WITHIN TEMPTATION + 

TAPPING THE VEIN

in Zürich (11 March) - Vevey(12 March)  - Milan (13 March) 

REVIEWS BY  Dalia "gryphon_spirit" Di Giacomo 

The public use of these fotos  is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Mega event for Stefan and me: for us,  die hard fans  of Paradise Lost,  these 3 dates of the current European Tour is a fantastic occasion in order to follow our fav band and to meet, like you will see, a lot of friends and fans, enjoying together so a nice experience. It's also the occasion to present to the Weepers * what it means to follow the fav band between Switzerland and Italy.  But, as far as it concerns me, who have the responsability to write objective reviews (though fully expressing my personal opinions) it has not been so easy to conciliate being a fan with "cold" journalism: i hope to have done my best in remaining objective and above all myself, with all my feelings, joys and doubts. One feels among the hammer and the anvil, you know ? The professional pressure is strong, you cannot act freely as fan and nothing more. So it's up to you to judge! Anyway i hope that you will enjoy this journey like we have enjoyed doing it , and it was, on the whole, around 1230 km's long: so let's go!

setlist:

The River

Everything

Beautiful

The Ledge

Bleed

Numb

The band begins  with Deceiver of Fools from album "Mother Earth", which has a brilliant music. I  bear the high notes of the vocals, realizing that she is singing very well and i try to dive in that surreal world full of magic, myths and lost nature they try to evocate. They slowly put me in a world dwelled by elves, magicians , sorcerers , fees , knights, old castles, forgotten feelings, and even if the lyrics don't necessarily match  these themes, this music can be the ideal sound track for every Morgan le Fay and Arthur cycle. 

We go on with Caged and, after a song which i don't  know so well, (maybe Our Farewell?* from new infos it should be a new song called Orff) finally  we hear the famous  Mother Earth and the surprising Running up that Hill, a cover from the 80's, from an  album of Kate Bush if i remember well, which sounds exteremely good. Always WT are acclaimed , always they play very goog though the thousands difficulties of sound quality and place that afflict  the bands in general this evening. Often  Sharon thanks the audience and Within Temptation always balance, as counterweight, the high voice with a very remarkable heaviness of all instruments, offering a cool show of atmospheric metal with a touch of Epic and Gothic. Finally we listen to the touching  The Promise 

Though   my preferred frontwoman is and remains Cristina Scabbia , (we will see that wishes are sometimes fulfilled! i still don't know that i will meet her in Milan!) , i have appreciated a lot Sharon's show, her lovely dances and jumping, her perfect tones and notes.  In general i have appreciated the stage acting of the whole band, though they had no much place in order to let explode all their mobility. I hope to see even much better things from them tomorrow at Vevey. Though i don't turn into a fan of the band and we are still far from including there in my personal playlists, i praise them a lot cause they are objectively really great and i enjoy the good vibes of this performance.  Surely  i will catch myself like a thief, when i will happen to listen to Ice Queen or Deceiver of Fools . In a way, i envy their fans, they can only be proud. The gig has been for WT a big success. A lot of sincere applauses from me too. The WT performance ends around 21:45

setlist:

Deceiver of Fools

Caged

Orff

Mother Earth

Running up to the Hill

Promise

Ice Queen

22:13 fateful hour:  PL take the stage warm welcomed by the audience. Go! The band begins without many ceremonies  immediately with Isolate trying to show a lot of energy. And many from the crowd begin to sing the worlds of Isolate. Nice, cause Nick's voice doesn't take off, maybe microphone problems. Fact is that Nick with austere face lets understand how much he is annoyed, maybe this can be the problem. But honestly said, this is not the only thing that doesn't work perfectly. In spite of all energy and the support of the audience, the first part of the show is problematic enough: the sound quality is completely bad,  the instruments seem to be not very coordinated, Greg's guitar not always perfectly calibrated, and during So much is lost someone doesn't keep time. The beginning of Remembrance is confused  and the only pillars that avoid the disaster are Lee's drums and the rhythmic section led by the tireless Aaron. Surely Greg's stage acting is different: he is more lively, he is doing a lot of headbanging , unrecognizable, great! . But this evening his movements were not always perfectly relaxed and coordinated. I don't know what to think. Well, i am impressed, but not completely in a positive way. I am very happy to see so much energy in Greg's performance, but the uncoordinated moments spoil the whole thing. All in all, the band seems to be a little bit tired, not in the best form. But no fear! we will see that tomorrow "the music" will change and there will be a drastic improvement,  but let's not anticipate things. Now it's interesting to say that the crowd is supporting them in an incredible way. Many  begin a lively moshing and headbanging like hardly we can see here in a "gothic" club. The good old times seem to be remembered by everyone, and maybe too much , cause, like i have seen during other PL gigs, there is always some idiot recurrently shouting  very old titles of the band's repertoire. This evening it's the turn of Rotting Misery. So, from time to time, the shout "rotting misery! " is echoing in the venue. I laughed when after one of these shouts Nick and the band "answer" with Mercy. The first part of the concert sees anyway a very good solo from Greg during Hallowed Land , while Nick presents the songs sharply,  telling the title and not much more. Mystify is completely spoiled by a boring cacophony between stage and audience! Fortunately, the second part,  beginning more or less with Self Obsessed, runs much more better and even something of Nick's voice can be heard in the first rows. After Small Town Boy Nick is greeting everybody with  "Thank you ,good night!" . The encore is called but the band doesn't leave completely the stage , let's say they move only very near to the door as far as they can do. So the encore begins, almost at once, with Say just Words and One Second. Last Time is not presented.  Patience. Mahh...do you know a thing? I'm not very satisfied. But i have hope (and with reason, Vevey and Milan will cheer up me a lot!) 

setlist:

Isolate

Mouth

Hallowed Land

So much is Lost

Remembrance

Two Worlds

Mystify

Symbol of Life

Enchantment

Erased

As i die

Self Obsessed

Mercy

Small Town Boy

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Say just Words

One Second

We are always on the motorway near Vevey: we have nearly arrived . Unfortunately the weather is not that nice: cloudy, rather cold, a little bit rainy. Mountains sorrounding a big lake : i can hardly find a better frame for a PL gig. The love to this kind of lakes beats strongly in my  blood, maybe it's hereditary:  my mother  came from Como... 

And here it is: the Rocking Chair, with one of the tour buses in front of it !  We park on the other side of the street. Shortly after we meet Mark Burkert. Thank you Mark for the nice chat ! And now we go to the bar Le Colibri to wait and have a rest.

This is the big poster on a wall outside the venue announcing the future dates: like you can see the date 12th March is the first of the list here, and Gathering with Pale Forest are awaited on 27th March. Spiritual Beggars on 28th. 

What's behind this door?

Yes' it's the Rocking Chair 's door, and now, thanks to the hospitality of the venue for the press,  you can enter together with us just few minutes before 20:00 h

This is the stage! really fine and big enough! The 3 drums are already set and prepared: here the bands will have all the space they need. Like you can see the "Mother Earth" logo Within Temptation looks really impressive, you have the feeling  that an angel rules over the room. And now let's turn 180° to see the exact opposite side of the room where the merchandise desks are ready.

Looking here and there at the walls of the venue you can find something interesting: a beautiful poster, a beautiful wall painting.

Ok here we are! The audience is here. The Rocking Chair is no small venue and practically the show is sold out or nearly to be. How many people are here? Around 500? More?

And now you can listen to what Peter from Luzern is telling us about PLin the crowded venue : he is speaking with Swiss accent , so i imagine that our Swiss friends will be very happy! Like i have already mentioned when we were in Zürich , Peter is totally mad for PL and during our journey you will see his picture too, even because here in Vevey decide to bring Peter with us to Milan (where he will meet Cristina Scabbia gosh!). Concerning this tour he has just seen PL in München , Zürich  indeed and this evening is here in Vevey. The idea to see tomorrow his fav band in Milano too is simply electrifying him! 

This evening the concert offered by TTV is condiderably much better! All songs are executed very well spanning again the spectrum from slow, hypnotic, melodic and sweet to aggressive or desolate.They take much more care of the vocals, though the stage acting of singer Heather seems to me to be the problem of the band. Maybe it's in this style that she interprets the songs but in any case it's not lovely for me to see on a stage a not relaxed , nearly sophisticated woman who seems to carry all the problems of this world on her shoulders. Anyway she has changed something about her clothes: this evening she is no longer wearing the usual  stockings with ladders and holes. Maybe i'm wrong but it seems to me that they have presented in their setlist the song Butterfly too. Always agreeable the guitar and the bass, always precise the drums.

PARADISE LOST

22: 14 The giant lofo of  WT "Mother Earth" is taken away uncovering that one of PL: surprise , no orange snakes, no symbols of the SOL era, we have in front of us a big white stylized Crown of Thorns of the BIN era. Lee's drums dominates the stage  with its  bronze reflections.

22.35 intro - under the blue lights Lee's drums get sinister red dazzles Our lads take the stage and again we start immediately with Isolate and again the crowd starts singing together with Nick, whose vocals are a little bit higher  this evening, also due to the fact that in general the sound quality of the venue is really good. But the best thing i can see is that Greg appears to be in a perfect form , with a lot of energy, headbanging often like a mad, with precise entries, playing royally the typical PL lead guitar and filling the enthusiasm the audience. From time to time it seems to me that he is ..how can i say...really sad, but i repeat is just my personal impression. Fact is that many passages and solos are played with such an inspired emphasis and a deep sadness in his eyes that i cannot avoid to get  this feeling.  Mouth and Hallowed Land are supported by the general participation,  while So much is lost passes through the usual small but indicative" loss of fever" of the crowd . But Remembrance, played extremely well collects the expected big success. In Mystify Nick's vocals are enhanced by a kind of echo effect. Nick dedicates As i die to his wife if i have understood well, and when at 23:27 it's the turn of Mercy i finally fix my attention on Aaron and i remain impressed by the care, the ability and by the  virtuosism too ,as far as a rhythmic guitars allows virtuosisms in general, that Aaron puts into action. Last Time is proposed this evening, and i'm happy to say that has been executed wonderfully! After having heard "this" Last Time i  have the impression that PL are still masters under many points of view and that they could easily get back that throne that once belonged to them...

This is the setlist obviously and this?

hehehehe ...in case of amnesia....better to be sure ;) !  

And now on the road, direction Italy! We go back from Geneva lake to Luzern lake in order to pass the Gotthard tunnel and reach the Italian border through Tessin. But there are many kms to do before arriving at the Gotthard tunnel, and  it's already late enough. The darkness of the night is there for us. 

After many kms and having crossed  a mountain pass we reach the shores of the lake Luzern (Vierwaldstättersee): now  we are in  the Seelisbergtunnel, more than 9 km long

after the Seelisberg , we are approach the Gotthard

But before facing up to  this other  long tunnel we  have a couple of hours of rest 

it's "early in the morning" now: after  a good cup of coffee  we are fit again for going on with our journey: under a cloudy sky   we enter the Gotthard tunnel: 17 km long, the longest tunnel in Europe if i 'm not wrong

and finally the end of this tunnel: on the South side of the Alps we find the light of a bright day . it's not sure that in March the weather is really good in Tessin or Italy, but today we are welcomed by a fantastic sun!

just out of the Gotthard tunnel the Tessin alps  glitter under a blue sky

and the big Gotthard massif remains behind us

let's go! 

i take a picture of myself!

and finally we cross the Lake Lugano! here what we see on my left...

and here on my right! we are in the middle of the lake!

simply fantastic!! i adore it!! ahh ...lakes!!!

a short stop  at Coldrerio

ahh here he is : Peter!!! 

have you prepared your identity cards or passports? Ah ok!!

It's around 10:30 when we reach the north-west peripheral zone of Milan. We have a couple of hours free: the interviews are planned for today afternoon, in particular that one with PL should take place around 16:30. So we think that we  will show Peter something  of the city, and at the same time, we will  find an opportune way  to Via Paravia where the Transilvania Live is located. Like we will see, when we'll reach the venue, the tour bus of PL will be still not there....

the Sforza Castle with the old symbol of the town

Though there are mega modern jumbo- trams, still the old little ones survive

Via Paravia 59: TRANSILVANIA LIVE Horror Rock Kafè

We reach the venue around 15:00, this afternoon is really cool   pleasantly warm, like spring would have already begun! Seen from the outside the Transilvania in my opinion has little  to share with its inner look. We will discover that the interior design of  this venue  will let you dive in an enthralling cool gothic - "carpathian" - dracula look! At the moment there is only one bus here and this is not that one of PL and TTV. I hope they will be not too much late, i begin to worry for my interview and...well i still don't know how my worries are well-grounded! Waiting for the PL bus , what can we do? Ah fortunately there is a bar really aside: only few meters divide the venue from this bar that are bound not only by the proximity but also because the bus parking for the venue involves absolutely the space (and parking) in front of the bar. For all interested it's the bar Atzei, and ,totally by chance, it will be the place,  where i will spend some hours of  joy for meeting a lot of dear and nice persons, but also some hours of stress and worries. So come on! you are invited to an afternoon and an evening that i will never forget!

In the meanwhile we find again members of the  WT crew

Peter, Stefan and me  wait in the bar speaking about a lot of things, trying to relax and finally, around 16:00 more or less, the tour bus of PL arrives. We notice it from the agitated voices that suddenly come from the street. What does it happen now? Some persons are really arguing and why? Well, parking problems! the second bus arrives and the first one should move ahead a little bit in order to let the other bus in with the opportune manoeuvres. But there is a car parked in front of the bar, the first bus cannot move ahead that much. and the bar  firmly intends not to let a single cm more free at disposal. it explodes a short but lively question and even rough words pass. The bar doesn't want the buses to be  parked in front of its windows and the venue says the parking space has been payed . It's really a matter of few meters. I don't know who is right and to tell the truth is none of my problems. The thing would have been even amusant if there would not be the threat to call the carabinieri: other problems in sight for my interview! fantastic! I needed it, really! called by phone the tour manager Walter postpones the interview in more than an hour. we will see...

tell me that it wasn't tough!!

Short afterwards  I meet Lee . Asked how was the journey Lee says, with a big smile, :"Long!!!" . Then i go back to the bar, while Peter remains there near the bus,  Peter and Stefan speak then with Lee again and with Aaron

At the bar  we meet also Mark Burkert, indeed there is the interview with TTV to be done. Mark seems to be so sorry not having time more for visiting a little bit Milan and the Dome. He goes away for a moment cause he had some other things to do, i would never imagined that...he would have been back rather soon ...and not alone....no, not alone, he was followed by other 3 members of TTV and by....

No other presentations needed. Methinks that this bar  will soon become a cult place

(pic by Peter)

After that  TTV and Greg left the bar, I  speak with Paolo of an underground band doing Italian Trash metal and really shortly afterwards another nice surprise is waiting for me. Our friends and PL mega fans Gino and Michele (members of the band Spellcraft) enter the bar and among a lot of greetings,"ciao, come stai? ehi fantastico, com'e' andato il viaggio, ma dai!! che bello vedervi!" we sit together having some drinks. Paolo says that he is not a PL fan but that he considers Mr Mackintosh a great guitarist, while Gino and Michele are in seventh heaven but don't find  it nice that there is only one date for Italy. I can only agree!

From the left : Paolo, Michele, Gino, me, Peter

It's evening and it seem that other problems force the interview with PL to be postponed again .  When i interview Mark Burkert and Joe Rolland of Tapping the Vein in the court of Transilvania i hear the PL soundcheck. The interview with TTV was really nice .

At 20:00 we leave the bar cause the doors are opening and the bar on the contrary is closing.My gosh , it was a great time spent here!  

Doors will be opened in seconds

"ahhhhh! BRAVIIIII !"

Aaron and fans

Lacuna Coil and Lee

Dhilorz of Ancient, Lee and me. Thank you Dhilorz for the nice meeting, i hope to see Ancient live again soon!

Cristina Scabbia and Peter. Cristina you are unique!

Lee , Michele, Gino and friends: Aaron and Lee take very often care about fans!

The long evening is near to the end,  slowly most of people leave the venue, the DJ let play the songs for the last guests... and we too,  around 2:00 greet our friends and go outside , where,  near to a bus that was about to leave we finally meet again tour manager Walter that apologizes with us so much about the interview . Well , organizing a tour is not easy, you cannot believe dear readers how many problems and totally unforeseen events can happen. We as press have from our sides our duties and hard moments too, we were always there at disposal, under a constant pression, we had a great time but we had to face, like always, a punctual work with much attention and reliability . From our side we understand the problems occured and we were always professionally  respectful of privacy , never invading . Who knows maybe some  aggressive journalist would have seen , spoken , known, looked for  and nosed much more. What then? Artists are persons who are doing their job like we all do, and it's a difficult one! We are very happy to have acted like we did, and above all to have brought to you all a virtual tour around 3 days, sharing with you our feelings. I hope we will be able and allowed to interview PL in one of the numerous summer festival they will play all over Europe. 

 Though the day was bright , warm and sunny, nights are indeed still cold in Milan, and this night is cold. Together with Peter we our reaching our home near Bergamo where we will spend the rest of the night having some some good sleep! Everything seems to have lasted only few minutes : 3 days that you could hold in a small magician's crystal ball or in a blow bubble: let it free to dance before our eyes!

We leave now our village at the Bergamo mountains: direction next gig in Switzerland: see you laterz,  gryphonmetal on the road!