Reflections of Darkness - Music Magazine - Stone Sour

Details: Written by: Nicole Kizina; Published: 20 June 2007

Zeche, Bochum, Germany
5th June 2007
STONE SOUR

It seems STONE SOUR are only on the road this year. They’ve presented already their recent album ‘Come What(ever) May’ live for the 2nd time at the beginning of this year, then they’ve done the “Jägermeister Music Tour”, now they’ve returned to Europe to play at Germany’s biggest festivals “Rock am Ring” and “Rock im Park” and some smaller club and they’ve now just released new dates for America. The tour bus must be really comfortable. Read how they’ve rocked the Zeche and showed the people how a good rock show looks like.

In 2002 and 2003, STONE SOUR established itself as a multi-faceted hard rock force of nature. While Taylor is one of the most recognized figures in rock music, thanks to his role as the front man for SLIPKNOT, a Grammy winning, multi-platinum act, STONE SOUR is anything but a side project. It’s a full-time band that all members are fiercely dedicated to. Taylor spent much of 2004 and 2005 supporting his other band, but will spend 2006 and 2007 focusing on STONE SOUR and ‘Come What(ever) May’.

Also comprised by guitarist James Root, who does double duty in SLIPKNOT, bassist Shawn Economaki, guitarist Josh Rand and new drummer Roy Mayorga, STONE SOUR is armed with an album that expands beyond the palette of its predecessor. The band was afforded more time to craft songs, and it shows. The album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver), is tight, crisp, and full of rowdy rockers and melodic numbers. “With STONE SOUR, I loosen up and show more of myself,” Taylor reveals. http://www.stonesour.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/stonesour

Music
When you have seen the guys during this year already before you know what intro they have used to start the concert. Yes, once again it was the start of EUROPE’s ‘Final Countdown’. Before the instrumental part ended, Corey and his men entered the stage and started their powerful show with ‘3030 150’. Corey promised a different setlist as what they had played during the “Rock Am Ring” performance. Unfortunately I can’t tell you if they changed something, but in Bochum we got the good stuff from both albums. Corey wanted us to let the roof shake with ‘Made of Scars’. Also ‘Reborn’, ‘Your God’, ‘or ‘Monolith’ couldn’t be missed.

Not new but always wonderful when Corey took his guitar to play Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’. Of course followed by ‘Bother’ and this time the audience was singing Canon with Corey. As well Corey showed us again how good he was in playing and singing ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and as well Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring Of Fire’. After so much acoustic, there was just one song which could be next - ‘Through Glass’. The main part ended with a fantastic drum solo of Roy Mayorga and the guys returned for two encores afterwards.

Performance
The audience and STONE SOUR especially Corey Taylor are always one. It’s like the leader of a big gang is standing on stage and all his/their friends are with him/them. Right from the start it was so damn hot in the Zeche so already during the first song Corey threw water into the crowd. He was presenting his German with sentences like: “Wie geht es Euch?” (How are you?) or “Ich liebe Germany” (I love Germany). He wanted to be sure that everyone was ready to have a fucking great time. He said they played in so many different cities and Bochum was definitely such a great crowd. Everyone in the Zeche was just celebrating, some guys couldn’t stop crowd surfing.

Corey had a big laugh when the audience started repeating what he said. It didn’t matter what, if it was a “Hey”, a “Fuck” or whatever, the people just kept on repeating. Corey called the audience crazy, but he loved it for sure. One day Corey will get an award for best ass-kisser, because he is telling every time that the audience in front of him is the best crowd of the tour so far and just telling so many nice things and there is no other way he always makes you feeling special. Better this way and you feel like one with the band as when he would just say good evening and good-bye. So please Corey just stay as you are!

Setlist
01. 3030 150
02. Come What (ever) May
03. Take A Number
04. Made Of Scars
05. Reborn
06. Inhale
07. Your God
08. Monolith
09. Silly World
10. Wicked Game
11. Bother
12. Sweet Home Alabama / Ring of Fire
13. Through Glass
14. Blotter
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15. Hell & Consequences
16. Get Inside

Rating
Music: 10
Performance: 10
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9.7