Nice to see all the positive comments regarding Tarot... they are definitely my favorite on the bill. Aki, you are definitely showing up next year! If Tarot can make it, so can you.
Nocturnal Rites... I've seen 'em, and they will kick your ass hard, even if you're not a big power metal fan.
Hammerfall... all I can say is "it's about damn time".
Between them, Stormwarrior, and Tyr, the sword-wielding members of this forum will be in high spirits. HAIL AND KILL!!!!!!
Illusion Suite, Delain, Oceans of Sadness, Seventh Wonder, DGM... I know little or none of their music, but they all sound like some tasty proggy goodness. Plus the Delain vocalist is... how shall I say this... HOT!
Kamelot... I have to admit something which is highly unpopular on this forum: I don't like Kamelot. *waits for exasperated sounds and grumbles to die down* Okay, okay, I liked them on Eternity and Dominion, and then the first three Khan discs just did not click with me at all. However, I love their live show, and I have to admit that a lot of their newer stuff has me intrigued as well... I just may have to revisit Kamelot in the near future.
As for Paradox... who says a band that vanished into obscurity in the early 90s can't come back with a monster vengeance???? THRAAAAAAASH!!!! (But the proggy kind.
) Anacrusis for Prog Power XII!
To the prog fans who are complaining about too much power metal... unless I'm incorrect (and I may very well be) in my assessment of the bands I don't know, I count pretty close to half-and-half (the emphasis is almost ALWAYS on power, anyway). Remember that Kamelot is edging ever closer to the prog end of the spectrum, and several of the other bands are either power-prog mix, or fairly complex power metal. Don't let the inclusion of three Manowarish bands throw you, just because of the lack of Dream Theater clones on the roster.
For me, there is not a single band listed who I'm not interested in seeing. This year, I actually caught part of EVERY band's set -- something I haven't done in years -- and I plan on doing the same thing next year.