally think they stole the show with their hard, fast black metal. Come back soon, I really took a lot of pleasure in watching you play.
KAMPFAR was next, this was the first time for this Norwegian band to play on this continent. There was plenty of piercing riffs, and driving drum beats, and filling in to make Kampfar sound unique is the harsh vocals. They played from old to new songs, and the crowd was enjoying it. As was I, although I did find at times that music and vocals didn’t go well together, music was great, and the vocals didn’t suit the music, or the other way around, but that was only for a couple of the songs, the rest was enjoyable. The singer was constantly saying thank you. It was obvious that he was happy to have such crowds. The only surprise to me, I didn’t see or feel any moshers, great for me, but I think the bands would think they weren’t very good. A difference too, is it was only a 19+ show.
Saving the best for last, another band that just bowled me over was VREID, now I had done a CD review for them, and enjoyed it, but to see them live is another experience that everyone should have, they were so much better to watch and listen to, extremely high energy, amazing guitar riffs, and fast drum blasts. Now after their set, I noticed there wasn’t a lot of singing, what there was, was done exceedingly well, but never thought I could listen for long to just the music. Wrong. The instrumentation with VREID is done with such perfection, it has such continuity, such raw perfection to each instrument being played. And their lyrics are based on their own history. This band is Metal / Rock, and what makes them stand out above the rest. And I also hope that VREID makes a return soon. Because I will be there , right up front and centre again. It says a lot when a band can play live and actually sound better than their CD. Truly amazing.
Now the only thing about this show, not a lot of people, which doesn’t work out well for the bands. Did for me, just for the fact that I could squeeze up front and truly enjoy the show without looking over my shoulders for boots. Oh, and please, can someone please play better music between the bands, old 70’s and 80’s doesn’t get you psyched up for whats to come. But it was such an amazing show, my only wish is that I could have traveled down to Seattle to see it all over again. If you get the chance, they only have a few tour dates left, you have got to get yourself over to witness THE BLACK PATH OF AMERICA TOUR .