KNÜPPELNACHT organized by
EQUILIBRIUM
COMMANDER
NEKROPOLIS
SYCRONOMICA
at
DYNAMO WERK 21 - ZÜRICH - CH
7 January 2006
reviews by dalia di giacomo, Boris Witta,
Desirée Güthlin
photos © by Stefan W. Vogelaar
The public use of these photos is strictly prohibited
without written permission
BORIS - It's Hellfire-time again! And the
line-up is worthy a little travel to the
capital (ehem?) of Switzerland: Equilibrium, the German newcomers in
Pagan
Metal, strong growing and already well-known for their live-shows,
Commander,
the German Death-Metal horde, and my main reason why I am here tonight
at the
Dynamo Werk 21: Sycronomica, the Melodic Black Metal-horde from Munich.
From
Nekropolis, I only know the name, but that has nothing to mean?
BORIS - But hell, what’s going on tonight? Already before the show starts, the room is fully crowded and I have some problems to get in front of the stage and have a good view on it. A very long, melancholic, atmospheric and adrenergic intro starts, and when the first bandmembers enter the stage, loud cheering arises. Vocalist Olli comes at last, and then the Piano of “Erased By Light”, the opener of the great album “Paths”, sounds out of the boxes. First guitar riffs, first scream, and from one moment to another, heads are banging, horns are raised, the crowd is in a formidable mood this evening, and all bands are going to profit from this. Sycronomica, this is not just another standard melodic Black Metal-band, no, the sextet includes also classical parts and Death Metal-influences in its music, Olli changes his style of vocals from hysterical screams to brutal deep shouts, and the songwriting of the six guys has kind of a progressive touch, different atmospheres appear in the songs, there are a lot of breaks and changes, sad, fragile, calm and silent parts, but of course also hateful blastings with a maximum of intensity. Olli, who’s a really great performer and an excellent banger, makes most of the stageacting together with bassist Max, while most of all guitarist Chris is the refraining part of the band and concentrates on playing the six strings. Also keyboarder Flo bangs whenever he can, and the applause and the yelling of the crowd is just massive, the band is obvious very pleased about this, and both, fans and band, push themselves to a higher level of energy. By the way, the sound (compliment to the mixer) couldn’t be better, clear but brutal and powerful. “Paths (…Of A Forgotten Time)”, the titletrack, is one of the highlights of the 45-minutes-gig, and also some new material is presented, and I think I don’t tell too much if I say the next album of Syconomica might be a fucking symphonic Black Metal-killer. This is it, Sycronomica are symphonic, sometimes even epic, but in a very individual way, not just a clone like many other bands on this sector. Time’s running out, and already Olli announces the last song (loud “Buh!”-screams arise): “We’re now going to play the original of a classic: Here is the first song of the “Stormblast”-album: “Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen”!” And goddamn, the interpretation of Dimmu Borgir’s alltime-classic, when the Norwegians used to play Black Metal in its true meaning, is just incredible great, I have goose-skin on and on, and the first ten rows of the crowd are banging together in ecstasy. “Thank you very much, you have been fucking great!”, Olli salutes the crowd. Thank YOU Sycronomica, and please come back soon, we need more of this kind of symphonic, emotional Black Metal.
Intro
Erased by Light
Beyond the Gate
Creations of mine
The Sound of Horns
In Silence i die
Paths (…of a forgotten Time)
Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen
Boris Witta
DALIA - 21:10 - The Swiss Nekropolis, who are the second band of a billing mastered otherwise by acts from the German Munich scene, takes the stage in front of a definitely packed venue in a kind of Munich/Zürich brotherhood. Sold out indeed! The new year lets at once understand that there is need and joy for metal. If you consider then, that the same bands have performed just yesterday in another Swiss location (at Bunker in Spiez), you can understand that to make more stages in Switzerland is worth for any act (and not only for Swiss or German ones), and that the genuineness in metal is actually becoming a strong necessity for the scene. Nekropolis, after the intro and a cadenced start, offer immediately much stuff to the hungry metalheads. Playing an energetic, though not innovative music, assisted also by synthesizers , the six-piece band wins a good response . Nekropolis define themselves as "very aggressive and melodic Death/Black metal", and, after all they surely mix aggression with melodies, make use of much Death metal and show a good cohesion. The 5-string bass guitar seems to be involved in an important role: not only their bassist provides effective growling vocals, but their pizzicato bass- sound on the whole brings some good vibes. From the moment that vocals are based on a dual attack (growling and screams) performed by 2 different members, so who is shouting? Frontman Marc Steiner of course! The use of samples with noise ambience effect as well as live keys additions are part of the most modern inspiration of this band, Samael might have influenced them somehow. Nekropolis are able however to proceed implacable and groovy, with good old school elements too. In a way Nekropolis are technical, but the whole gig gets anyway its immediate impact without any difficulty to "communicate" the music. People is having fun and enjoy the moshing. Although there is nothing that really impresses me over measure , it is clear to me that this band has much potential, there is still to work, but they are walking the right direction concerning stage acting also, with many noticeable starting points and diversification. At the end of the show, at 21.40 Nekropolis, say goodbye and invite us to have a great time with Commander and Equilibrium
 " |
| Commander live in Zürich supporting Dew_Scented in 2004 |
DALIA - It is the second time i attend Commander. They impressed me favorably when they supported Dew-Scented here in this same venue, the Werk 21, in the fall 2004 (Hallows Eve Tour). On that occasion Commander got the opportunity to thrash a lot the Swiss crowd, receiving extensive great response. Much awaited, this evening they meet again a total crowded venue which they slowly could consider as a second home, and, once again, they get the duty and honor to directly open the way to the headliner. Having already played with acts like Dew-Scented, Suidakra and Disillusion, just to name few, Commander are quite trained to give their best with passion and mind, under these circumstances. Unfortunately the line up is not complete tonight: Commander play without guitarist Steffen Augstein, but vocalist and guitarist Nick Kolar takes any possible weight on his shoulders, well supported by the rest of the band, and precisely by the pretty Birgit Öllbrunner, bass player in Midnattsol too (ehhhh eh! ;) ) and drummer Willy Kraut. Instead than a 4- piece we see a trio that tries to put on the stage all the power and heaviness that it can reach. The problem of Commander, in my opinion, is that they always let you stay at the threshold of Eden, a kind of coitus interruptus, because their songs, that on whole combine Death with Thrash, are really good earthquaking music with good loops and a brilliant frame, but often the climax is missing, the completion of a refrain or of a melody remains (almost) always unfulfilled, there is (almost) always a big great launch without that last "wow" effect. Moreover , in 2004 i was writing that they should wrap up their rhythmic skeleton with more harmonic flesh , and still i have that impression. Anyway they make a great hammering heavy, muscular, crushing and compact show despite the absence of a member. Cowards, Salvation for a Dead World, World's destructive Domination (part I and part II) were sort of highlights of the concert. Above i have used the word "almost" because there is actually one track which is complete, well built; now, in the same way as it did in fall 2004, fascinates me and still sounds superb live: Drowned in Sorrow. Nick announces it as "ballade" but well a melodic death ballade in slow/midtempo , really fine sorrowful and sinister stuff and touching. Salvation for a Dead World, delivered after the pummeling Cowards, is announced instead as thrashy caliber , followed by the intense Drowned in Sorrow indeed. This central part of the gig seems to me the best moment, but if you should judge them only looking at the reaction of the crowd, you would say it was a very appreciated concert from the first till the last second. Before performing Dead but alive, Nick thanks this amazing audience, the concert organizer Hellfire and the bands that share the stage with them , and says that such a crowd encourages the band to go on playing. A tight impressive carpet of horns up approve Commander, as they were kind of newcomer warriors. Commander have such an excellent temperament and a very good basic structure, so i await from them the real ultimate kicking ass- burst . In the meanwhile they bring home an amazing memory of tonight' show and are about to prepare their 5th anniversary, that will be celebrated in München on next 13.May. One of the supporter bands will be Nekropolis.
At the end of the concert, singer Nick tells us "Viel Spass mit Equilibrium, zeigt was Zürich drauf hat!!" (Have fun with Equilibrium and show what Zürich is able to be)
...Ah the intro , was quite unusual. Strange to remember an intro at the end of a concert , but i cannot forget this choice, because i detest that song concerning music but i adore it concerning lyrics: it is Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
I’m on your side. When times get
rough
And friends just can’t be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
setlist Commander
Modern Slavery
Disharmony
Cowards
Salvation for a dead World
Drowned in Sorrow
World's destructive Domination part I
World's destructive Domination part II
MDD
Dead but alive
Save ones own Heart
dalia di giacomo
DESIREE - After another rebuilding break with a light delay boarded at approx. 23:20
o'clock, the Headliner Equilibrium entered the stage, with the Intro "Turis
Fratyr".
The cellar of Dynamo Werk 21 was sold out and filled therefore till the back
corner. Immediately in front, vocalist Helge announces that they appear today
without the drummer and also without keyboarder, because the drummer is injured
and the keyboarder had to work.
However, this does not hinder the remaining four members of the Pagan-metal-band
from Munich presenting a hammer concert, because, besides in the end, they have
a well programmed drum-computer.
Many-faceted songs, like "Wingthors Of Hammer", "Widars Of Halls" and "The
Storm" were performed with big delight in playing, and "Unter Den Eichen", as
well as "Met" was given immediately twice to the best.
When "Met" started for the second time, Helge requested two people to ascend
the stage, where they gave then the text to "Met" to the best at his place.
The band passed also Met (honey-wine) and distributed it to the audience. It was
really a great mission, and the people in front of the stage were surprised and
satisfied.
And from time to time the men of Sycronomica showed up in the stage edge.
The mood of the audience was simply brilliant here, and you could notice the
blitheness of the men and the woman, to play this gig.
To refresh the audience, water was sprayed like mad in the space, because it was
always hotly, and a small cooling was good occasionally, surely!
Result: Equilibrium played really a great concert, the sound was damn well
merged,
it couldn't have been much better, if you thinks about that a drum-computer
was used.
The band was celebrated well-arranged, as well as it heard for such a good band.
Desirée Güthlin
top - inizio pagina
presentation|news|reviews|interviews|live reports|editorials|f**king bollox|tours|dates
upcoming releases|underground|videoclips|MP3's|suggestions|
movies/dvd|links|contacts|gryphonbook
Niederrohrdorf
- Switzerland