In Flames / Sepultura
22 March 2006
The Forum, London
I don`t think advertised openers Dagoba actually played as we weren`t late in the venue and nobody I spoke to has seen them. So it was left for Sepultura to open the gig, something that a few had found a bit odd. With a rich history and status, you`d usually find Sepultura headlining shows, however post Max Cavalera things have been tough for the band and although Derrick Greene has done an admirable job, they just cannot get away from reunion rumours.
In fact, Sepultura were a long way from a reunion tonight, with in fact no Cavalera`s present. Taking over drumming duties for this tour is ironically former Soulfly man Ray Mayorga, who immediately got his place in the spotlight for the clattering introduction to new song Dark Wood Of Error. Swiftly following this with Refuse/Resist raised the crowd temperature, though I couldn`t help but feel the song was lacking the power of a second guitar.
Green did however sling on a six string for Troops Of Doom, a song original committed to vinyl 20 years ago. Whilst Sepultura do not reside in the past they do seem to have one foot in it. The set swings back and forth between Max and Derrick eras with the later day material coming over more hardcore if anything. The biggest cheers are however saved for the max era material and the trio that close the set of Beneath The Remains, Arise and Roots really highlighted this.
I can`t see the rumours and calls for a Sepultura reunion dying down until it actually happens and as hard as they try it appears the current line-up have hit a plateau.
Sepultura set list:
Dark Wood Of Error / Refuse-Resist / Convicted In Life / False / Dead Embryonic Cells / Slave New World / Troops Of Doom / Buried Words / Choke / Apes Of God / Breed Apart / Beneath The Remains / Arise / Roots
Meanwhile, In Flames ascendancy continues and this was immediately evident from the budget that seems to have been poured into In Flames live presentation. The band appeared to a backdrop of vertical strip lighting and enough pyro to blow the roof off the Forum.
Pinball Map proved a perfect opener with Leeches getting the full effect of the creeping bar lighting. Anders took a minute to tell us how great it was to be back in London. Earlier in their career the UK had seemed a bit of an ignored territory for the band, but tonight confirmed they have well and truly conquered it.
It was fireworks galore for System which also featured some incredible flamepots. The twin harmony guitars of Jesper Strömblad and Björn Gelotte weaved their way through Trigger, which ushered in a mass crowd singalong to the chorus.
Ressurrecting Insipid 2000 from Colony was a refreshing addition to the set and the red and yellow lighting that greeted it had the bizarre effect of a 70s disco. The seemingly ever present Behind Space and Colony itself closed a trip to the band`s past.
I have to confess to struggling somewhat with In Flames latest album Come Clarity. However, tonight material such as Crawl Through Knives, Take This Life and Scream sat well amongst the band`s classics and on revisiting the album post this show the album seems to make a lot more sense. Interestingly a couple of those songs were wrapped around Black & White from Reroute To Remain which didn`t seem to ignite tonight. The same could not be said for Cloud Connected however which from the stabbing keyboard introduction had the crowd bouncing up and down and then literally ignited with a volley of fireworks.
By this point my note taking ended as I became thoroughly absorbed in In Flames`s performance. Memorable high points in the second half of the set included the chanting to Only For The Weak, the mass devil horns for the 666 in Episode, and the rather camp confetti bombs during the closing My Sweet Shadow.
I mentioned In Flames ascendancy at the start of the review and of course there`s a rather popular band with an album with that title. I don`t know what Trivium have done to upset Anders Fridén, but he really laid into them tonight and in fact insisted that two fans wearing their t-shirts down the front exchange them for In Flames one. Another band media war is perhaps beginning.
In Flames set list:
Pinball Map / Leeches / System / Trigger / Insipid 2000 / Behind Space / Colony / Crawl Through Knives / Black & White / Take This Life / Come Clarity / Scream / Cloud Connected / Bullet Ride / Drifter / Moonshield / Episode 666 / Only For The Weak / Vacuum / The Quiet Place / Touch Of Red / My Sweet Shadow
LINKS:
In Flames
Sepultura
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