Stockholm show tonight was great, next Göteborg tomorrow.
Tonight's set list was:
Valhall awaits me
Runes to my memory
Cry of the blackbirds
Fate of Norns
Asator
Victorious march
Pursuit of vikings
Engel was ok, Dimmu was ok for a while, AA was awesome!
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Edit, a review from me:
We arrived at Fryshuset at about 19.15, yet again the way in was different from many earlier visits.
Even though the doors to Arenan were open and some were entering there we were supposed to use another entrance.
This time you entered were Klubben is located, which has happened before, but we had to walk around an adjacent building and through a parking lot to get to the doors since they had sealed off the shortest way. Most likely to keep the people off the road to the other parking lot, but signs or other info would help.
The line at the doors wasn't that bad and we got in fairly quick, also it was fast and easy access to the wardrobe.
The merchandize stand showed about 50 SEK up on the prices in regards to Lund, coming from that the venue (Arenan, Fryshuset) as the only site on the European tour charges the band for the possibility to sell merch. Also they aren't allowed to sell it themselves, the Arenan people needs to do it for the bands. Pretty bad stuff, it's sad that a Swedish venue is the worst one on the tour for this.
We walked up the stairs to Arenan to find the opening act Engel (from Gothenburg) already playing.
Watched most of the bands thinking "I've heard this before, I must've seen them live or something", though I couldn’t remember that was the case.
Towards the end I realized it was probably "the Göteborg sound" that I recognized.
I think I could hear influences of (not only Göteborg bands though) The Crown, The Haunted, Soilwork and In Flames in their music.
For my part the band sounded OK, sometimes good. Can't say it's really up my alley, but it wasn't bad.
After Engel it didn't take very long until Amon Amarth started their show.
Since it was less than a week since I saw them in Lund I was feeling very lucky to be in the crowd once more.
During the first verse or so of “Valhall awaits me” the sound was a bit messed up and Johan's singing felt like it wasn't mixed right in regards to the music. This problem was fixed fast though and during the rest of the show there were no sound problems.
“Runes to my memory” followed and before the next song Johan managed to get the crowd going and show the band that a huge portion of the supporters were there for Amon Amarth as well.
“Death in fire” kicked off raising the heat, followed by “Cry of the black birds”.
“Fate of Norns” was next, after which the crowd got even wilder together to the tunes of “Asator”.
The oldest and longest song of the night, “Victorious march”, was setting up for the finale, the massive “The Pursuit of Vikings” with the now famous part in the middle where the crowd gets to show their qualities as chorus singers.
Unfortunately those eight songs was the only ones we were treated by the Vikings before they had to step down and let the stage be prepared for Dimmu Borgir.
Even though it was “short” the time spent was quality and the trip to Stockholm well worth it.
After watching them twice in one week I am still very much looking forward to watching them once more tonight on stage at Trädgårn in Göteborg tonight.
Dimmu Borgir got on stage after not too long of a sound check. I missed most of the first song then watched them for about 40 minutes before I left to get a few hours sleep before my morning train back to Göteborg.
While writing this on the train in the early hours of the morning, the first lights of the morning sun finally showing about one hour after departure, I've re-arranged my play list to match the set list from Lund and last night. This way I can both dream back and look forward at the same time.
Now follows two more hours on the train, filled with Amon Amarth in the head phones, performing some work on the lap top, thoughts floating off dreaming of tonight’s performance which will by my third this week as well as the third on this tour for me.
Even though it's going to be the fifth time I see them this year and the twelfth time so far I am not and will not get tired of them.
It's not only that they make great records, their live performances kick ass and keep gathering fans to a growing numbers of Viking supporters.
I’m looking forward to a new headlining European, or Scandinavian tour, hopefully soon.
As long time fans often say “I wouldn’t mind some more of the older songs live” I don’t mind the new stuff either, since its great stuff as well.
See you tonight!
bastards...
