[Dim] Maybe I am simply repeating myself when getting ready to write down an introduction to a Greek live report. The worst think is that our readers from abroad usually find it hard to understand our complaints about sound and organization problems. I won't try to avoid my destiny here and I will start chattin' 'bout the first LIZZY BORDEN concert upon Greek soil by mentioning the classic problems. The official announcement wanted the doors to open at 20:30 but almost 70 people were gathered outside the venue talking and drinking beer. It seems that the promoters want the Metal community to come together and get to know each other better... Eventually (almost one hour after), we entered the dungeon-feeling club that seemed (once again) totally inappropriate and definitely small to host the first LIZZY BORDEN show. The show that is so connected to the band's music and general stage philosophy. They did not call it 'Theatrical Metal' in vain...

[Greg] It was only the second gig for newcomer Sleaze rockers CYANIDE 4 that evening. Having released the self-financed Complex EP in summer 2008 (read the review here) while hard working on new tunes, the hairspray quartet hit the stage with Hide In The Shadow and set things quite straight regarding their own scope on hardhittin' Rock 'n' Roll. A mix of CRASHDIET_HARDOCRE SUPERSTAR_HANOI ROCKS with a valid Punk-ish onstage attitude, the band kinda suffered from the squeaky sound (a trademark status for specific the venue...) and the absence of a willing sound engineer would not retrovert the condition. Thankfully...

...CYANIDE 4 had guts - not even distracted by a respected set of their own playing mistakes - and finally took no prisoners in a somehow alienated crowd. The swift takes of tunes like Temptation Failed, Cyanide and Wasting My Time lit the fire and approved the dynamics of these Athenian vagabonds. With a wider_wiser use of back-up vocals and some added onstage experience it'll not be out of the question expecting the next 'level' soon enough. A blitzkrieg cover of MISFITS' Dig Up Her Bones (by their American Psycho 1997 album) plus a wrap-up opus of CRASHDIET's guiding Riot In Everyone cut summoned a good doze of applause from more than 250 sweating faces to that point gathered.

01. Hide In The Shadow
02. Bad Love Parade
03. Temptation Failed
04. Cyanide
05. Parody
06. Midnight Heat
07.Anything For Fun
08. Innocent Alibi
09. Wasting My Time
10. Dig Up Her Bones
11. Riot In Everyone

[Greg] When you expect to see the headlining band hitting the stage in merciless supremacy and - in opposite - see them cabling and tuning their own gear, it's not the most theatrical moment by any means, huh.

No prob, the anticipation was so high and who would complain. The Lizzy-less lineup appeared on some Norwegian-Black-Metal-meets-King-Diamond makeup and the rolling drumming of Abnormal opened wide the gate(s) for some guitar driven US Metal the LIZZY BORDEN way. Limited (if none) was the stage space for Lizzy to do his things but - at least - the masks_clothes exchange and his own inimitable performance would not raise doubts. His voice was not that distinct in high-pitched parts (he did not pushed himself much in the first songs, anyway) but gradually emerged into the Lizzy voice we all have worshiped these 25 years.

Give 'Em The Axe spit fire and the thirsty crowd showed no mercy while banging_dancing non stop. The mythical axe appeared on Lizzy's hands and as soon as Notorious did burst out it was not time for human sense. The MAIDEN_PRIEST blend filtered through the band's (a quintet onstage) US Metal approval (again strained via the KISS / ALICE COOPER vicious art) waked up fiery feelings while 300 faces were screaming Hail Caesar!.

Non-fair regarded by many as a 'hair' Metal band (due to their Los Angeles, CA residency - same story as e.g. for W.A.S.P.) LIZZY BORDEN offered a notable setlist, to be honest. Of course, when you see a beloved band for the first time in 25 years the requirements_expectations are high enough but I think we got what we came for. 80s classics like American Metal, Red Rum, Rod Of Iron grabbed us by the balls and would not let go. Bearing in mind the musicians' performance was kick-ass (indeed) it was a matter of bliss to enjoy Ira Black's sharp riffing and Marten Anderssen's throbbing bass lines. Of course, the 'trademark' solo or dual leads were up to an irritating status due to the pre-mentioned dire sound quality and there were times there was something less than a vast noise spread allover.

Thankfully, Lizzy and Co. behaved as a real down-to-earth honest Metal band and gave 100% of their guts to roll it over. Lizzy's persona was mystique, evil, operatic and metallic at the same time. He did gaze us through twisted eyes, he comfortably transmitted his 'lunacy' throughout each song and surely delivered a memorable recital dressed in blood (...There Will Be Blood Tonight...) and awe. More mid-pace or hardrockin' tunes - like Live Forever, Master Of Disguise, Me Against The World or We Got The Power (Elected-like?) offered the valuable dancing_party mood while the - anyway - notable latest Appointment With Death album put forward two more appealing tunes like Tomorrow Never Comes and Under Your Skin.

Would write lots more on Lizzy's and LIZZY's presentation. On the other hand, the sense of the first time plus the band's unbeatably neat performance does not need dozens of text to be portrayed. What if classic tracks like Psychopath or Eyes Of The Stranger or Love Kills or Warfare were off the bill or were cut-off? What if - no offense - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll could be replaced by an extra LIZZY BODREN hymn...Even in a chopped stage show, music fed our hunger and it's not a lie to say that LIZZY BORDEN kicked major Metal ass.

01. Abnormal
02. Give 'Em The Axe
03. Notorious
04. Live Forever
05. Rod Of Iron
06. Outcast
07. Tomorrow Never Comes
08. Under Your Skin
09. Master Of Disguise
10. There Will Be Blood Tonight
11. American Metal
12. Me Against The World
13. Red Rum
14. We Got The Power
15. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll

[Dim] So, the night was over, leaving us wondering along with the charismatic frontman why in the hell's name we had to wait to get the first LIZZY BORDEN taste so much time. I mean the band has been around for almost three decades! Nevertheless the band itself stood up to the LIZZY BORDEN standards and gave us a show that no one could complaint about. There was sweat, blood and of course Metal and these elements just not fail. So, we will try to forget the bad sound quality, the humidity due to the weak ventilation and the after-show buzz in our ears to focus on the show/music itself.

The band established a solid connection with the audience letting the energy flow from the stage to the metalheads and then back again. Lizzy, despite his had cold (he told me so the night before in the context of a interview that will be online in the near future), sounded great and looked in a top mood. The Greek audience once again was excited with all this action but I believe the ticket sales could_should force the promoters to get this band in a proper venue. Lizzy said something about returning to Greece in April for a reprise and maybe this time things will be at least adequate. Until then give them the AXE!

(photos by the axe)

CYANIDE 4

LIZZY BORDEN