I headed out to the venue with a friend a little before 7pm,and it took about a half hour to arrive.There wasnt much of a line when we got there.We got in the back,and chatted with a kid there.He was only 15,yet was pretty knowledgable as far as metal was concerned.We kept talking until they finally let the crowd in at around 8:30pm.By this time a huge crowd had formed.I kept thinking to myself: "Where does this island keep all of these metalheads?"
When we got in,Pacto De Sangre were finishing up their soundcheck.I headed to the Thrash Corner booth that was selling some cd's.At this time the Pacto Of Sangre lead singer was doing some silly rant about how the mainstream radio sucks blah blah.I bought two cd's (Blind Guardian/Legendary Songs & Manipulated Slaves/The Legendary Black Jade -I just noticed they both have "Legendary" in the title...Ha!) and went to a little spot i stayed most of the night to see the bands.By this time Pacto De Sangre were already halfway through their first song.
From a musical standpoint,they were really good.A Thrash sound is the best I can describe it.Two of the songs were used death vox,supplied by the bassist.The singer was more than capable.During the whole set I was thinking about who he reminded me of,which was kinda hard since he was singing in spanish.A few probs- one was that the bass was turned up too loud,and the lead guitar was turned too low.I think it was during the 4th song when the lead guitar was finally turned up.They were probably the heaviest band on the bill,but also the most blatantly preachy as well,which didnt go over so well with the crowd.A look through the crowd and you can see shirts of Emperor,Darkthrone,Immortal,Marduk...generally not people who'd you wanna waste time trying to convert.Pacto De Sangre's set was short,about 25 mins.A Decent opener.
Next up was prog metal band All That I Bleed.I was really looking forward to seeing this band live,due to the superb debut disc,Dying To Remember.They had a rather lengthy set up/soundcheck,much to the distain of alot of people in the crowd.Bassist Jorge Venegas warmed up the crowd a bit with quick playings of the opening basslines of Ozzy's No More Tears,Maiden's Number Of The Beast and The Clairvoyant.More set up.As another warm up,the band,which also consists of Drummer Carlos De Jesus and Guitarist Oscar Quintana, played most of the first half of Megadeth's Holy Wars...The Punishment Due (Basically the "Holy Wars" half,as I usually refer it).Vocalist Leonardo Rivera had yet to get on stage,so the crowd were more than happy to sing the lyrics of the classic 'deth song.More soundchecking.The crowd was getting bigger,and most restless.One last warm up,this time the whole band doing Iron Maiden's Powerslave up til the first chorus.Now the crowd was ready.So were All That I Bleed.
These guys were tight as hell.I'm fairly sure they made new fans that night.I know I ain't the only one in awe of the bass playing.Unlike Pacto De Sangre,All That I Bleed didnt have as many technical mishaps.The cord detaching from Leonardo's mic during Dying To Remember created a few laughs.Despite the short set (about 30 mins),and that my favorite song from the disc,Horizons,was not played,they certainly werent a disappointment.Dont be surprised if in a few years this band will be on the top of the prog metal world.Nice work guys.
All That I Bleed setlist:
1.Chaos Theory (intro)
2.Dying To Remember
3.Promise Of Life- i.Asleep
4.Promise Of Life- ii.Rain
5.I Confess
6.Promise Of Life- iv.Listen?
7.Gods
Next up was Rob Rock.Again,a lengthy setup/soundcheck.Nothing really to gripe about.I admitedly wasnt too familiar with the man's work.I knew he was in Impelliteri,and have heard his solo album,Rage Of Creation,to some degree.I really didnt know what to expect,but its quite safe to say,that the man blew everyone away.
Let me say this,so I can get it out of the way: This man can sing his ass off.He even rivals the likes of Halford,Bruce Dickinson,Geoff Tate,and the rest of their creed.He's that good.
But if their's one person who can say that upstaged Mr. Rock himself,it was one of his guitarists.I dont recall his last name,only remember that his first name was Rick.This man in particular,to my amazement,has deformed hands,yet,was playing that guitar like a pro.The guy even ripped out some solos (always to the cheering amazement of the crowd no less).The rest of the band were no slouches either,but I dont know their names.
The band's set was about an hour long,ripping through some stuff from Rage Of Creation,some Impelliteri,and a Warrior song I believe.Some of the songtitles I recall were: Victims Of The System,Warrior,Media Machine,In The Night,Symphony 40 (from guitarist Rick's upcoming solo album),Forever and Judgement Day.Judgement Day was easily the best song on the set,and had everyone in the venue singing its infectious chorus.
All in all,this was a killer show,one which I wished some of my dumbass friends would have gone to.I do regret not bringing two things: a camera to take some pics,and my copy of All That I Bleed/Dying To Remember to get signed.Maybe next time.
-Eliud Vazquez \m/
When we got in,Pacto De Sangre were finishing up their soundcheck.I headed to the Thrash Corner booth that was selling some cd's.At this time the Pacto Of Sangre lead singer was doing some silly rant about how the mainstream radio sucks blah blah.I bought two cd's (Blind Guardian/Legendary Songs & Manipulated Slaves/The Legendary Black Jade -I just noticed they both have "Legendary" in the title...Ha!) and went to a little spot i stayed most of the night to see the bands.By this time Pacto De Sangre were already halfway through their first song.
From a musical standpoint,they were really good.A Thrash sound is the best I can describe it.Two of the songs were used death vox,supplied by the bassist.The singer was more than capable.During the whole set I was thinking about who he reminded me of,which was kinda hard since he was singing in spanish.A few probs- one was that the bass was turned up too loud,and the lead guitar was turned too low.I think it was during the 4th song when the lead guitar was finally turned up.They were probably the heaviest band on the bill,but also the most blatantly preachy as well,which didnt go over so well with the crowd.A look through the crowd and you can see shirts of Emperor,Darkthrone,Immortal,Marduk...generally not people who'd you wanna waste time trying to convert.Pacto De Sangre's set was short,about 25 mins.A Decent opener.
Next up was prog metal band All That I Bleed.I was really looking forward to seeing this band live,due to the superb debut disc,Dying To Remember.They had a rather lengthy set up/soundcheck,much to the distain of alot of people in the crowd.Bassist Jorge Venegas warmed up the crowd a bit with quick playings of the opening basslines of Ozzy's No More Tears,Maiden's Number Of The Beast and The Clairvoyant.More set up.As another warm up,the band,which also consists of Drummer Carlos De Jesus and Guitarist Oscar Quintana, played most of the first half of Megadeth's Holy Wars...The Punishment Due (Basically the "Holy Wars" half,as I usually refer it).Vocalist Leonardo Rivera had yet to get on stage,so the crowd were more than happy to sing the lyrics of the classic 'deth song.More soundchecking.The crowd was getting bigger,and most restless.One last warm up,this time the whole band doing Iron Maiden's Powerslave up til the first chorus.Now the crowd was ready.So were All That I Bleed.
These guys were tight as hell.I'm fairly sure they made new fans that night.I know I ain't the only one in awe of the bass playing.Unlike Pacto De Sangre,All That I Bleed didnt have as many technical mishaps.The cord detaching from Leonardo's mic during Dying To Remember created a few laughs.Despite the short set (about 30 mins),and that my favorite song from the disc,Horizons,was not played,they certainly werent a disappointment.Dont be surprised if in a few years this band will be on the top of the prog metal world.Nice work guys.
All That I Bleed setlist:
1.Chaos Theory (intro)
2.Dying To Remember
3.Promise Of Life- i.Asleep
4.Promise Of Life- ii.Rain
5.I Confess
6.Promise Of Life- iv.Listen?
7.Gods
Next up was Rob Rock.Again,a lengthy setup/soundcheck.Nothing really to gripe about.I admitedly wasnt too familiar with the man's work.I knew he was in Impelliteri,and have heard his solo album,Rage Of Creation,to some degree.I really didnt know what to expect,but its quite safe to say,that the man blew everyone away.
Let me say this,so I can get it out of the way: This man can sing his ass off.He even rivals the likes of Halford,Bruce Dickinson,Geoff Tate,and the rest of their creed.He's that good.
But if their's one person who can say that upstaged Mr. Rock himself,it was one of his guitarists.I dont recall his last name,only remember that his first name was Rick.This man in particular,to my amazement,has deformed hands,yet,was playing that guitar like a pro.The guy even ripped out some solos (always to the cheering amazement of the crowd no less).The rest of the band were no slouches either,but I dont know their names.
The band's set was about an hour long,ripping through some stuff from Rage Of Creation,some Impelliteri,and a Warrior song I believe.Some of the songtitles I recall were: Victims Of The System,Warrior,Media Machine,In The Night,Symphony 40 (from guitarist Rick's upcoming solo album),Forever and Judgement Day.Judgement Day was easily the best song on the set,and had everyone in the venue singing its infectious chorus.
All in all,this was a killer show,one which I wished some of my dumbass friends would have gone to.I do regret not bringing two things: a camera to take some pics,and my copy of All That I Bleed/Dying To Remember to get signed.Maybe next time.
-Eliud Vazquez \m/
