Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Even the stars came to Earth to hear Anathema



The group gave a stellar performance on October 18th at the Joy Eslava venue in Madrid

In early September, Anathema won the award for best live performance of the Progressive Music Awards. After seeing their show on October 18th at the Joy Eslava Venue, Madrid, it is only natural that they won. The group from England, offered an amazing concert which invited the viewer to explore and feel the music in the depths of their being.

Normally, people associate metal music with headbanging and people jumping up and down waving fists filled with spiked bracelets in the air. Few know the depths that can be found behind that music. Anathema is a group that has gone beyhond traditional metal creating a unique progresive atmospheric sound that invited refluction while seducing the listener.

The concert was an example of what the group who has been working for more than 10 years, can achieve. At a quarter to nine, even though there were still people coming in and a few asking for leftover tickets at the door, the first chords introducing the group to the stage began to ring. Untouchable I and Untouchable II, two songs from their latest album, "Weather Systems" were the first songs to fill the theatre.

The venue was packed but unlike other concerts in which too much people can be a burden, here, Anathema created a sense of intimacy and closeness with the audience.

It’s an impossible task to appease everyone, but Anathema tried to satisfy as much people as possible going back in time to play songs from older albums that date back as far as 1998. They even played songs never before heard in a Madrid stage, such as two out of the three songs played from their album  "Judgment”, Deep, Emotional Winter, Wings Of God.

The set of stage lights, the powerful voice of Vincent Cavanagh mixed with David Cavanagh and the angelic voice of Lee Douglas left the audience stunned, listening and nodding to the rhythm of the melancholic sound of the music. Lyrics were whispered and not shouted at full potential, almost as if the audience were afraid of breaking the magic being created on stage. It was only under the encouragment of Vicent or David when songs were chorused loudly, with bodies writhing to the beat.

A Simple Mistake  from the album "We're here Because We're Here", was introduced as a song about the beauty of life, followed by Lightening, Storm Before The Calm and The beginning and the end.

Attendees were amazed with the show, but many gasped with Natural Disaster. The group called for public input to illuminate the room with their phones while the mirror ball flashed through every corner, giving the impression that the sky had dipped to Earth to listen to Anathema.

Since then, emotions seemed to overflow. Some wept openly with "Flying", others concentrated on the stage, staring fixedly or shaking their heads rhythmically while others closed their eyes, imagining only they know what.

The encore brought two more songs, Fragile Dreams and Internal Landscapes, as well as more tears when Vicent thanked the audience for having bought tickets that cost almost 30euros:  "We know the situation in Spain and we appreciate you coming tonight."

Wrenching voices, emotional lyrics, beautiful music. The Anathema concert in Madrid was an experience hard to tell in words for it was more than a sensorial experience, it was extrasensory. Vincent Cavanagh which was signing along with the rest of the group, records, shirts and stickers at the merchandising stand, said that the Madrid show was the best so far. We don’t doubt that it was indeed something worth living.  

Daniel Cavanagh’s last words were: "Adios Madrid, hasta luego, hasta la próxima.” (Goodbye Madrid, see you soon, until next time).  See you soon, Anathema, we’ll be looking forward to it. 


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Sonata Arctica visits Madrid and Barcelona



The Finnish group will be visiting Spain on November 16th and 17th

The power metal band, Sonata Arctica, will act in Madrid on November 16th at Sala La Riviera and Barcelona on November 17th at Sala Razmatazz. The group will be accompanied by Finnish heavy metal band, Battle Beast.


Sonata Arctica, led by singer and songwriter Tony Kakko, will be introducing their 7th Studio album, “Stones grow her name” to the Spanish audience. The new CD includes different elements and musical instruments rarely used in metal, such as banjos or saxophones and includes vocal collaborations from artists such as Timo Kotipelto from Stratovarius.

Tickets can be acquired at www.ticketmaster.es at a price of 25 Euros plus processing fees. 

En Español: 
http://www.lahuelladigital.com/sonata-arctica-presenta-su-nuevo-disco-en-madrid-y-barcelona 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Metal band Therion announces important changes


The group from Sweden will cease production of future albums to create a Metal/Rock opera

Christofer Johnsson, founder of Therion announces that the group will not make any more albums or go on regular tour for the next five to ten years. The reason for this pause after 25 years of hard work is non other than the creation of a real metal/rock opera.

Paid by Christofer himself due to differences with their record label, Nuclear Blast, Therion’s latest album “Fleurs du mal”, can be bought during concerts or at their official store for the price of 15euros. Their last tour, The Flowers of Evil Tour will present new themes and revisit old classics as well as take advantage of the presence of a keyboard player among their team to play songs such as Land of Canaan or Via Nocturna, which make no sense without that key element.

Besides this final tour, Therion is in the process of creating a special art and musical project to celebrate their 25 years as a band. Also in lieu of this, Christofer will spend as much time as possible at the merchandise stands, answering questions, signing CD’s or taking pictures with fans.

For more detailed information, please visit: http://www.megatherion.com

En español: http://www.lahuelladigital.com/la-banda-de-metal-therion-anuncia-una-pausa-de-varios-anos/