Harry: Sunday is supposed to be a relaxing day. But not for all of us. I had to wake up at 09:30 after a 3 hour sleep and never sat on a chair until the end of this concert. So, after doing several things and with a great desire for sleep or a strong cup of coffee, I arrived at the venue around 18:20. Knowing that the doors should opened at 18:00 I was anxious if I could manage to see the first support band. But I was surprised that the doors weren't open until 18:35. But, enough with me grumbling. On to Panos for the report of the first band.

Panos: After a relatively small delay of 30 minutes at around 19:05 the first supporting band DAYLIGHT MISERY made their on stage appearance. The Greek atmospheric Death Metal band (as they categorize their sound) played for about 30 minutes songs from their upcoming debut album and added an interesting one of TYPE O NEGATIVE's "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend". DAYLIGHT MISER managed to put on a pretty much good performance ,combining an early PARADISE LOST sound in their riffs and rhythm section with ROTTING CHRIST kind of vocals and with the keyboards reminding of AMORPHIS "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" album and gained many positive comments from the audience. The band has a good basis and performed well but in order to impress us DAYLIGHT MISERY need to find their own identity and not just safely follow the basic patterns and sound of their influences. They have potentials and only time can tell how far will they go.

Harry: So, it was time for SORROWFUL ANGELS to come on the stage. The sound was good for a supporting act and the quartet seemed in a great shape. Their gothic rock is not exactly my cup of tea, but their fans seemed to enjoying them. They played songs from their "Ship In Your Trip" debut album, alongside a cover from APOPTYGMA BERZERK ("Mourn"). Their gothic approach is like HIM meets 69 EYES and their Metal one is leaning towards PARADISE LOST. This is not bad at all, but at some moments it was like listening to a cover rather than their original songs. So, in my humble opinion, they have to filter better their influences. As for SORROWFUL ANGELS appearance, it was full of energy and they looked like they were having a good time on stage. And in the bottom line, this is why all of us listen / play this kind of music.

Harry: After almost forty minutes and a big applause by their fans SORROWFUL ANGELSleft the stage and it was time to see the first of the two 'big' names on stage. The lights went out, and the intro started. SIRENIA came on stage and after a couple of seconds Ailyn appeared. But wait a minute. Where is the bass player? Or the keyboard player? Ok, we all know that they are a quartet, but they could have at least a session bass player for their live shows. The sound was very good, but how can't it be since the only live organs were the guitars and the drums! Even some female and growling vocals were pre-recorded. I'm am sorry, but I don't like seeing the band standing still away from the microphones and listening to the bass, the keys and a female voice singing. Their fans liked what they were getting and applauded the band's effort. Ailyn is a very beautiful woman with a decent voice, but she had her bad moments when she tried to sing at a higher pitch. Unfortunately, SIRENIA were the bad surprise of that night.But the time we all have been there for was near. And that time was to see KATATONIA again on stage and being anxious to see how the tw new members will bind with the rest of the band.

Panos: 22:15: The lights went out and a small intro marked the beginning of the live event that we have all been expecting. KATATONIA took the stage opening their set with "Forsaker" and "Liberation", two songs from their latest studio album "Night Is The New Day". Both songs despite being new were warmly welcomed by the fans who simply deified the band. The sound was really good and KATATONIA showed us from the beginning that they were full of energy and ready to give their best self on stage. The live continued with even greater pace with older songs blending perfectly with the new ones. "My Twin", "Complicity", "Omerta", "Teargas" and the long forgotten from their live performances "Saw You Drown" ,from the "Discouraged Ones" album were welcomed with excitement and cheers by the fans ,while the new ones "Onward Into Battle" , "The Longest Year" and "Idle Blood" seemed like they were in their set list and for years combining really well with the older.

Song by song, minute by minute the fans were becoming more passionate and energetic and it seemed as if they were channeling this energy and emotions to the band which as time passed by was performing even better and with more enjoyment. The "Viva Emptiness" album was pretty muchhonored in this gig with "Ghost of the Sun", "Evidence" and "Criminals" whipping up enthusiasm among the fansaccompanied with the equally good "July", "Day And Then The Shade"(which is the single from their new album) and "For My Demons"which temporarily closed their set.

The time for the usual encore came and the fans never stopped chanting the bands name and "We Want More" and so shortly after KATATONIA returned to end their one and a half hour live show with the incredible "Dispossession" and "Leaders". In the end KATATONIA left the stage under a thunderous applause.

What we witnessed was a fantastic live performance by KATATONIA exceeding all of our expectations. The band played all of the songs a bit heavier and with more power to the great pleasure of the fans. Jonas Renkse was incredible in vocals, Anders Nystrom in guitar was excellent and full of energy as expected, Daniel Liljekviston the drums added much power in the songs playing heavier and with more aggression than the original recordings andthe new members Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (also in BLOODBATH)in guitar and Niklas "Nille" Sandin in bassdid a great job andseemed like they were much longer in the band.

Panos: In the end despite the mediocre and much worse than expected performance of SORROWFULL ANGELS and mostly SIRENIA , KATATONIA managed to compensate us with their fantastic performance. The sound was good enough and they only thing that good be better was the choice of the support groups. The very good death/doom band SWALLOW THE SUN who toured with KATATONIA all this time would be a much better and wiser decision than SIRENIA. Anyway, everyone left Gagarin205 happy, smiling and full of excitement and that's what really matters in the end!

KATATONIA Setlist:

1. "Forsaker"
2. "Liberation"
3. "My Twin"
4. "Onward Into Battle"
5. "Complicity"
6. "The Longest Year"
7. "Omerta
8. "Teargas
9. "Saw You Drown
10. "Idle Blood
11. "Ghost of the Sun"
12. "Evidence"
13. "July"
14. "Criminals"
15. "Day and Then The Shade"
16. "For My Demons"
17. "Dispossession"
18. "Leaders "

PS: A big thank you to Agape for the photos

(photos by Agape)