Leaving behind the good and some bad memories from the opening day of the Rockwave festival the Metal Temple crew packed their things for the second day that had HEAVEN AND HELL in the headliners position. Taking into account the 2 hour delay in opening the doors we got into the venue late enough to realize that ANATHEMA were performing a cover version of PINK FLOYD's Comfortably Numb. I think the festival organizers should realize that working according to the European standards actually means providing at least a precise timetable. The stage was pretty much the same with two mid size video screens hung in its two sides. The place in front of the stage, where you had to pay 10 euros more to be, was made smaller to minimize the gap effect observed in day one of the festival. Well, enough of the complaints; it's time for some action.

ICED EARTH was next and the doubts about Tim Ripper Owens's performance with them were tormenting my mind. The American band took over the stage performing Burning Times, Declaration Day and Violate without stopping! This was a blast! The band sounded solid as hell featuring Jon Schaffer as the metronome man and Tim screaming vocals. Even though Matthew Barlow has a great voice he sounded a little bit weak in the prime ICED EARTH songs; and this is exactly why I personally think Tim fits perfectly into the ICED EARTH fold. Schaffer surprised us by taking the seat behind the microphone in Stormrider that sounded very heavy and I think a little bit faster. Tim returned on stage to prove his worth by performing the Something Wicked trilogy clearing out any of the remaining doubts. The band also performed the fast paced new song Ten Thousand Strong musically stating that this is the beginning of a new era.

I think you will agree with my saying that it's really a difficult task to choose the proper bands for a summer festival. Here in Greece we don't face the aforementioned difficulty because we book whatever band is available in that period of time. This is the case with DREAM THEATER since it is definitely not a festival band. In order to enjoy a live performance of the progsters who need to be a die hard fan and at least a 2 hour show. In this case DREAM THEATER had to perform a tight setlist that lasted at about 70 minutes. The band was warmly welcomed but the Greek fans who got Overture 1928 and Strange Deja Vu as the opening tracks. The rest of the setlist comprised songs from the last three albums that are way too complicated for my ears. But when these extremely talented musicians come to your country you have to go see and hear them play, just from respect. The sound wasn?t so good with loud bass that covered the rest of the band, but it got better along the way. Sometimes the keyboards played the second-guitar role just to fill Petrucci's solos. The band played Pull Me Under and left the stage and their fans rather disappointed by the short setlist.

The stage was cleared out and prepared for the headliners HEAVEN AND HELL. The stage concept was something like a castle with impressive light show. Dio, Iommi, Ward and Appice fired up the night with the first musical notes of Mob Rules. Despite the fact that Dio was congested (probably he had the flu) his vocal performance was top notch and he served some improvisations along with Tony heavy as hell guitar riffs. I think that BLACK SABBATH can do better with Dio's crystal clear and powerful voice especially the current days where Ozzy is definitely not singing at all. Some audio problems with the lower guitar notes were covered by the band's solid performance. Falling Off The Edge Of The World, Voodoo and Die Young are among of the gig's highlights. Dio joined the fans' voices during the epic song Heaven And Hell that was extended way too much with unnecessary guitar soloing. The British fold spiced things a little bit with the new song Shadow Of The Wind that leaves the door slightly open for a full album and put an ending to the show with the classic Neon Nights. Yes HEAVEN AND HELL did remind the old and teach the young how Metal is played and that ...the world is full of kings and queens....

After the gig it was time for the long journey back home. It tooks us more than 1 hour to get off the festival parking lot throught the narrow door with limited light the get on the highway.

ICED EARTH setlist:
1. Burning Times
2. Declaration Day
3. Violate
4. Vengeance Is Mine
5. Pure Evil
6. The Reckoning
7. The Hunter
8. Ten Thousand Strong
9. Jack
10. My Own Savior
11. Stormrider
12. Prophecy
13. Birth of the Wicked
14. The Coming Curse

DREAM THEATER setlist:
1. Overture 1928
2. Strange Deja Vu
3. Take The Time
4. Constant Motion
5. The Dark Eternal Night
6. Endless Sacrifice
7. Honor Thy Father
8. Forsaken
9. Pull Me Under

HEAVEN AND HELL setlist:
1. The Mob Rules
2. Children Of The Sea
3. I
4. Sign Of The Southern Cross
5. Voodoo
6. Computer God
7. Falling Of The Edge Of The World
8. Shadow Of The Wind
9. Die Young
10. Heaven And Hell
11. Neon Nights