Katatonia @ Gagarin 205

\r\nIt was shortly after 18.30 when the doors opened and people started to flood GAGARIN205. Soon I met with Metalzone.gr’s photographer Jim Hatzimoisis and we got inside. Nearly 300 to 400 people were already in the venue and so the atmosphere was quite refreshing. At about 19.00 DAYLIGHT MISERY hit the stage.                                     \r\n

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\r\n DAYLIGHT MISERY:\r\n

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\r\nDAYLIGHT MISERY is a new band and this was their 3rd live appearance. Their début album is on the way and their set list included songs they have available on their MySpace page for everyone to download. Even though they are a very young band they performed very well and their sound was excellent. They also did a cover to the song My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend of Type O Negative which was delivered extremely well. Just before their last song Miserablia Vassilis Mazaris the vocalist of the band thanked Efthimis Karadimas of NIGHTFALL who was in the crowd watching as he was the inspiration for the band and appears as a guest in their debut album DEPRESSIVE ICONS.\r\n

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\r\nFind out more about the band at their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/daylightmiseryband\r\n

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\r\n DAYLIGHT MISERY: \r\n

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\r\n \r\nAfter a short break to set up, SORROWFUL ANGELS took the stage. The Greeks were filming their appearance for an upcoming Video as I heard somewhere around the venue but I can’t tell for sure. I have listened to the band’s latest release and I have to say I think they need much work in terms of ideas. They seem to be caught up in their influences and so they sound as if they have no personal sound of their own. As for their live appearance, their sound was quite bad, their keys were prerecorded, and the whole effect just needs an awful lot of work. There were parts when the lead singer sounded like he wasn’t carrying the notes correctly and even in their cover of Apoptygma Berzerk the result didn’t come through. A really disappointing appearance from a band that has received so much coverage in Greek media and couldn’t meet the high expectations of the audience.Find out more about the band in their webpage: http://www.myspace.com/sorrowfulangels \r\n

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\r\nSORROWFUL ANGELS: \r\n

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\r\nSORROWFUL ANGELS: \r\n

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\r\nAfter the 30 minute set of Sorrowful Angels came the time for SIRENIA. The Norse band was visiting our country for the first time and as Veland said they wanted to come to Greece for a long time. It was the first time I was watching SIRENIA with their new singer Ailyn. I have to admit I didn’t know what to expect but what I watched and listened to was an average female fronted band. Almost everything was prerecorded, the choirs, the keys, the backing vocals and the most amazing of it all the bass. Unbelievable! Their performance was very good and they emphasized on their new recordings with strokes of older hits such as Meridian and concluding with their massive hits Other Side and My Minds Eye from their album Nine Destinies And A Downfall. Unfortunately in 2007 I had watched them perform in SUMMER BREEZE festival in Dinkelsbuhl Germany with Monica Pedersen on the female vocals and I have to admit I liked her better, voice wise and front woman wise. But that’s just my taste after all. \r\n

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\r\nYou can judge for yourselves at http://www.myspace.com/sirenia \r\n

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\r\n SIRENIA:\r\n

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\r\n SIRENIA:\r\n

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\r\n SIRENIA: \r\n

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\r\nKATATONIA  took the stage at 22.15 in front of a full house! The Swedes are very popular in Greece and they gather an audience which might have so much divercity within itself that makes you wonder. I saw people with Motley Crue shirts on, Blind Guardian, Suicidal Angels, Demons & Wizards,  Burzum yet all of them were there to watch KATATONIA. To my ears KATATONIA sound like they are balancing between Tool and Anathema. And I have to say that they sucked me into their dark grey world and took me away. The fans were so dazzled into the music they were shouting, singing, clapping in rhythm, headbanging, like they were on with the band. As Jonas Renkse said “We’ve been on tour for 6 weeks now and I have to say you’re the best audience so far”. They also introduced the new members of the band Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson lead & rhythm guitars and Niklas "Nille" Sandin bass and played songs that were never before included in their set lists. \r\n

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\r\n  KATATONIA:\r\n

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\r\nAll in all, the taste I had leaving the venue was that KATATONIA is a great band and they know how to deliver a great show without any gimmicks. Just plain great music, it’s enough to carry you away and spend a great night. So until next time we will be living “The Longest Year”….\r\n

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\r\n KATATONIA:\r\n

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\r\n KATATONIA: \r\n

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\r\nKATATONIA SET LIST:
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\r\n01. FORSAKER
\r\n02. LIBERATION
\r\n03. MY TWIN
\r\n04. ONWARD INTO BATTLE
\r\n05. COMPLICITY
\r\n06. THE LONGEST YEAR
\r\n07. OMERTA
\r\n08. TEARGAS
\r\n09. SAW YOU DROWN
\r\n10. IDLE BLOOD
\r\n11. GHOST OF THE SUN
\r\n12. EVIDENCE
\r\n13. JULY
\r\n14. CRIMINALS
\r\n15. DAY AND THE SHADE
\r\n16. FOR MY DEMONS
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\r\nENCORE
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\r\n17. DISPOSSESSION
\r\n17. LEADERS
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\r\nReport: Hellena Mihailidou
\r\nPhotos: Jim Hatzimoisis\r\n

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