Abyss's Review (11/26/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
O.K. let’s try to forget how stupid a venue CBGB’s is. Let’s try to forget that you have to go through the crowd and past the stage to get to the restroom, and let’s try to forget that once you get to the restroom you realize that no one would really have noticed if you had just pissed on the floor. Landmark or not, the place is a shithole. And with the place packed to the gills with metalheads, it was worse than normal.
Shadows Fall
Photos by Cynthia PelznerShadows Fall was the first band on after I arrived. And while I never get sick of watching them, I am getting sick of thinking of new ways to express how awesome they are. They looked scrunched up on the clubs tiny stage. So cramped were they, in fact, that the lead singer’s long dreadlocks continuously hit the cymbals every time he thrashed his head around. But they did what they do best. The songs still sound fresh, and although I should probably be tired of them by now, I’m not. I still think that they are a band that will move on and eventually leave the underground behind, and this tour is probably a stepping stone toward that end, as In Flames is giving them a great deal of exposure.
O.K. the last time I had seen Nevermore was the last time they played Downtime in NYC. It was painfully obvious that Mr. Dane was inebriated at the time and his vocals suffered for it. Well this time it seems Mr. Dane decided to wait until after the show to celebrate, and I’m glad, because it showed that he is a charming and humorous frontman when able to stand under his own power, often joking about his state the last time he was here. Unfortunately, I don’t know if his vocal performance was dead on or not because where I was standing (near the side of the stage) I couldn’t hear him. They eventually turned it up slightly, but it wasn’t nearly enough. It’s a shame too, because from what I could hear, it sounded like he was right on. I’m still confused as to whether the same problem occurred throughout the club or if it was just afflicting those behind the stage. Aside from this one problem, however, the band smoked. I got a great look at the drummer who played with intensity, despite the fact that it was way too fucking hot. Nevermore come across as a lot heavier than they do on their albums, and have a sick live guitar sound. I, however, am still waiting for a show in which everything goes right and I can enjoy the entirety of the band.
In FlamesIn Flames seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and deservedly so. I get the impression that each time I see them I am no longer looking at a huge underground band, but more a small mainstream band. And I can think of no band better suited to take metal to the next level. Talent, stage presence, flair, and passion are all in this band, and the fact that they love what they do comes across in their faces as they play. These guys are having fun, and come to think of it, so am I. This band is too big to be playing a club this small, and the crowd reacted just like one would if seeing a huge band in a small setting. Full on energy and participation. There set, while predominantly newer material, still paid homage to the older stuff, my personal highlight being “Food for the Gods” as well as a Slayer tease (a little snippet of “Raining Blood”) showing that, although their sound is a little less heavy, they still know where their roots are. They’re still metal.
Death's Review (11/26/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
With turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes coursing through my veins, I returned to the city early from a stint visiting the relatives in the wilds of central Pennsylvania, just in time to catch most of this killer Sunday night heavy metal bill. In fact, this was more than just another show for me. Anyone who knows Metal Judgment knows that we are big supporters of Shadows Fall. And, of course, no self-respecting metalhead would miss out on In Flames passing through town. But this night was to be more than that for me. You see, I've always been a big Nevermore fan. In fact, they are one of my favorite bands. And I've seen them twice live (with Mercyful Fate at L'Amours, and with Arch Enemy at Downtime, of all places), so I know they can deliver. But more than that: I had only just recently become addicted to Dead Heart in a Dead World. Addicted? Yes, addicted. I didn't just love it, or listen to it a lot. I needed to hear it. Every few hours. What started as a close listen on a good car stereo on the way out to Pennsylvania had, over the course of a weekend, become an obsession. So, needless to say, I was psyched for this show.
NevermoreUpon our arrival, we quickly settled in and got a couple of beers at the back of the club. It was already one of the biggest crowds I had ever seen at CBGB's, although I was told it was nothing compared to Machine Head a few years back. I don't know where they put the extra people. CBGB's was very, very full this night. Very, very full.
Not wanting to spill our beers walking through the crowd (and not really wanting to stray too far from the bar) we watched Shadows Fall from the area near the front door at the other side of the club. Shadows Fall rocked, but it was hard to feel the same impact as I've felt at other shows of theirs when I wasn't so removed from the onstage action and vibe. This time, I loved the ancillary details, like the guy who yelled "Motley Crue!" between songs (hoping for a Shout at the Devil cover?) and the viciousness of the live Shadows Fall attack. But to tell the truth, I couldn't help but focus on something else: Nevermore was next.
So the moment Shadows Fall ended, I somehow convinced "the gang" to get one more beer (I probably bought them for 'em just to move things along) and fight with me up to the side of the CBGB's two-fronted stage. We eventually found a spot in the middle of some amps where no one else was hanging which was very, very close to the stage. The five of us took residence there. And we waited. And after what seemed like forever, Nevermore took the stage. "Narcosynthesis" was delivered musically perfect, note for note. Only I could not hear the vocals at all. That's like being at Disney World and not being able to ride any of the rides. Not good. Anyway, I wondered if the sound was just bad off to the side like that, and seriously contemplated leaving even though we were in a visually choice location. But after "Narcosynthesis," Dane immediately complained to the sound guy to turn the vocals up, and I knew that you couldn't really hear the vocals anywhere in the club. It got better as the band played on, but the vocals were difficult to hear the entire night. Disappointing for sure. But Warrell was awesome. He was definitely into it, and what we could hear sounded killer. Musically, everything was tight and delivered with the same impact as heard on record, if not better. Drummer Van Williams especially showed expert musicianship: This guy is a total thrash metal drumming machine, and should be discussed along with the other greats of the genre. Williams absolutely kicked the shit out of his drums the entire night. It was metal drumming perfection. Anyway, my favorite track of the live set was my then and current favorite song, "The River Dragon Has Come." I can't get this one out of my head, and hearing the dual guitar runs executed perfectly with Dream Theater like precision live gave me a deeper appreciation of the song, the album, and the band. Too bad they didn't play "Insignificant." They did do "The Sounds of Silence," however, and yes, my friend, it was indeed killer. It seems they are saving the Sanctuary material for the 2001 headlining tour. A couple of “older” tracks from Politics, “This Sacrement” and the almighty “Seven Tongues of God” made the set, as well as “The Fault of the Flesh” from Dreaming Neon Black. The rest was from the new album.
In FlamesSo that was it, I was pretty much done. I had seen what I came to see. But oh yeah - In Flames was up next. Back to the bar for another beer. We spent the set change chatting with friends at the front of the club, as CBGB's filled-up to maximum capacity. Soon In Flames emerged. Great Swedish Gothenburg death lives on. Clayman didn't seem so radical of a change, when heard in context with the band's other material in the live setting. It's all just In Flames. They are a great band, with some great songs. I became most energized toward the end, during "Pinball Map" and "Colony," although I'm sure that's mostly because that's the part when I was paying fullest attention.
For me, it was a Nevermore headlining gig. The perfect convergence between my album of the moment and the show I happened to be at. I'm still pissed about the vocal situation, and look forward to Nevermore returning to New York as a headliner in 2001.
Hel's Review (11/26/00 CBGB's, New York, NY):
A couple of months ago, when this tour was first announced, Dark Tranquillity was supposed to be on the bill, and Nevermore was on a different tour package, teamed up with Fates Warning. First Nevermore's tour fell through, then DT had to back out of this one, and viola, here we are.
Shadows FallWhile nothing has transpired since to assuage my disappointment at not seeing live Disconnected from Fates Warning in the near future, nor does there seem to be any hope that I will get to see Dark Tranquillity tour to support Haven, having these three bands on the same bill at what is currently my favorite club in New York is a truly worthy event.
All three are bands that I like a great deal. I gave all three of the albums being supported on this tour 5 skulls. I've seen and enjoyed each of these bands live several times, and know I can expect to have fun at their shows. So it was a nice motivator to get me through gorging on mashed potatoes and stuffing. I planned the entire weekend around this show, and the result was a surprisingly mellow weekend, despite the travel and gluttony.
After my travels, I finally walked into the club, and found a large crowd watching Shadows Fall on stage. The sound was less than perfect, but I knew what I was hearing, and I quickly found a primo spot from which to watch their energetic set. I had a pretty long distance view, but it was a different perspective than any I had experienced other times I've seen Shadows Fall so it was satisfying overall.
Death dragged us toward the back to stand along the literal side of the stage in an extremely inconvenient yet close spot, which was ultimately a decent place to see from, but I know the guys moving equipment around between sets wished we weren't there. At long, long last the interminable set change ended, and Nevermore stormed the stage.
I love Nevermore. I've only seen them twice in all the years I've been a fan, so it remains a big deal, and something I'd been anticipating. Standing where I was, I think I was listening to the band's own monitors more than the house system, and if that was truly the case, Warrel couldn't hear himself at all for the first song, and not very well for the remainder of the set. During that first song, I admired the way he continued to sing with complete passion and confidence despite the technical glitch, and what little I was able to hear, was dead on anyway.
NevermoreThey sounded great. Every note was astounding and inspiring. I had the greatest view possible of Van and let me tell you, his drumming was amazing. The bulk of the set was from the new album, and that was just fine and dandy with me. I love the new album. I thought it was pretty funny that Warrel made a point, a couple of times, of stating that he was "not as drunk as the last time". I was sad when it was all over. Blown away too, so much so, I almost started to leave when I realized the night wasn't done.
Working out way through the press and back to the bar, I was reminded just how many people were there. And no one was leaving, after all, In Flames was next. When the band finally took the stage, I was far, far in the back by the bar. This is what happens every time I let Abyss and Death lead the between-band activities. Lacking the motivation to work my way up, I lingered and listened, straining for the occasional glimpse, until I spotted a space near where I was for Shadows Fall.
Ah, there they were, small, far in the distance, but there they were. The first time I ever saw In Flames was stage-side at the Milwaukee Metalfest two years ago, not only did it carry that "first time" weight, I had an excellent close up view, and they were awesome. I was reminded of that time while I watched them nearly knock each other off the small stage in their enthusiasm. Good metal fun.
Three bands I like. Three impassioned performances. One great night.
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