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Okay, some 10½ months ago I wrote a journal entry '2009 - The Year of Power. As much good stuff we got that year, and still may get later, the best shit was basically delivered to the next year (2010). Here goes my favorites list, you people can add to this...

Wuthering Heights - SALT
From as reliable source as a Last FM user who said he has a contact with someone who knows... :D Anyway, this source states it's still going to happen in December! The track list is also in here
For those who don't know, this music is going to make your head explode! Seriously, Erik Ravn is one of the best if not the best damn composer of the last couple of years!

Helloween - Unarmed: The 25th Anniversary Thingy, Whatever the Real Name Was Again...
- rearranged rerecordings about songs they basically liked to put into a new form... so basically this text is in a very wrong place (power metal topic) because
- Eagle Fly Free is gonna be a ballad, dueted with a Swedish woman named Harriett Ohlson from Hellsongs
- saxophone version of Dr. Stein
- lounge versions of If I Could Fly and Fallen to Pieces
- and stuff (Behold the mighty Google translator!)
- there's gonna be a new music video with a song they haven't videoed before
- there's likely gonna be a physical single in Japan, and it's NOT gonna be Eagle Fly Free (in Finnish)
- [release dates] December 16th, 2009 - Japan & Southeast Asia (JVC/Victor)
January 29th, 2010 - Europe (SONY/SPV) - http://www.helloween.org/band/news/single-news.html?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=227&cHash=36214565fa
<EDIT> It seems this link cuts too early whether I tag it or not! :D

Freedom Call - Legend of the Shadowking 22nd of January 2010 (Germany, Austria & Switzerland); 25th of January (rest of europe) (http://www.freedom-call.net/)
(http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=130751)

Gamma Ray sometime in January (or does the text on the upper link state that it, too, is going to be out on the 25th?)

Masterplan with Jörn again. The album's ready, just the release date isn't. First quarter of 2010?
http://www.master-plan.net/index2.htm

Avantasia - 'The Wicked Game' and 'Angel of Babylon'
Early 2010. So far confirmed singers (out of my head): Kiske, Meine, Allen, Lande, Catley, Ripper... That's so huge! Hartmann's only going to be on the guitar? ;( I love his voice! Singer/Holzwarth back behind the cans... other guitarists? Help me here... Paeth of course. He's an outstanding producer too! Miro still on the kb? I only seem to know about the singers this time, and Hartmann. ;<

Blind Guardian - We are targeting a late summer, early fall release, which means you still have to wait a little bit. - Hansi Kürsch, the singer
http://www.blind-guardian.com/

Also, a new Stratovarius has been rumored on the boards. I can't bother to search a link though. :D This meaning still no DVD, but a new album!

Wait, there was supposed to be more, but I'm having a bit of a blackout it seems... Well, or maybe here isn't... we already got Cain's Offering, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, surprisingly good Vision Divine even if it wasn't reviewed as such, [Thunderstone, HammerFall not actually being that power metal but anyway...], Savage Circus... and what else. Just keep me informed for MOAR projects that might interest me. :P I'm also always open to any recommendations, be it metal or not.

United States (54):
Dream Theater
Metallica
Hollywood Undead
John Mellencamp
Eagles
Megadeth
Symphony X
Liquid Tension Experiment
Santana
Mötley Crüe
Avenged Sevenfold
Van Halen
Skid Row
W.A.S.P.
Fates Warning
Platypus
Poison
The Jelly Jam
Dio
Slayer
Creedence Clearwater Revival
KISS
Bon Jovi
Aerosmith
Shadows Fall
Spinal Tap
Stryper
Liquid Trio Experiment
Winger
Harold Faltermeyer
Escape the Fate
Alice Cooper
Racer X
Eminem
Dokken
Trivium
Survivor
A Day to Remember
Beatallica
Jeff Wayne
Toto
Kenny Loggins
Paul Anka
Tenacious D
Vince Neil
Bowling for Soup
Chroma Key
John Williams
Extreme
Blue Öyster Cult
White wizzard
Alcatrazz
Steel Panther
Michael Jackson

United Kingdom (28):
Whitesnake
Bad Company
Free
Bullet For My Valentine
Rainbow
Gary Moore
Muse
DragonForce
Iron Maiden
Thunder
Deep Purple
Rory Gallagher
Saxon
Wham!
Queen
Discharge
Napalm Death
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Diamond Head
Lostprophets
Bill Bailey lol
Thin Lizzy
Led Zeppelin
Feeder
Every Word Is Yours
David Coverdale
Eric Clapton
Alestorm

Germany (5):
Scorpions
Helloween
Axel Rudi Pell
Johann Sebastian Bach
Ludwig van Beethoven

Sweden (4):
Yngwie Malmsteen
Europe
Opeth
Pain of Salvation

Italy (2):
Rhapsody (Of Fire)
Ennio Morricone

Denmark (2):
Mercyful Fate
King Diamond

Canada (1):
Bryan Adams

Austria (1)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

France (1)
Pipo & Elo

Unknown (1)
The String Quartet

Finland (1)
Turisas

Austrialia(1)
AC/DC

Someone said somewhere on Last FM that 'seen live' ain't even proper English. I can't see what's wrong with that, so I'm even using it on the title of this journal. Anyhow, what 'seen live' is not, at least for me anymore, is tag. I'm going to delete it right after posting this journal which I am going to update every time I see some group live. Here go the bands I've seen so far.

Tuska Open Air 2007, Helsinki:
Blind Guardian
Finntroll
Moonspell
Vader
Stratovarius

Meripäivät, Kotka, 2007:
Kotiteollisuus
Apulanta

(Then) Jolly Roger, Kotka, sometime in 2007:
Pelle Miljoona

Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, December 2007:
Axxis
Gamma Ray
Helloween

Bepop, Kotka, April 2008:
Total Devastation
Widescreen Mode

Sauna Open Air 2008, Tampere:
Stone
Tracedawn
Sonata Arctica
Sebastian Bach
Scorpions

Vekaranjärvi, October 2008:
Korpiklaani

Iltatähti, Laapeenranta, October 2008:
Deathchain + support?

Iltatähti, Lappeenranta, November 2008:
Before the Dawn

Vekaranjärvi, April 2009:
Musta Joutsen

Helsingin jäähalli, Helsinki, June 2009:
Heaven & Hell

Sauna Open Air 2009, Tampere:
Medeia
Soilwork
Viikate
Apocalyptica
Prestige
HammerFall
Mötley Crüe
Kotiteollisuus (x2)
Omnium Gatherum
Kamelot
Bullet
Stratovarius (x2)
Thor
Nightwish

Hakametsän jäähalli, Tampere, July 2009:
The Milestones
Deep Purple

Linnoituksen yö, Lappeenranta, August 2009:
Stratovarius (x3)

Pakkahuone, Tampere, November 2009:
Dreamtale
Stratovarius (x4)

Tampere-talo, Tampere, November 2009:
Seminaarinmäen mieslaulajat

A bit lazy with dates and such, but all of them are sort of right. :P I shall update whenever I go to gigs...

1. How did you get into 29? Kamelot
I think I found them out by friends recommendation in 2003. After that, I was so addicted to them. When they released The Black Halo in 2005, I must have played that 10 times on day of release. One of my favorite Progressive/Power Metal bands for sure.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? Týr
That would be just like every other Týr fan: Hail to the Hammer. :P

3. What’s your favorite lyric by 33? Turisas
From the track: Cursed be Iron
"Did thy father, or thy mother
Did the eldest of thy brothers
Did the youngest of thy sisters
Did the worst of all thy kindred"

4. What is your favorite album by 49? Equilibrium
Sagas without a doubt. Mana is one of the most epic songs ever. Just imagine Wintersun made a 16 minute song, it would sound a little like this. :P

5. How many albums by 13 do you own? Ensiferum
All four:
Ensiferum
Iron
Victory Songs
From Afar
Their EP:
Dragonheads :D

6. What is your favorite song by 50? Vital Remains
Dechristianize for sure.
Dave Suzuki is awesome.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? Rage
Beauty is a track that can be pretty sad. It's the saddest part of 'Suite Lingua Mortis', to my knowledge. You really need to hear this 21 minute Progressive Metal piece (Suite Lingua Mortis, not Beauty of course) btw, it's epic.

8. What is your favorite album by 15? Korpiklaani
Tales Along This Road of course. This was Korpiklaani at their best so far.

9. What is your favorite song by 5? Opeth
Forest of October without a doubt. It's pure awesomeness. :D

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? Edge of Sanity
Crimson because it's just so good. I smile every time i hear this epic piece :D

11. What is your favorite album by 40? Akercocke
Choronzon obviously.

12. What is your favorite song by 10? Black Sabbath
Ah the almighty Sabbath.Don't care what anyone says, Dio was better in Sabbath than Ozzy, even though I like both. My favorite track is: Die Young.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? Carcass
Yep. Seeing them live at Bloodstock Open Air 2009, of course. :D

14. What is your favorite song by 38? Wintersun
It would have to be: Winter Madness because amazing solo is amazing.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? Children of Bodom
Why yes, it's: Kissing the Shadows. Seriously, who can deny the awesomeness in that solo?

16. How many times have you seen 25 live? Symphony X
Once, opening for Dream Theater. What a dream line up that was.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? Metallica
Errm...controversial band. :P
I believe my first track to be Creeping Death. It's been a favorite of mine for about 7 or 8 years.

18. What is your favorite album by 11? Tarot
It's got to be Suffer Our Pleasures literally for the song Rider of the Last Day, otherwise my favorite would be Follow Me Into Madness. I believe Marco Hietala could be God, if he exists whether he's in Tarot, Northern Kings or Nightwish, his music is pure awesomeness.

19. Who is a favorite member of 1? Dream Theater
You seriously want me to pick between John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, James LaBrie, John Myung and Mike Portnoy? Well I'll pick Petrucci but only because he could co into World domination mode. Though Rudess can probably open portals with his keyboarding skills, but LaBrie can break things and people with his high F's in Learning To Live. Myung, that Korean could probably control nuclear weapons with his bass guitar. Portnoy could create Black Holes with his time sig changes while drumming. Let's face it, Dream Theater will probably be what is behind 2012 and the so-called "end of the world" ;P Ok, I pick Petrucci.

20. Have you ever seen 14 live? Alice in Chains
Nope, going to in December maybe though.

21. What is a good memory involving 27? Porcupine Tree
Listening to The Incident for the first time is the last good memory I had with this brilliant band. Which was in September so =)

22. What is your favorite song by 16? Bloodbath
That would obviously be Bathe in Blood. I love the guitar tone on it and Mikael's growls are awesome.

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? Jeff Loomis
It was Devil Theory I believe. Jeff only has one album out anyway but this is my first and my favorite by him. One of the greatest guitarists ever and I place him next to the likes of Michael Romeo and John Petrucci for that.

24. What is your favorite album by 18? Kreator
Even though most plays are for the newer albums, nothing they release will be better than Extreme Aggression. That is my favorite album by Kreator.

25. What is your favorite song by 21? Edguy
It's gotta be We Don't Need a Hero. Great band this.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? Satyricon
It was Mother North. I just happened upon the video and it was awesome. :D

27. What is your favorite album by 3? Nevermore
Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor has to be my favorite. Seriously, it's just awesome and I think these guys get better every album. Lets hope The Obsidian Conspiracy is better. :D

28. What is you favorite song by 2? Iron Maiden
My favorite band despite being second most played. :D
This has to be a four way tie between Hallowed Be Thy Name, Fear of the Dark, Only the Good Die Young and Caught Somewhere in Time.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? Avantasia
It was this beautiful track called Farewell.

30. What is your favorite song by 8? Helloween
That would be the 13 minute Power Metal masterpiece: Halloween. Kai Hansen is awesome.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? Amon Amarth
Twice. Third time coming up this Sunday.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? The Agonist
I'd say Business Suits and Combat Boots because it helped my find the band.

33. What is your favorite album by 12? Ayreon
It has to be The Human Equation. That album is not only Arjen's finest piece of work, but it's an album in my top 5. James LaBrie, Heather Findlay, Mike Baker, Mikael Åkerfeldt and the rest, they all just rocked. I wanna listen to it now... :D

34. What is the worst song by 45? Gamma Ray
There isn't one bad song.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? Guns N' Roses
I believe that to be Paradise City. It's one of those songs I heard as a little chillen.

36. What is your favorite album by 48? Evile
Infected Nations by miles.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? Mastodon
Once, I believe.

38. What is your favorite song by 36? HammerFall
It's gotta be a 3 way tie between Natural High, Templars of Steel and Stronger Than All.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? Norther
I believe it to be Last Breath.

40. What is your favorite album by 7? Megadeth
Has to be So Far, So Good...So What!. It's definitely Mustaine's finest piece of work and it's underrated as hell.

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? Sonata Arctica
What? Almost all Sonata Arctica songs make me werry werry happeh! :D This mostly though Wolf & Raven.

42. What is your favorite album by 41? Katatonia
The almighty Brave Murder Day wins. :D I do like all Katatonia though. I see people bitch about them "going soft" and whatever. :P

43. What is your favorite song by 24? Warrel Dane
It's gotta be Messenger or When We Pray. Either way, they're both catchy as hell and well written. Dane is a great lyricist.

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? Darkthrone
Hearing A Blaze in the Northern Sky for the first time.

45. What is your favorite song by 35? Tenacious D
Has to be Master Exploder. Jack Black is cool. :D

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? System of a Down
Of course. There's loads :D but I would have to say most of all Vicinity of Obscenity because it's so damn hilarious.

47. What is your favorite album by 4? Pink Floyd
I love the Floyd. My favorite would have to be either Meddle or The Wall.
Echoes is such a fantastic song.

48. Who is a favorite member of 37?Rage Against the Machine
Zach De La Rocha is the man.
"FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!"

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? Candlemass
I think that was Mirror Mirror. The riffs are so heavy on that, it's awesome.


50. How many albums do you own by 20? Alestorm
I own all 2 albums. Both great.

1. How did you get into 29? The Mars Volta
I got a promo copy of Bedlam in Goliath from my work. At first the music was a little too sporadic for me. Then my TMV friends gave me De-Loused and since I've been hooked. Once the new album came out and I heard Cotopaxi is when I think I became a big fan. I have all the albums now.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? Fates Warning
It had to have been something off of Spectre Within or Awaken the Guardian my friend showed me, and I honestly wasn't blown away. At least not until I heard some of the newer songs played live on Portnoy's latest DVD. I'm much more into the Alder era FW.

3. What’s your favorite lyric by 33? Mastodon
The first few lines in Crack The Skye (track) are amazing..
"Blessed visionary, cut me with your sun,
The rivers ran in blood, spark fueled to fire
Deep within the endless void
Searching for a sign
The vessel forged inside me
Watches over like the death of the moon"

4. What is your favorite album by 49? Devin Townsend
Ziltoid! I remember my friend showing me this album before it was released. I couldn't take it seriously with the cover. I thought this Devin Townsend guy was a little over the top. Well he is! And now that's the reason I like him so much. He writes in a manner of "not giving a fuck" and I love that now that I "get it".

5. How many albums by 13 do you own? The Dear Hunter
Act's I, II, and III which is pretty much all you can find. I'm not sure if there are other small singles or anything available, so as far as I know I have everything!

6. What is your favorite song by 50? Genesis
I'm a big fan of The Knife and Return of The Giant Hogweed. I can't really decide which I like more.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? Obscura
Not that I could say. All I have by them is cosmogenesis and it's pretty much in your face tech-death the whole way through. Fucking amazing album though.

8. What is your favorite album by 15? Bloodbath
Easily Nightmares Made Flesh. Cancer of the Soul, Soul Evisceration, and of course.. EATEN. SO GOOD

9. What is your favorite song by 5? Katatonia
July. If I could combine that string of songs half way through The Great Cold Distance (Rusted, Increase, July, In The White) I would say that, but hands down July is my favorite track.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? Between the Buried and Me
A few songs! Firstly Shevanel Cut A Flip because of the double break down, Secondly Backwards Marathon because of the final IT'S RAAAAAAAAIIIII!!! The hoedown in Ants Of The Sky as well! haha

11. What is your favorite album by 40? Necrophagist
Epitaph solely because of Seven and Diminished to B.

12. What is your favorite song by 10? Meshuggah
Pineal Gland Optics. Closely followed by Dancers to a Discordant System.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? The Tangent
Many of the memories I have of The Tangent involve the track Sun In My Eyes. Anyone who knows this song understands why.

14. What is your favorite song by 38? Yes
Heart of the Sunrise for sure.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? Anekdoten
YES THERE IS! And for a reason that may seem silly to others. On there first album they have a song called Wheel and they land on a suspended 4 chord that doesn't resolve down to the cliche major 3rd. They just hold the 4 for 2 measures and then move to a new part! Makes me so happy cause I get tired of hearing the same cliche lines over and over.

16. How many times have you seen 25 live? dredg
Sadly none yet. The first chance I had was election night and the second chance I had I was away visiting family

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? BeardFish
I actually can't remember. I'm assuming it was As the Sun Sets, because I don't think there were any previews that I found. I just heard many good things about them that I found their, at the time, latest album Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two.

18. What is your favorite album by 11? Camel
The Snow Goose. The whole album flows so well, like the story it's based off of.

19. Who is a favorite member of 1? Dream Theater
It has to be Mike Portnoy. He opened me up to a whole other realm of music with Liquid Tension Experiment and Dream Theater. Being a drummer myself he just came to be one of my biggest inspirations as an artist.

20. Have you ever seen 14 live? Coheed and Cambria
Yes at Lollapalooza 2009. Also got to do the meet and greet with them. Lots of fun

21. What is a good memory involving 27? Helloween
Oh Helloween, I love those guys. Always reminds me of Nick and John Walsh as they both took part in getting me into them. The concert John and I went to was just an awesome time.

22. What is your favorite song by 16? Pain of Salvation
Hmm this is a thinker. I love Rope Ends and Fandango. Also Nightmist. Chainsling is sick too. I'm not too sure if there is a definite best, but if I had to choose it would be Rope Ends.

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? Type O Negative
Love You To Death, and damn was I instantly hooked.

24. What is your favorite album by 18? Spock's Beard
V for sure. At the End of the Day and Thoughts Part 2 are easily my two favorite songs by them.

25. What is your favorite song by 21? Gojira
Esoteric Surgery definitely.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? Pagan's Mind
I just realized Dredg and Pagan's Mind are tied at 25 but I saw dredg first. So PM gets this question. It was The Celestine Prophecy. Totally not what I was expecting. Really cool stuff

27. What is your favorite album by 3? Opeth
It was always Blackwater Park, but I'm so in love with Watershed still that I think that it's my most favorite now.

28. What is you favorite song by 2? Porcupine Tree
The Sound Of Muzak. Easy.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? Oceansize
It was Commemorative T-Shirt. I got the Frames album and a group of us had a listening party to this new band.

30. What is your favorite song by 8? The Flower Kings
Monkey Business probably. I love Silent Inferno too, along with Chicken Farmer Song, Last Minute On Earth, and Adam and Eve.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? Symphony X
Twice. So good the first time I saw them a second.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? Rodrigo y Gabriela
Pretty much all of them. I really enjoy the Orion cover.

33. What is your favorite album by 12? Muse
I think Origin Of Symmetry is the most consistent even though Absolution has some of my favorite songs.

34. What is the worst song by 45? Powerglove
Hmm lets see. I'm not a fan of there Power Rangers cover as there are versions I've heard that were much better

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? Dark Tranquillity
Another one that I'm not sure of. Probably something off of Character.

36. What is your favorite album by 48? Andromeda
The Immunity Zome! It's the only one I have, but damn I love it.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? Miles Davis
None goddamnit.

38. What is your favorite song by 36? OSI
That would be Go off of Free.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? Into Eternity
One I remember! Splintered Visions

40. What is your favorite album by 7? King Crimson
This is tough. It's a 3-way tie between Red, Larks' and Discipline.

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Are You Ready Eddy? cause it's silly.

42. What is your favorite album by 41? Ayreon
Probably 01011001 because Jonas is amazing on it along with Gildenlow and Hansi.

43. What is your favorite song by 24? Frost*
Definitely Black Light Machine. SO GOOD.

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? Frederik Thordendal
The reaction my friend had to the drum solo.... anyone who knows understands and probably had the same reaction. I know I did.

45. What is your favorite song by 35? Protest the Hero
Bloodmeat and Spoils are my top 2. Probably Bloodmeat first though.

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? Rush
Faithless because the lyrics are totally how I feel.

47. What is your favorite album by 4? Lamb of God
Sacrament by a long shot.

48. Who is a favorite member of 37? 3
It has to be Joey Eppard. So Good.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? Dethklok
The Coffee Jingle of course! If you don't count the theme song.

50. How many albums do you own by 20? Iron Maiden
Number of the Beast, Powerslave, Seventh Son, and A Matter Of Life And Death. I also own the flight 666 dvd/cd combo.

latest

Freunde, Römer, Musikfans!

Dergestalt absagengeplagt geht der Bandcontest weiter in seine vierte Vorrunde, dass man sich entschied, drei dieser kurzfristigen Absager noch eine letzte Chance zu geben. Das bedeutet, dass das Trio in einer fünften Vorrunde am 11.11. den letzten Kandidaten für das zweite Halbfinale ausspielen darf - das Nachsehen haben dabei (vermutlich) Lykewake , welche den direkten Vergleich gegen New Blast Chaos als besten Gruppendritten verloren haben und somit ausscheiden.

Das ohnehin schon bunt besetzte erste Halbfinale am Freitag den 13. November wurde gestern komplettiert - gesucht wurden zwei Bands aus vieren, und die angepriesenen Stilrichtungen gingen ebenfalls wieder weit auseinander.


Erste Band:
Smokedown

Als Herkunft Rhein/Main/Südhessen anzugeben ist natürlich vielsagend - Smokedown bezeichnen sich laut ihrer Myspace-Seite zudem als The South Hessen Rebels und lassen damit schon vorher andeuten, in welche Richtung ihre Musik geht. southern metal und stoner rock, den sie vom Ansager DJ Doom selbstbewusst als METAL! dem Publikum verkaufen, stehen bei ihnen auf dem Programm. Und das nicht mal so schlecht.


Smokedown

Leicht fühlte man sich dazu verleitet, Phil Anselmos Down als Paten anzugeben. In der ungefähren Stimmlage bewegte sich auch Sänger Thorsten, dem aber irgendwie die Stimme für den halbstündigen Auftritt nicht langen mag. Wenngleich mir die Performance gefiel, bemängelten meine nicht ganz neutralen Mitbesucher die Eintönigkeit bei den Songs. Alles wie bei Down also.



Zweite Band:
Thornbridge

"Geht nicht" gibts nicht bei diesem Contest, der sein fünfjähriges Jubiläum feiert. Bei so vielen verschiedenen Musikrichtungen in diesem Jahr (dem breitesten Spektrum bisher) darf natürlich auch eine power metal Band nicht fehlen. Jawohl, Power Metal! Mit Eiern, aber so richtig ... pardon, Melodic Power Metal, laut DJ Dooms Ansage. Melodic als Beisatz verschlimmbesserte schon so manches Genre.

Thornbridge kommen aus dem Main-Kinzig-Kreis und Aschaffenburg, laut offizieller Webpräsenz (mein neues Lieblingswort seit diesen Journals), und bleiben mir persönlich vor allem wegen des Begriffs Jubiläum in Erinnerung: so bezeichnete Sänger Mo Naneder ihren ersten gemeinsamen Auftritt, man hätte sich erst kürzlich zusamengefunden. Vermutlich beim World Of Warcraft - Zocken.


Thornbridge

Da Power Metal bedeutet, dass man geschickt sämtliche altbekannten Klischees bedienen und dabei trotzdem wie etwas Neues verkaufen muss, bewegen sich Thornbridge im übersichtlichen Rahmen. Texte wie Neverwinter Nights animieren zum Schmunzeln, das epische Fanfaren-Intro gabs vom Band dazu, und obendrein huldigt die Kapelle ihren musikalischen Vorbildern Helloween - auch das ein Novum dieses Jahr: die erste Band, welche in der Vorrunde eine Coverversion zockt. Sah man von den sehr durchwachsenen Drums ab war das schon ein recht ordentlicher Auftritt - eingeölte und in schwärzestes Leder gehüllte Joey diMaios belieben uns auch noch erspart.



Dritte Band:
Perditions Departure

"Untergangs/Verdammnis' Abreise/Aufbruch" - ungefähr so lässt sich dieser nach ein paar Bier leider nicht mehr unfallfrei aussprechbare Bandname der Egelsbacher übersetzen. Die jugendliche Truppe (Myspace gibts hier) zockt laut eigener Aussage Metalcore in der frühen Form, also damals, als es noch keine zwölftausend Bands gab, welche das Gleiche immer und immer wieder spielten oder sich jedes Dorforchester berufen fühlte, sich in die Stapfen der Großen shouten zu müssen.


Perditions Departure - merkt euch diesen Namen für Scrabble

Pure Böswilligkeit ließ mich beim Sänger zunächst an Eric Cartman erinnern, der sich jedoch ordentlich einen abbrüllt und uns verbal durch eine Handvoll nicht sehr abwechslungsreiche Songs führt. Die langsamen Parts wurden mal weniger, mal mehr gut ausgeschmückt - wie im zweiten Song (Name ist mir nicht mehr bekannt - das Alter, sorry), der besten Darstellung an diesem Abend. Danach gabs jedoch nur Stückwerk. Song drei und vier unterschieden sich zum Beispiel minimal. Immerhin blieb dem Brüllwürfel erspart, eine schnulzige Emoballade zu trällern.



Letzte Band:
Out Of The Depth

Es fiel mir wirklich schwer, mich noch möglichst freundlichst durch die vier Journale zu schreiben - letztes Jahr wurde an gleicher Stelle die Gehässigkeit und Häme kritisiert, mit welchen ich die Kinder bedacht habe. Und wahrscheinlich wird das auch heute wieder der Fall sein. Dachte ich noch, dass Crystal Finch aus der ersten Vorrunde den Bodensatz darstellten, so gaben sie die rote Laterne dieser Veranstaltung gestern an Out Of The Depth ab.


Aus der Tiefe des Raums

death metal und post rock - das heften sich die Wiesbadener auf die Fahne, und ein schmuckes Banner haben sie ebenfalls mitgebracht. Hat ja auch bei ANNY. und Sardaukar geholfen. Nur ... die Musik. Die ersten zwei Songs undefinierbarer Musikbrei, so richtig schön auf die Bühne geklatscht. Dazu enervierend oft Soundchecks zwischen den Darbietungen. Da sich die Zuschauerränge eh gelichtet hatten (Thornbridge schleppte den größten Anhang mit) hätten Out Of The Depth direkt mit dem ersten Song punkten müssen. Aber nach ein paar scheppen Tönen war das auch passé. Die Post-Rock Einlage war zwar bemüht und nicht ganz so schlecht wie der Death-Versuch, aber das interessierten nur noch die wenigsten.


Das Urteil:

Meine Punkte verteile ich mit zweien an Smokedown (für mich die Besten dieses Abends) und einem an Thornbridge, geschuldet der Tatsache, dass die anderen beiden Kapellen nicht wirklich gut bzw. abwechslungsreich waren.

Nicht dass Thornbridge darauf angewiesen wären: bei 71 gewerteten Stimmzetteln heimsen sie mit 71 Punkten ein Drittel aller möglichen Punkte ein und und stehen somit im Halbfinale. Smokedown setzen die Erfolgsserie der Bands, welche als Erste ran mussten, fort und belegen mit 65 Punkten Platz zwei, was ebenfalls fürs Semifinale reicht. Für Perditions Depature (39 Punkte) und Out Of The Depth (28 Punkte) dagegen ist hier Endstation.

Falls es nicht wieder zu lustigem Platzwechselspielchen kommt, ist das erste Halbfinale am 13.11. damit komplett:

Bläuen Szöök
Bionic Ghost Kids
Underkill
Thornbridge
Smokedown

Das zweite Halbfinale steigt am 20.11., mit bislang folgenden Bands:

Sardaukar
Mortal Existence
Out Of Damage
New Blast Chaos

Und wie gesagt, drei mir noch nicht namentlich bekannte Bands ermitteln am 11.11. an gleicher Stelle den fünften und letzten Teilnehmer - auch wenn dieser nichts daran ändern wird, dass im ersten Semifinale die deutlich abwechslungsreicheren und im zweiten die wesentlich härteren Genres zusammengefasst worden sind.