kreator_2007_04

» Kreator/Celtic Frost 2007 04 02

Reviewed by David
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Special guest: Watain
City: Malmö, Sweden
Venue: KB
Date: 2 April 2007
Watain: 35 minutes
Celtic Frost: 75 minutes
Kreator: 85 minutes

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Watain

First some good news. Wolf could not attend the tour due to the singer Niklas Stålvind's sour throat. Wolf never really fitted in the package and four bands are one too many in one night. It will only cut down the setlength of the bands you are there to see first and foremost. That I also think Wolf is one of the most overrated bands in Sweden today is another thing…

Watain is not really my cup of blood either. But speaking of blood I at least expected them spread the smell of rotten gore from stage, as their reputation says. But I felt nothing. That they didn't bring their blood canons to a warm up gigs is one thing. But at least they should have been dripping blood themselves. Anyway, how hard band tries I cannot take this kind of 'true evil' image serious. Musically it was okay to be black metal - the guys can play - but nothing indispensable. Those who like this kind of music seemed pleased though, and then I will not judge.

6 chalices of 10

(sorry, no setlist)

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Celtic Frost

Tom G. Warrior must be one of the visually most spellbinding frontmen of metal. A short gentleman in black suit, blackened eyes and an ugly cap covering an even uglier haircut. But strangely enough he is as made for performing this music. Actually Celtic Frost is not one of my favourite bands either (I was there mainly for Kreator, if you wonder…). But they lived up to their reputation of creating a nice evil atmosphere around their concerts. The overall doomsday mood of the venue could not be denied. The speeches by bassist Martin Eric Ain could have been left out though. I generally prefer when bands let the music do the talking and not try to bring their thoughts into people. After an hour or so the concept of slow and dark doom/thrash/black got a bit repetitive and boring for me, but again those who should know better were all lyrical. Best was the awfully heavy and dark Synagoga Satanae.

8 chalices of 10

(sorry, no setlist)

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Kreator

Kreator set the foot down straight away with two monumental thrash 'hits', Violent Revolution and Pleasure To Kill. Then it was only to ride straight through on that wave. Mille Petrozza's voice has perhaps never been the most forceful, but it works - no more, no less. There could also have been some more scene engagement from the guys around Mille. I'm a bit ambivalent to the ongoing trend to show movie clips and animations as a backdrop. It is better than nothing, sure, but so far I haven't seen anything that really takes the whole experience of the show to a new level. To just cover a stiff movement on stage with some random movie features for the audience to rest their eyes on is too simple.

But the music delivered was as tight and intense as ever. And what an extreme collection of classics Kreator has collected through the years! Of course there were not room for all of them. Some Pain Will Last was a welcome item. 'New' songs like Suicide Terrorist, Voices Of The Dead and Impossible Brutality worked well. People Of The Lie, Phobia and Reconquering The Throne were expected highlights. I missed some great songs though, like All Of The Same Blood, Golden Age, Leave This World Behind And Coma Of Souls.

Then I cannot really understand bands who like to be extremely predictable at the end. Everybody knows that Flag Of Hate and Tormentor from the debut Endless Pain are coming in the end and that that is it. It is the same with almost all thrash bands. Overkill has Fuck You, The Haunted their Hate Song and so on. It is often far from their best songs, qualities being mainly 'old', 'fast' and 'true'. But if you are in a hurry it is great to know that you don't miss anything. At festivals for example, when you have to move on to the next band. The true people in the mosh pit probably see it differently. It was great action in the crowd this evening, without turning ugly. A great concert, but I expect a bit further sharpening of the edge for this summer's show at Sweden Rock Festival.

8 chalices of 10

SETLIST:
Intro: The Patriarch
Violent Revolution
Pleasure To Kill
Some Pain Will Last
Enemy Of God
People Of The Lie
Europe After The Rain
Suicide Terrorist
Awakening Of The Gods/Behind The Mirror
Extreme Aggressions
Phobia
Betrayer
Voices Of The Dead
Reconquering The Throne
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Impossible Brutality
Flag Of Hate
Tormentor