Defenders Of The Faith

Defenders Of The Faith
Opeth / Arch Enemy / Devildriver / 3 Inches Of Blood
26 April 2008
Brixton Academy, London


On arriving at Brixton Academy with the doors having opened but the queue completely encircling the venue, I quickly kissed goodbye any hopes of catching openers 3 Inches Of Blood.

In fact, by the time we got in, Devildriver were three songs into their set. The first thing that struck you was the sheer volume, with the wall of noise confronting us similar to the levels Motorhead choose to deafen their fans with.

Anyone looking for subtleties was watching the wrong band as Dez Fafara led is crew through the primal aggression of Horn Of Betrayal. At its conclusion, Fafara called for the house lights stating that Devildriver didn`t need a lightshow and it was just us and them.

The more simplistic I Could Care Less fared best through the dense sound and the show of devil horns from the crowd indicated that Devildriver`s tenacity is paying off.

Devildriver setlist:
Not All Who Wander Are Lost / I Dreamed I Died / Clouds Over California / Horn Of Betrayal / I Could Care Less / These Fighting Words / End Of The Line

With Johan away for the weekend, I had been entrusted with photopit duties, hence making notes proved quite difficult so apologies if I`m slightly off with the setlist.

Opening with Blood On Your Hands, Arch Enemy took to the stage bathed in blood red lights. Angela Gossow, in a Union Jack emblazed top, was immediately stalking the stage with her typical intense stare. With her voice in fine demonic form, Angela was the only member to venture beyond the monitors to the lip of the stage, getting in the crowd (and photographer`s) faces and gesturing with her free hand.

The right side of the stage was Christopher Amott`s domain. The guitarist, now with very short hair, seems fully back in the Arch Enemy fold and the solo trade with brother Michael define the bands sound.

Between the two, lofty bassist Sharlee D`angelo runs relays, towering over each guitarist and particularly Angela as he moved around the stage.

There`s even time for drummer Daniel Erlandsson to take the spot light with a brief drum solo. All eyes will indeed be on Erlandsson when he sits down behind the Carcass drum kit this summer.

Angela dedicated Revolution Begins to the crowd who lap up Arch Enemy`s relatively short run through of their "greatest hits". Their popularity is now well established in the UK and they didn`t disappoint the London crowd tonight.

Arch Enemy setlist:
Blood On Your Hands / Ravenous / Taking Back My Soul / Dead Eyes See No Future / My Apocalypse / Revolution Begins / Dead Bury Their Dead / I Will Live Again / Enemy Within / Nemesis / We Will Rise

One Of the great things about seeing Opeth is you can usually guarantee a mixing of the setlist on each tour with often a few surprises. With that in mind it`s quite a curve ball when the Swedes open with Demon Of The Fall, a song which is usually saved to close the set. Even more of a surprise is Masters Apprentices, plucked from the Deliverance album.

Its heartening to now see Opeth headlining at Brixton Academy and the crowd really came alive when the familiar strains of The Baying Of The Hounds kicks in with Per Wiberg`s organ in full effect. Wiberg was strangely mainly hidden from view behind amps next to Martin Axenrot`s drum kit.

In My Time Of Need eases the aggression with Mikael Akerfeldt`s emotive vocal. Of course the Opeth mainman`s guitar skills were as spot on as ever, though the die hards would have a closer eye on fellow sixstringer, and newcomer, Fredrik Akesson. Akesson had spent some time with Arch Enemy of course and tonight he proved his skills work equally as well with Opeth.

The band`s latest album Watershed is due from imminent release and we were treated to a sneak preview of one track. Again following Akerfeldt`s tradition to do things differently, it is neither the bands new video, Porcelain Heart, nor the track currently available for download, The Lotus Eater. Heir Apparent does however also impress on first listen and most hear will be eager to get their hands on the new disc.

A majestic Drapery Falls brings down the curtains on the London date of the Defenders Of The Faith tour with the differing sounds of the three bands (four if you were lucky to be in the venue in time!) Proving to be a success.

Opeth setlist:
Demon Of The Fall / Masters Apprentices / The Baying Of The Hounds / In My Time Of Need / Wreath / Heir Apparent / The Drapery Falls