WITHIN TEMPTATION / EVANESCENCE

FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS

Worlds collided as two of the leading symphonic metal outfits from the scene descended upon the First Direct Arena in Leeds. It was a tour that hard rock and heavy metal fans had been looking forward to for some time. This co-headlining run had been due to commence shortly before the start of the pandemic but subsequently had to be rescheduled on several occasions. Finally, it was time for Within Temptation and Evanescence to bring their colossal tour to West Yorkshire, where an almost full house awaited them.

For those in attendance early in the evening, Veridia kicked off the proceedings. The Nashville-based outfit had spent the previous night in the city and spoke about how Leeds had become one of their favourite cities. Bedecked in a yellow leather jacket, and braids whilst flying colourful illuminated flags onstage, lead vocalist Deena Jakoub certainly grabbed the audience’s attention. None more so than when the band was joined by Amy Lee from Evanescence for a beautiful airing of, I’ll Never Be Ready. Veridia certainly proved to be the perfect precursor to the big two.

Co-headliners Evanescence was the second band of the evening. Of course, the group has been coming to the UK for many years. Amy Lee declared that never in her wildest dreams when she first performed in England at the age of 21, she would still be returning at the age of almost 41.

With a career spanning more than 20 years, the group delved into their discography throughout their sixteen-song setlist. Highlights included Going Under, along with a powerful rendition of Use My Voice. With ticker tape flying, set closers My Immortal and Bring Me to Life was the cherry on top of Evanescence’s stunning performance.

Amy Lee is the complete package. Whether she is belting out powerful metal numbers or sitting behind her piano during the ballads of the group’s repertoire, Amy can do it all. Her angelic and somewhat incredible vocal range is a joy to behold throughout.

You would have to look back to 2014 for the last Within Temptation show in the North of England. Since that time the group have continued to grow in stature. The band’s show in Leeds concluded the UK leg of this mammoth co-headline run. Without question, the band intended to go out with a bang – in more ways than one.

First of all, let’s talk about the group’s production. Within Temptation’s performance showed their ambition. This was not just an arena show, it was a festival headliner-worthy performance. With a pyro-fuelled stage set that would give even Rammstein a run for their money, the Dutch outfit warmed up the audience with their fiery antics.

But it was not just the pyro that went off with a bang; the band’s setlist contained more bangers than a fireworks shop during November. With the likes of See Who I Am and Faster opening the set, the band’s fans were in Paradise, quite literally from the off. The latter also happened to be the title of the third song in the set.

There were many highlights of Within Temptation’s high-octane setlist with the likes of Stand My Ground, In The Middle of the Night and Raise Your Banner featuring. The latter was dedicated to the people of Ukraine, with Sharon den Adel proudly flying the nation’s flag throughout the track, which was a heart-warming touch during these troubling times. The inclusion of recent singles such as Supernova and The Reckoning showcased the band’s musical evolution whilst also bringing their setlist up to date.

As the band headed into the final stages of their fourteensong strong setlist, an outstanding airing of Ice Queen and the classic Mother Earth brought the group’s set and UK tour to its conclusion. It may have taken a long while for Within Temptation and Evanescence to share the road, but the World’s Collide Tour was certainly worth the wait. Perhaps the best arena show this writer has witnessed during 2022.

BLACK STONE CHERRY / THE DARKNESS

FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS

It was very much a case of a clash of the rock titans as co-headliners Black Stone Cherry and The Darkness descended upon West Yorkshire. Their colosseum of battle being the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

Now Black Stone Cherry and The Darkness may not necessarily be your obvious pairing for an arena tour. But let us assure you it certainly worked with each headliner bringing something different to the proceedings.

Of course, The Darkness does not do anything in half measures. And judging by the amount of pyro featured in the band’s explosive performance The Darkness weren’t concerned about their gas bill either. But we digress.

The Darkness propelled their way through a setlist packed full of Solid Gold. Greatest hits such as Black Shuck, Love Is Only a Feeling, and the anthemic I Believe In A Thing Called Love are the types of tracks that are perfectly suited to an arena setting.

Justin Hawkins, as ever, was the consummate showman. Bedecked in a black lace catsuit, the frontman’s onstage physical and vocal acrobatics included frequent leaps from the drum riser, headstands and traversing the audience on the shoulders of his security guard.

The Darkness delivered a set that was fuelled by fire and brimstone. The group raised the bar very high for their US counterparts to follow.

Black Stone Cherry was perhaps one of the first bands from the States to hit our UK shores following the pandemic. Only this time, the venues are much larger, allowing the Kentucky natives to add more production to the equitation.

Although The Darkness may have delivered a passionate performance, Ben Wells and Steve Jewell certainly gave them a run for their money. Wells, in particular has more energy than a case of Red Bull. Whilst, John Fred Young’s power and enthusiasm behind his kit are unrivalled.

And it wasn’t just The Darkness’ pyro that illuminated the evening’s fiery proceedings as BSC added their own touch with Burnin’ at the top of the set.

Classics such as Me and Mary Jane, Soulcreek and Blind Man were on point as ever. Whilst new song Out of Pocket certainly showcased a heavier sound to the band’s new material and whet the crowd’s appetite for what’s to come.

An emotive airing of Things My Father Said slowed the proceedings momentarily in the latter part of the set. But not for long, as BSC brought out the big guns and went crazy for the last three songs during the anthemic White Trash Millionaire, Blame It on the Boom Boom and main set closer Lonely Train.

A noticeable difference on this tour was just how much BSC had reduced the emphasis on some of their bluesy jams seen on previous tours in favour of packing the show with a more concise and powerful setlist. This approach certainly worked in their favour. The quartet was in perhaps their best form in recent times and delivered a heart-and-soul performance.

When Black Stone Cherry and The Darkness roll into town, you get a lot of bang for your buck – and we aren’t just talking about the latter’s pyrotechnics.

Words and Photo Credit: Adam Kennedy

DREAM THEATRE HAMMERSMITH EVENTIM APOLLO, LONDON

To sleep, perchance to dream wrote the bard of Stratford Upon Avon. Well, as everyone in the rock fraternity knows, there is no sleep until Hammersmith as Dream Theater shook the very foundations of this venerable venue to its historic core on this final night of their Top Of The World Tour show. The sight of fleet-fingered Jordan Rudess’ rotating keyboard as the distinguished bearded John Petrucci and hair to his waist John Myung conjoin on guitar and bass front of stage to rip out mellifluous notes is a sight to behold and especially hear. Together, they delivered a masterclass of musicianship to an astonished, but by no certain means sold-out venue, audience most of whom knew every word the highly affable James LaBrie sang. And there are plenty of words to match the epic proportions of this complex music.

LaBrie’s friendly and inclusive onstage demeanour clearly respects the community that the band’s fans have created around this monolithic Progressive Metal musical entity. Even the big of beard side of the stage security guard was visibly enjoying every nuance of the show when not distracted by his duties. With his huge percussive kit reassuringly set upon a drum riser, Mike Mangini infectiously roamed around his assembled surroundings like a man(gini) possessed. Driving the songs through undulating musical terrain replete with plenty of sharp chicanes, twists and turns of complexity, both he and the whole band fully deserved their end of set onstage champagne. In getting there, including opener The Alien they played four songs from the ‘new’ album. But they satisfyingly travelled back in time to pull a few rare rabbits out of their magical musical hat with Pull Me Under from their early classic -and James LaBrie’s first DT recording - Images And Words release. Also, 6:00 and Caught In A Web from the early 90’s Awake album. A Dramatic Turn Of Events’ Bridges In The Sky was welcomed like an old yet ageless returning friend. However, in an evening of many, many high points a beguiling suite of three tunes - Solitary Shell, About To Crash (Reprise) and Losing Time/Grand Finale - from Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence probably edged ahead of a highly competitive setlist. Then again, at just short of sixty minutes of sonic sorcery, with the final three songs Pull Me Under, A View From The Top Of The World and encore exemplar The Count Of Tuscany to savour total sensory overload was magnificently achieved. This evening’s two-hour set included a backdrop of visual thrills of ice mountaineering, mystical Mayan montages, space shots, air ballooning, skydiving and Tuscan country landscapes… complimenting the dramatic music on show.

It’ll probably be another couple of years until DT return with new songs to insert into an already peerless genre set. Nevertheless, there’s a shared iron belief and tight bond between the band and their fans and a near unparalleled recording catalogue to sustain a famine of live shows until the next time.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES NX, NEWCASTLE

You would have to look as far back as 2014 to the last time US rockers Black Veil Brides performed in the North East of England. On that occasion, the group played at the O2 Academy Newcastle, which has now changed hands and rebranded as NX.

With nine years between shows, BVB’s latest gig on Tyneside allowed a new generation of fans to witness the seminal outfit live. Whilst many of the band’s hardcore legion of followers proudly wore their 2014 tour t-shirts.

To say that BVB euphoria had arrived on Tyneside is an understatement. The show was sold out well ahead of time. Fans queued around the block to secure their prize spot at the front of the stage. Whilst others took the opportunity to watch the show via the pristine views secured from the twotier balcony above.

Many fans arrived at the gig sporting face paint representative of BVB’s stage image.

Taking to the stage to the sounds of the Phantom of the Opera was perfectly fitting for such an occasion. The band opened the set with euphoric renditions of Crimson Skies, Coffin, and Rebel Love Song.

New song Devil with its frantic rhythm and heavy breakdown, had the crowd hanging on every word. The band towered over the audience from risers positioned at the front of the stage, bringing the fans closer to the action. BVB’s charismatic frontman Andy Black led the charge throughout.

Fan favourite Scarlet Cross was one of the many highlights of the set, whilst the symphonic sounds of the overture slowed down the proceedings momentarily. Wretched and Divine whipped the Geordie crowd into a frenzy.

BVB turned back the clocks with the inclusion of The Legacy, before wrapping up their main set with a crowd-pleasing performance of Knives and Pens.

However, the Newcastle crowd weren’t done with the band just yet, with cheers of one more tune resonating around the concert hall. A three-song encore aptly concluded with In The End.

It may have taken nine years for Black Veil Brides to return to Newcastle, but on the strength of this performance, it was worth the wait.