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Live Music Hall, Cologne, Germany
09th May 2005
Paradise Lost, Orphaned Land and Society1

“Paradise Lost” are one of the most influential Metal bands from the United Kingdom, and without any doubt one of the biggest risk takers in the Metal genre. With their early works the band from Halifax/North England founded a whole new genre, Gothic Metal, and as this genre spawned countless followers and epigones “Paradise Lost” turned their backs on it to explore new musical ground. Their 1999 album “Host” even provoked comparisons to “Depeche Mode”, and this album in particular was hard to swallow for all die-hard fans of the early “Paradise Lost”. But the band always managed to attract new crowds whenever they lost parts of their old audiences whenever they changed yet again their sound, and some fans just have stayed and went all the way with the band…

“Paradise Lost” recent self-titled album hit the stores earlier this year and the fans were eagerly waiting for the tour accompanying the album. Together with guests Society1 and Orphaned Land they hit the road in April 2005. We took our chance to make the Paradise Lost 2005 experience in Cologne´s “Live Music Hall”.


Society1

Society1´s new album is entitled “The Sound That Ends Creation” and I´m bound to believe them. The US-based group describe their music as “industrial-metal shock-rock stomp” and this actually gives a rough idea of what to expect. Mastermind Matt Zane aka “Lord”, who is also known as author and porn producer (sic!), and his companions Berzerk Kirk (drums), Dirt (bass), and Sin (guitar) produce music that might not sound very originally and innovative on disc but which comes to live on stage. By the way, Society1 have a fantastically designed band site which looks great and fully displays the weirdness of the quartet. Check it out! http://www.society1.net

Music
Well, you got to have nerves to endure Society1 live, at least when you´re not that much into this kind of music - like me. I can´t say that they can´t play well or anything, I guess they definitely have their skills (and with closed eyes I would have expected two guitar players, not just one, so respect for that!) but speedy music at maximum volume in really pretty empty large venue isn´t the best premise to perk up your ear on musical details. Anyway, it was more fun to watch than to hear during Society1´s gig…

Performance
When Matt Zane of Society1 hits the stage it is not just an empty phrase. He really hits the stage, banging his mike stand on it, jumping up and letting his body bounce against the floor of the stage and things like that. And he keeps on singing while doing all that! Society1 live is an experience not to forget. Even if you are not into this kind of music it is at leat, ehm, interesting to see them performing. You hardly see so much action on stage and drummer berzerk Kirk is really the only one who didn´t leave his place. I have a feeling that this is really only up to his instrument. Society1 did all their best to impersonate the ultimate stadium Shock Rock band – ignoring the fact that only a fistful of people have gathered in front of stage yet. After Society1´s gig somebody murmured jokingly “Now I know what they listen to in Mordor!” ;-)

Rating
Music: 4
Performance: 7
Sound: 4
Light: 5
Total:  5 (5.05)




Orphaned Land

There are probably not many Metal bands in Israel – at least Orphaned Land are the only one I know about and the first one from Israel I had the chance to witness live on stage. Yossi Saharon (g), Matti Svatizki (g), Kobi Farhi (voc), Uri Zelcha (b), Eden Rabin (keys) and Avi Daimond (dr) started out under the name Ressurrection in the early 1990s. Their sound was more on the Death metal side back then but soon they decided to change sound and name respectively. Orphaned Land was born! http://ophth.free.fr/music/orphaned_land.html

Music
Classic Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, Death Metal, Oriental influences, the folk music and tradition of the Oriental Jews (Sepharadim). Orphaned Land have many influences and perfectly shape them into an unique sound. Singer Kobi Farhi is the perfect man to front a band with such a diverse mix of styles as the wide range of his voice allows anything from Death Metal growls to rather harmonic. But the other members are just as skillful at their instruments. Truly an unique band!

Performance
What a contrast to Society1! After the Shock Rockers from the United States there could hardly be a more antithetic performance than the one by Orphaned Land. Singer Kobi (who looked a bit like a Jesus look-a-like) and his bandmates entered the stage with arms raised and hands clapping during a piece of Oriental instrumental music. They actually tried to put about good spirits and get evryone into a good mood! Actually a big “wow!” after Society1´s “Mordor music”. ;-) The space in front of the stage got more and more crowded and Orphaned Land delivered a flawless performance. Although personnally I´m not too keen on the more classic Metal elements in Orphaned Land´s music I was fascinated by their show and especially the Oriental and Hebrew elements in their music kept up my interest. Especially Singer Kobi was excellent – he changed from growls to harmonic singing and even pretty high notes within a few seconds. Quite impressive!
 
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 8
Light: 6
Total: 8 (8.4)




Paradise Lost

Well, does this band still need an introduction at all? Paradise Lost seem to be an institution in the Metal genre for ages now, and although many old fans moan about the changes the band around Nick Holms and Greg Mackintosh got creitcally acclaimed for exploring new ground with every release. Perhaps that´s the reason why I wasn´t too happy with their 2005 album, which was simply titled “Paradise Lost”. There were no radical changes compared to its forerunner “Symbol Of Life”. It is rather a continuation, and a combination of the best elements from all periods in the band´s history. But somehow it didn´t work for me. So I was curious how the new material will come across live and looked forward to some old faves. http://www.paradiselost.co.uk

Music
Paradise Lost live can be problematic. I´ve seen shows where they were just fantastic and impressive, and shows where they suffered from bad sound and shows where they just displayed their lack of enthusiasm for being on stage. At first I was happy to see that the “Live Music Hall”, which was half full at best during the two support acts, got filled up more and more before Nick Holms & Co. entered the stage. Their reputation may be higher than their record sales these days, but Paradise Lost can still attract quite a crowd!

After a short intro Paradise Lost entered the stage, the crowd cheered frenetically and I felt some sort of relief. No bad sound this time, it was clear, loud and with a lot of drive. The only flaw was Nick Holms. His voice was treated with so many effects and echoing that one could get the impression that the vocals were, at least partly, playback. Which, strictly speaking they actually were! At least the backing vocals, which in former times were excellently delivered by ex-drummer Lee Morris and we now got to hear as so-called fly-ins with Nick Holms`voice itself. That is, playback! I don´t accuse the band for using this little trick but it felt strange hearing Nick Holms mouthing two different words at one time. Oh well…

Performance
After the aggressive performance of Society1`s Matt Zane and the charismatic Kobi Farhi of Orphaned Land, who always tried to get the audience involved, we now got with the frontman of Nick Holms who doesn´t deal with Rock stardom and who just stood still and clinged to the mike stand. The only movements of Holms we got to see was him trying to get out of the spotlight. However, this is how Paradise Lost have always been and one may argue that this is the best way to present the rather melancholic and introspective lyrics of the Paradise Lost songs.

The band from Halifax played a total of 9 songs from their most recent album and a surprisingly large portion of their “Symbol Of Life” album. Some fans screamed for old stuff from the start which Holms just commented with a “No!”. Nevertheless, the classic anthem “True Belief” found its way quite erly into the set just like the unavoidable “As I Die” and to the fan´s delight Paradise Lost performed “Enchantment” from 1995´s “Draconian Times” for the first time on this tour. But also the brand new songs, which really came to life on stage, got a pretty good reaction from the crowd, actually a better response than I had thought. The new crowd pleasers are especially “Accept The Pain” and “Forever After”, the first single of the 2005 album and the first song of the encore. Paradise Lost left the stage with the classic “Over The Madness” and “The Last Time”, leaving everyone wanting more.

Despite the above mentioned minor flaws, a really very good Paradise Lost gig. I do look forward to the next time!

Setlist
Don't Belong
Grey
True Belief
Erased
Redshift
Mystify
So Much is Lost
Symbol of Life
Accept the Pain
No Celebration
For All You Leave Behind
As I Die
Shine
Enchantment
Close Your Eyes
One Second
----------------------
Forever After
Over the Madness
The Last Time

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 6
Sound: 8
Light: 8
Total: 7 (7.4)




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