It was a rainy day in Athens. It would be the perfect day for me, if it was a little bit colder. So, knowing that I would be with familiar faces and friends, I went to An club to see the first live show (for me) this season. I would like to see all five bands performing, but, alas, the usual traffic jam in the center of Athens had different intentions.

So, since I was stuck for over an hour in my car, fortunately with a dozen of cd's with me, I arrived just when SLAVEATGOD finished their set. And, bollocks, this was a band that I wanted to see on-stage. I asked a few metalheads about their opinion and said that they performed their LAMB OF GOD music style quite nice, despite the problems they had with the sound, as most of the bands did. Hopefully I will see you next time guys.

After a small break THE RAIN I BLEED came on stage. Their symphonic, let's say, Metal is not exactly my cup of tea to be honest. But, despite that we couldn't hear Mina's voice at the start of the show and all the prerecorded parts were absent, they gave a decent show. The more or less 200 metalheads, a good number I might say since AT THE GATES were playing at the same time a few blocks away, were lukewarm, probably because they were saving strength for the two last bands. THE RAIN I BLEED are following the path that the well known front woman bands opened the previous years. But since it was the first time that I saw them live, and the songs lacked of the prerecorded parts, I'm not in a position to judge them. Hopefully, next time we will have a better sample.

And then it was time for the big surprise of the night, well for me at least. To tell you the truth, the only things I knew about DESCENDING were some samples at their myspace site and read one-two reviews in the near past about their debut album. With energy on stage, they performed really well playing songs from their first album, despite the problems with the microphone that Jon and all the other singers had that night. The sound of DESCENDING is a mixture of N.W.O.S.D.M. Power Metal with double guitar riffs and an essence of good old thrash! And, at last, with a Greek singer without that usual pronunciation most of the Greek vocalists seem to have. Unfortunately, this was one of that nights that makes you think Where did all the metalheads went? since most of them were just standing there without even move their head 2 degrees. Anyway, I think that the band has great potentials and from the live show I believe they won some new fans.

After ten-fifteen minutes the first of the two bands that most of the crowd was expecting hit the stage. It was the third time that I was going to see WEB. With a new album out a few months ago, the band's setlist was based on that release. For around an hour WEB gave a good show for their fans. But again most of them were just sitting there like they were in a concert for viola and cello! Darkface and the rest of the guys gave their best and seemed to enjoy the show. The pre-recorded parts were played right and the problems with the cable of the microphone were absent, we can say that, for the club standards, the sound was really good. But the lads were there to play and have fun, so that minor problem didn't stand in their way. A good overall performance from the band, even though the crowd didn't help a lot to that.

WEB setlist:

01. Blood
02. Blossoms Cry
03. Theme:As Resurection:Hades
04. Enthorned
05. Black Fhost
06. Destructive Intelligence
07. Jesus Heist
08. Human Instinct
09. Cockroach
10. Cellembraceaeon

Last but not least, INACTIVE MESSIAH. Even though I know the band for quite a long time, it was the first time that I was going to see them performing live. Of course most of the songs were from their latest album Sinful Nation. The band knows how to take over the stage; remember that they were on tour with VADER and SEPTIC FLESH for a long time. They performance was great and to tell you the truth, I didn't expect it to be in that grade. The remaining metalheads seemed to enjoy all the songs and the band was in great form, banging their heads like helicopter wings most of the time all three of them, giving a good impression to all of us. They started the show with the intro of their latest release and from then on they didn't show any mercy! They played songs from their two last albums and a cover from VADER, where Sim.Phonik (WEB - Bass) came on stage to sing a duet.

Instead of a conclusion I will describe what happened just after INACTIVE MESSIAH finished their set and the lights turned on. Darkface grabbed the microphone and start talking to us and told us not to leave. No one knew what was going to happen, since it was something that came as an idea during the gig. Then members from all the bands hit the stage and start jamming! They played Orgasmatron and Reign In Blood. All the guys were having fun and you could see that in their faces and the jamming they did. How more METAL a night can be!

INACTIVE MESSIAH setlist:

01. Intro
02. Soulless
03. Sing
04. Sinful Nation
05. Before the end
06. Forged In Flames
07. Pain
08. Hear Me Tonight
09. Chosen One
10. Helleluyah!!! (God is Dead [VADER cover]
11. Eat My Flesh And Drink My Blood
12. Showdown
13. Lord Of Lies
14. Be My Drug
15. Theatrical World
16. Like an Endless Lament

(photos by Harry)

THE RAIN I BLEED

DESCENDING

WEB

INACTIVE MESSIAH