Within Temptation & Annisokay, Utilita Arena Cardiff, 16.11.24
A bitter Friday night in Cardiff played host to one of the originators of the symphonic metal scene, and while they have moved away from their baroque beginnings into more modern metal strains, they stay popular and relevant due to their changing sound, excellent musicianship and support of various causes. Most recently their support of the Ukrainian relief effort to help those effected by the on going conflict there.
It's this reason why we had a two band bill in Wales Capital, Blind8 who were set to be the openers for this whole tour have only managed to play a few shows due to the conflict, conscription and visas. It meant that there was quite a late start to the evening with the first band coming on at 7:40 an hour and a bit after the doors opened. Still when we arrived there was a dedicated enough following in the middle of the room.
The support band were German metalcore act Annisokay (7), there's a reciprocal nature between them and the headliners, Sharon Den Adel coming out to sing one of their tracks with them and on previous shows their singer has come out to sing on the track he featured on. Of course if you didn't know this connection you would wonder why a band like this are supporting, something bit lost on the band themselves, their German self deprecation coming through in the between song chatter.
Telling the crowd that they were perhaps a a bit too different to be supporting but that they were grateful to be playing and loved that they were being received so well. Which is true, there was quite a strong contingent of fans who knew the words and joined in with their own material. After saying all this they did play a Linkin Park cover which is one of the oldest tricks in the book to get people on side.
While not really my thing Annisokay perform well with some moody staging, big riffs and clean harsh vocals. It's metalcore but with a message.
There's plenty of messages in the music of headliners Within Temptation (8), be it body autonomy, war, tyranny, feminism, sexual liberation, the music of Sharon Den Adel's metal machine has always carried a message be it with the symphonic beginnings or the EDM infused modern metal. Straight out of the gates it's five from newest album Bleed Out, djenty riffs placed with bristling synths tracks such as We Go To War, Ritual and Wireless show the band Within Temptation are today. Sharon's vocals still soar but bring more depth than perhaps they did in the bands operatic beginnings.
Of course it's the older songs that get the biggest reaction, when they get to them, as there's quite a bit of talking but they are a band with a lot to say, Shot In The Dark and Stand My Ground come in quick succession the long time fans singing along, the diverse crowd (one of them most diverse I've seen for a metal band in a while), treated to a setlist that took in most of their albums.
It also featured a few special guests, up first was Ukrainian singer Alex Yamark who came on to sing A Fools Parade, the song they released to raise money for Ukrainian relief, then the many former Goth girls and boys, let out a little squeal when former Nightwish vocalist Tarja appeared to sing The Promise, her song I Feel Immortal and later Paradise (What About Us?) with the band, the duetting voices taking it back to Scuzz music videos in the early 2000's.
A real treat for fans of the genre to have two of the most famous vocalists together on the stage, Withing Temptation can never be criticised for not giving the fans what they want. With a few sound issues in the venue, there were no opening night gremlins or indeed jitters as Within Temptation are a well oiled machine with Sharon Den Adel the high priestess conducting their live ritual.
No comments:
Post a Comment