Saturday, December 1st, 2007
The Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts
Thy Will Be Done, Sonic Syndicate, and Amon Amarth
Fairly uneventful pre-show. It was fucking COLD. As I was waiting in line, just about the entire band passed by. Got inside and got in the meet and greet line, and got not only a “The Crusher” poster signed (which they handing out for free), but also my “With Oden On Our Side” booklet. With those signed, and merchandise bought, I headed down to the floor to support a local band, one that I had seen earlier in the year at New England Metal and Hardcore Festival
Thy Will Be Done
There’s nothing mindblowingly special about these guys, they’re nothing breakthrough, but they’re still decent. They’re almost generic, basic thrash, but that’s not a bad thing. This was basically on-par with their NEMHF set, I couldn’t tell too much apart between the sets (but I’m also not very familiar with the band, despite them coming from Providence), except that the sound at this show was clearer. I banged my head a little for support, but I couldn’t get into them – not when I knew what was to come. Not when I was crawling with anticipation for Amon Amarth. Looking back on it, however, it would have been more enjoyable if they had swiched with Sonic Syndicate.
Sonic Syndicate
Wow…they were really bad. I don’t see the purpose of having two vocalists who sound exactly the same. What a horrible band. I’ve also never seen so much crowd hate for a band – and I was at Ozzfest last year when DragonForce was on. That crowd was already sitting down, so they don’t count. The Palladium crowd turned their back on the band, flipping them off and jumping up and down while doing so. About the second-to-last song, over half of the floor actually laid down. And then when they asked to dance, some people got up and did the monkey. This band really was horrible, and the crowd was way more amusing to watch. I hope I never have to see this band again.
Amon Amarth
The Vikings always put on a good show, and this time was no different. After a fairly lengthy break between Sonic Syndicate and Amon Amarth (during which we heard Opeth’s “Ghost of Perdition” and a few tracks off of “Ride The Lightning”, which were all sung by the crowd), they stalked on stage to quite thunderous applause and…clear sound? That was honestly a shock to me. The Palladium is notorious for muddy sound, however this was one of the clearest performances I’ve heard, and probably the CLEAREST I’ve heard of a Death Metal band. I didn’t even have to wear my earplugs – it was soft for a Death Metal band, too. These guys know what they’re doing, they know that louder does not equal better.
Opened up with the thunderous anthem “Valhall Awaits Me” and afterwards kicked right into the title track of the new album. I don’t see the point in having “Death In Fire” the THIRD track. It’s the perfect closer of a concert, no matter how popular “The Pursuit Of Vikings” is. It just doesn’t end a concert the same way. This tour was the first time they’ve ever played “Hermod’s Ride To Hel” live, something the fans have been demanding – very good song live. After “Hermod’s Ride To Hel”, there was a short intro of crows/birds caw-ing and I believe flapping their wings…and, as would have been foreboded by the intro, thus they kicked into “Cry Of The Black Birds”.
Next for the metal crowd was “Fate Of Norns”, dedicated to Vitek of Decapitated (For those who aren’t aware of the situation, Decapitated was supposed to be co-headlining this tour but while on tour in Russia their tour bus got into an accident, placing their drummer Vitek and vocalist Covan in intensive care. Vitek passed away, and as of writing this Covan is still hospitalized). I’m proud to say that I started up a “Vitek” chant after Johan Hegg dedicated it to Vitek. “Down The Slopes Of Death” was a very pleasant surprise.
After “Runes To My Memory” (A song I’m actually not all that big on. It’s good, but it’s not their best, and definitely one of my least favorite tracks on With Oden On Our Side), they left the stage. They took awhile to come back on, but they returned for the encore…and lead us in a MARCH! A VICTORIOUS MARCH! It was great to finally hear “Victorious March” live in person. Afterwards, they replaced “The Last With Pagan Blood” (which was written on the setlist) with “An Ancient Sign Of Coming Storm”. I would have preferred Pagan Blood, to be honest.
Then, the closer “The Pursuit of Vikings”. Good song, but not set-closer material. Maybe main-set closer, but “Death In Fire” still needs to be the last song of the encore. I do like the crowd singalong they get going in Pursuit, but it’s not the same. (”If you know the words, sing along! If you don’t, sing along anyways! It’s Death Metal, nobody knows the difference!” – Johan Hegg) It doesn’t have the same thunderous roar.
1. Intro
2. Valhall Awaits Me
3. With Oden On Our Side
4. Death In Fire
5. Versus The World
6. Asator
7. The Sound Of Eight Hooves
8. Hermod’s Ride To Hel – Loke’s Treachery Pt. 1
9. Crow Intro
10. Cry Of The Black Birds
11. Fate Of Norns
12. One Thousand Years Of Oppression
13. Down The Slopes Of Death
14. Bleed For Ancient Gods
15. Runes To My Memory
–ENCORE–
16. Victorious March
17. An Ancient Sign Of Coming Storm
18. The Pursuit Of Vikings
After the were done, after tossing some picks out into the crowd, Johan Soderberg walked over to me and gave me a handshake, handing me a pick in the process – the same thing he did when I saw them last December, making that two Johan S. picks for me now.
A very great way to end my metal year, as it was my last show of 07. Not the best gig I’ve seen all year, but a very good one regardless, and I seriously recommend seeing Amon Amarth next time they come through – you won’t regret it.
