Stratovarius / Hammerfall / Shakra
7 November 2005
Koko, London
Koko`s door security checks must be the strictest in London and not far off that required to catch a flight. Consequently the massive queue snaking round the block makes for slow work and hence a large portion of the audience, including myself, miss most of Shakra`s opening set. Mind you, given that they were not on any of the advertisements for the show, most probably didn`t know they were even playing.
By the time I had got downstairs Shakra were just finishing up and my bad luck of missing the band continues (last time at Sweden Rock I was in hospital having an x-ray!). Certainly from what I heard they had delivered a great little set of straight up AC/DC meets Skid Row rock. Next time!
I found myself enjoying Hammerfall`s set much more than at Sweden Rock or Bloodstock, perhaps this time as it was broken down into a manageable chunk which less revealed the limitations in variety of their back catalogue.
This was a much more stripped down show, with no icebergs and in fact I believe the huge hammer, which appeared during At The End Of The Rainbow, actually came from the crowd rather than the bands prop box. That song was one of the highlights and the only song not to have appeared at the summer festivals.
Anders Rosén`s drum solo was frankly bizarre, consisting of less drums and more a crowd sing a long of Row Row Row Your Boat and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?!
What else is there to say? Basically a great fun set with staged Status Quo like moves from the band, clap a longs, crowd sing backs, at times it was like being at a pantomime for grown ups, particularly when most of the crowd around me seemed to be singing Arse On Fire rather than Hearts. Don`t get me wrong, I`m laughing with them not at them.
Hammerfall set list:
Secrets / Riders Of The Storm / Renegade / Let The Hammer Fall / Hammerfall / Drum solo / Fury Of The Wild / At The End Of The Rainbow / Blood Bound / Heeding The Call / Templars Of Steel / Hearts On Fire
Since Elements II, rarely a day went by when Stratovarius weren`t making news on Blabbermouth for all the wrong reasons. That`s all been well documented, including through the lyrics of the bands latest self titled album, which as a result is surely more emo (lyrically) than most of the emo bands power metal fans constantly seemed to be slagging off. The album itself has had a mixed response, with it`s stripped down sound loved by some but it seems loathed by many. Certainly Maniac Dance, which opened the set, sat a bit odd against the more typical Speed Of Light that followed it.
The Kiss Of Judas however is as awesome as ever and sees Timo Kotipelto`s trademark over emphasised clapping warming up a crowd which initially seem a few steps behind the band.
There`s no sign of on stage tension, though Stratovarius have never come across as matey on stage with the performance being a sum of individual parts. The currently short haired Timo Tolkki keeps to his side of the stage with Kotipelto`s attention fixed on the crowd. If there is a change in attitude of the band it`s the addition of more laid back bassist Laurie Porra. Porra`s skinny frame, with a girlie fit t-shit and long, long hair, which he headbangs in slow motion, comes over more as someone who`d perhaps be in a stoner band, but his persona adds warmth to the Finns.
Crowd favourites Father Time and Hunting High & Low straddle the vomit inducing United. The sentiment may be genuine but god it`s cheesy. However the closing Destiny & Black Diamond more than make up for the odd cringe.
Stratovarius set list:
Maniac Dance / Speed of Light / The Kiss of Judas / Eagleheart / Against The Wind / Twilight Symphony / Fight / Bass Solo / Father Time / United / Hunting High and Low / Forever / Destiny / Black Diamond
LINKS:
Stratovarius
Hammerfall
Shakra
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