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Band:Opeth Album:Ghost Reveries Record Company:Roadrunner Records Writer: David "tbhride" Andersen Click Album Cover To Buy Now

Man, it was cold out there. Nothing quite like a mid-February heavy metal concert. Wind blowing, metalheads huddled around, sharing a pizza. The reason we were all there? To see the Devin Townsend Band, Dark Tranquillity, and the mighty Opeth. Sheesh, why is that guy over there not wearing a jacket or something... anything?! Ah finally, doors....

Devin Townsend Band's all too brief set highlighted why they are one of the best progressive (not prog) bands out there. While they only played for a half hour, they played some killer tunes. Disappointingly they didn't play anything off their Accelerated Evolution album (my favorite). They concentrated mostly on their new album, Synchestra, with only two songs being from their previous albums, but they picked some good ones. (DTB setlist: Truth, Regulator, Gaia, Pixilate, Vampolka, Vampira)

After a brief break, Dark Tranquillity was out to tear up the stage. Personally I am not the biggest fan of this band. I think as a whole, the Swedish thrash/death scene is only a shadow of its former self. That being said, Dark Tranquillity is definitely one of the best remaining bands in the genre. They were also one of the most energetic live acts I have seen; the energy levels coming from the stage were through the roof. They finished off their set strong, their fast and furious style providing a good counterpoint between Devin Townsend and Opeth. (Dark Tranquillity setlist: The Wonders at Your Feet, Lost to Apathy, The Treason Wall, Punish My Heaven, Damage Done, The New Build, Monochromatic Stains, My Negation, Final Resistance)

Speaking of Opeth, why do so many of their fans have to be morons? Seriously, to the guys pushing and moshing while the crew were setting up the stage for Opeth, what the fuck?!

Once Opeth finally hit the stage, it was time to kick some ass. It's kind of funny that Mikael ?kkerfeldt fronts a metal band; he is such a mild mannered guy, almost timidly flashing the horns and grinning on his way to the microphone. They opened with "Ghost of Perdition" from their latest album (Ghost Reveries). In addition to cuts from this album they performed a very diverse set, including some of their more obscure songs such as "Amen Corner" and "Under the Weeping Moon".

One of the things you know if you've ever seen Opeth before is that Mikael's stage banter is highly entertaining. I especially enjoyed when some woman shouted "Sing Britney Spears and we'll show you our tits!" to which he responded, "I just heard someone yell tits," and proceeded to teach the audience some choice naughty words in Swedish.

Another cool moment happened when the band brought this guy and his girlfriend onstage. The guy worked at Paul Reed Smith guitars (Opeth's guitar of choice) whose factory is located here in Maryland. The girlfriend was in awe as her boyfriend proposed to her right there onstage. After some crying and hugging (she said yes), Mikael proudly proclaimed that they were also matchmakers in addition to being "heavy metal gods," and then jokingly asked for another couple!

After finishing their set with the classic "Drapery Falls" from the Blackwater Park record, the exited the stage. The crowd wanted more, and a few minutes of chanting brought them back! However they said they would only play more if we first played something for them. So after a quick round of heavy metal trivia (topic of the night = Iron Maiden!) they belted out "Deliverance" claiming "here is our song inspired by banjos!" (Opeth setlist: Ghost of Perdition, White Cluster, Amen Corner, Baying of the Hounds, Closure, Under the Weeping Moon, The Grand Conjuration, Drapery Falls, encore: Deliverance)

Even though the show was over and it was now 1:30 in the AM, I wished they would have played even longer. Not entirely because I wanted to hear more, but it was damn cold outside and I didn't want to leave lol. For a show as good as this one though, it was worth it!

Band:Opeth Album:Ghost Reveries Record Company:Roadrunner Records Writer: David "tbhride" Andersen Click Album Cover To Buy Now

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