I don't know what number this RAGE concert was for me, lost count years ago. Must be some over 10 times I've seen them now, at least. But I'm still looking forward to the concerts with the same excitement I did back in 1992 at Aladin in Bremen (Germany). It's a little scary that it actually was 16 years since I saw them the first time, I remember that as it was yesterday.
According to the promoters, the first band was supposed to start playing at 9:00pm. We got there really early and took it easy in the bar, talking a little with the 'merch' girl. At a quarter to 8 we realized the first band was playing already. Nice going, the place was completely empty since everyone thought it started more than an hour later.

ASPECT from Russia - or FREAKOZAKS, that they changed their name to - plays Progressive Metal? I'm actually trying to figure out something to compare too but I'm out of ideas. It was just plain boring. Quite well performed but no memorable songs, no real show to watch and a singer that sang annoyingly out of tune most of the time.

With EDENBRIDGE the show really started. Pretty vocals to Heavy music! Sabine Edelsbacher glides over the stage and creates a ghostly atmosphere. At least it could have been so, if the lights had been set to a more dim feeling. But she fits well into the songs, well-written music to suite a female delicate vocalist. The thing that bugs me a little with this band is that all the songs in the first [part] of the set was in the same tempo, safe mid-tempo songs all of them. Then it doesn't matter how well written everything is, I still lose interest after a few songs. A band in an opening slot really needs to really show off if they should get people's attention.

Everything turns around with the last two songs, two songs off EDENBRIDGE's new album MyEarthDream. This is completely different, nothing is safe or comfortable here. Fallen From Grace and the title track, with mighty orchestral arrangements, really lift the show and my focus is back on the band. I'm absolutely checking out MyEarthDream when it's released at the end of April. Those last two songs was absolutely my cup of tea!!!

But it was RAGE that was the main attraction this evening. I think everyone in the venue had the same opinion here. Unfortunately the place wasn't even half full, just 120 people attending the event. And frankly, both Peavey and Victor looked a bit disappointed entering the stage. Especially since the concert the day before in Mariestad was canceled, but they got a pleasant surprise here. Ok, there was a lot of free space on the floor, still everyone was singing and screaming like crazy and that sounded more like a sold-out arena than a small (half-empty) club. Of course I want events to sell out so the organizers keep brining bands to Sweden but it is more fun to be at a gig when everyone in the place is 100% into the music, like this Saturday night, rather than 30% for the music and 70% for the party.

RAGE opened with the title track from their new album Carved In Stone and of course everyone was chanting Oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh along with the guitar in the intro. Drop Dead, Under Control, Soundchaser, Days Of December is not a bad start at all. Peavy's voice is as strong as ever but it was impossible to hear what he was saying between the songs. People even wondered if he was speaking German. Else there were no problems with the sound, damn loud but actually very good to be Sigurdsgatan.

Peavy keeps mumbling between the tracks and all if a sudden the 'merch' girl enters the stage. Jen Majura appeared as guest vocalist on Lord Of Flies on the album too, here she guests on said song and Dies Irae from Unity. I don't know if her presence here did very much for the music, the orchestra and most of the additional vocals are already on backtracks but visually it was great. She brings life and attitude on stage and pretty much stole the attention from both Peavy and Victor. This is the way women shall behave on stage, I tell you!!!

My feeling after the concert was that they mainly played new songs, more than two thirds the setlist was from the last three-four albums, and then few more from Welcome To The Other Side. I really missed some of the old hits and felt a bit lost when they announced the last song for the night, Straight To Hell. I knew it was coming since they've done both the guitar solo and drum solo but still I wanted a little more! RAGE did a great job this evening, 2 hours with great energy and dedication. Me, I would probably still have more requests on my list even if they've played another two hours! There's just so much good stuff coming out of that band.

(photos by Erika Wallberg)

FREAKOZAKS

EDENBRIDGE

RAGE