Station 4, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA28th June 2008
Unexpect, Shadowside, Benedictum, Visideon, Dendura, Earthen, Something to Fear, Aria Sharp
Female-fronted metal bands are very popular in Europe and with the ascending amount of female-fronted metal bands both debuting and touring in the U.S., the U.S. metal scene was begging for an all female-fronted metal festival. With the Doro tour coming to St. Paul in 2007, Nathan "The SwordLord" Block of SwordLord Productions considered it was the perfect occasion to lauch the first ever FLIGHT OF THE VALKYRIES metal festival - the ONLY US festival dedicated to metal bands with female lead vocalists, with the help of Bobbie Jean Dickerson.
As I was fortunate to be in the Midwest in the week-end of June 28th and had heard about the festival through Lee Runchey of the Silver Media Group agency, promoting the band Dendura, I decided to bring my camera on the trip and to drive "only" 8 hours (which is very small at the size of the USA) to go and see the second edition of the US metal chicks festival. Actually the drive through endless fields of corns through the states of Illinois and Iowa was not so easy because the night before was short as I was also invited to go and see Biorythm, a local metal band in the county of Peoria (IL), followed by Shadows Inc. at a cool music bar in Chillicothe called Crazy Charley's, which reminded me of places in Belgium like PanDemonium in Antwerp, Biebob in Vosselaar, the Spirit of 66 in Verviers or Rockline in Tournai. WOW! The US metal scene rocks! It is just a shame that live music over there does not attract more people. After a fantastic metal evening on Friday night, I was well warmed up and my high level of adrenaline helped me to reach St. Paul, twin city of Minneapolis, in the valley of the Mississipi. After the correspondance exchanged with Bobbie before the festival I was also very excited to attend the FotV Festival. Station 4, the venue of the festival, is a transformed industrial building with on one side the bar and the other, the concert hall. The style of the place reminds me the Magasin 4 in Brussels (not only for the number!). The place is larger though and can accomodate several hundreds of persons. As I arrived, I immediately met with Nathan and Bobbie from whom I received a warm welcome and who introduced me with all the bands to whom I had offered to take a photo shoot.
Left picture: Nathan "The SwordLord" Block, with Aziza Poggi (Dendura) and Veronica Freeman (Benedictum)
Right picture: Bobbie Jean Dickerson (right), with (from left to right) Aziza Poggi (Dendura), Leïlindel (Unexpect), Sara McAtee (Aria Sharp), Katrina Litz (Visideon)
I was also surprised to see so few people, less than one hundred, which, on the other hand, favorised the intimacy with the bands. Sitting at the bar, I recognised a pretty lady with Egyptian tattoos on her arms: Aziza from Dendura with whom I had exchanged correspondance for arranging an interview. I was also very surprised when I was introduced to Unexpect, from Montréal, with whom I could chat in French! That was indeed "unexpected", for me and for them! Bobbie introduced me also to the very sympathetic Lorri V from the local metal webzine sixsixtysix.net who kindly accepted to help me write this review. My first impression was not different from in Europe: on the metal scene, you only meet nice and interesting people. I knew also this was only the beginning of a fantastic day...
http://www.femalemetalfest.com
http://www.myspace.com/femalemetalfest
Aria Sharp (USA)
Aria Sharp is a local Minneapolis band. Aria Sharp was created in the summer of 2005 by Sara McAtee, Scotty Hernn and Lawrence Waechter.
After trial and error with several talented guitarists, Aria Sharp was finally blessed with the amazing guitar and piano abilities of Larry Knealing.
http://www.myspace.com/ariasharp
Music & Performance
Aria Sharp opened the festival exactly on time with a 30 mins set that was beautiful and spirited. Sara has great range in her vocals and an energetic stage presence, keeping good eye contact with the audience, which unfortunately was not larger than 2 dozens of people. The music is modern and catchy, with some beautiful guitar riffs, alterning between progressive and metal styles, reminding a bit the style of the Dutch band Autumn. I was very impressed by the quality of this first show and eager to discover the other bands. The quality of the sound was decent. The lightening was basic, just a few spotlight providing uneven lightening on the stage with some too intense lights on the face of the singer and the lights in the back of the stage directed towards the audience made life even more difficult for the photographers. This poor lightening was the same for all the bands and explains the rating.
Rating
Music 8
Performance 8
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 7.5
Something to Fear (USA)
Next up was another local Twin Cities band called Something to Fear. There have been lineup changes since the first incarnation of STF but as of now they have 2 femme fatales dueling vocals in Angel (formerly of ArcAngel) and Joelle, both debuting with the band at this year’s Flight of the Valkyries. Each one brings to the table a unique sound and together they bring new meaning to the genre. With Nick on guitar adding in his own guttural musings, the dimension of Something to Fear is a combination of things that work!! Paul is pounding out rhythms on bass and NianFi (Nick) is in charge of the thunder behind the drums!
http://www.myspace.com/somethingtofearmusic
Music & Performance
With Something to Fear, you land immediately in the subject of metal. The combination of the clear voices with grunts, the outfit and the presence on stage of the girls, the dueling guitar and bass give an interesting combination. With Nick wearing a Dimmu Borgir T-shirt you cleary understand the influence and orientation of the band. Although the band is relatively new and the members have not so much experience playing together, they played a really awesome set and got the crowd involved. Very high energy and passionate music.
Rating
Music 8
Performance 7
Sound 7
Light - 6
Total 7
Earthen (USA)
Earthen is a Midwest based band (Wisconsin) that played last years FOTV festival and returned this year. With Holly and Dan in tandem on the vocals and guitar player, Giampaul Andrianopoulos' clean voice, and Mike's demonic additions, the lyric of Earthen is a kick in the senses. Tom and Wiley also play guitars and Dionisio is on bass. Drake plays keys and synth with Rick rounding out drums and percussion.
http://www.myspace.com/earthenband
Music & Performance
Surprisingly, Earthen was the only band without a frontwoman as, unfortunately , Holly was very ill that week and couldn’t perform, but the guys in Earthen stepped up and did the set anyhow! Giampaul took up the vocals, which was a challenge as, as he explained after the show, he learned the songs the day before! His performance was not too bad seen the short notice. The style of Earthen is much more acoustic and progressive, with 3 guitars, including an acouting guitar. The music is easy to listen. I don't know if the band was disturbed by the abscence of their singer or not enough prepared, but the music did not always sound right. They blamed the chord of the guitars... The set of the band ended after 30 minutes although they were programmed for 45 minutes. First time I see a festival ahead of schedule!
Rating
Music 6
Performance 6
Sound 6
Light - 6
Total 6
Dendura (USA)
Dendura, an Egyptian inspired progressive metal band formed in 2004, combines the seductive vocals of Aziza Poggi (Aziza is Egyptian and Lebanese), the virtuosic guitar talents of Steve Wethy and Paul Stein, a balance of heavy metal and middle eastern percussion by drummer Justin Lee Dixon and orchestrated rhythm by bassist Jason Stevens. Together, the band transcends the boundaries of progressive metal to create a mysterious, unforgettable soundscape. In April 2006, Dendura released New Life, their debut album. It is also to be noted that the graphic arts of the band are created by Helcanen, co-organizer of the famous Metal Femal Voices Festival in Belgium! As explained by Aziza in the interview, this is pure coincidence as Helcanen simply responded to an ad published by the band on the web.
http://www.myspace.com/denduraband
Music & Performance
With Dendura, the intensity of the festival reaches a higher level in quality and profesionalism. The eastern influences in the music, while remaining clearly progressive metal, give a very unique dimension and atmosphere to the sound. The performance of belly dancer Abida Blaze on stage complements the show to provide a dynamic and unique experience for the ears and the eyes never seen before. The set was haunting and exciting! The power of the voice of Aziza was impressive. When I mentioned this to her after the show, she explained her voice had been warmed up by her teacher, who is nothing else than Melissa Koch-Ferlaak, former singer of Visions of Atlantis and living in Minneapolis. Thumbs up for the student and the teacher!
Rating
Music 9
Performance 9
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 8
Visideon (USA)
Visideon was the second local band this year to make another returning appearance. They too played last years Valkyries Festival and were just as excited if not more, to return and play again. Visideon is a progressive metal band with a classical twist. Katrina is our Heroine, playing Keys and Singing, Aaron on Guitar, Justy on drums and Andy (Dobber) on Bass. They have released their debut album "Dark Angel" in 2006 and are currently recording a new LP.
http://www.myspace.com/visideon
Music & Performance
Visideon had the advantage the be local as the audience was suddenly larger and filled with local friends and fans of the bands. Kat, the frontwoman, behind her keyboard had an easy contact with the audience and talked a lot, reminding several times that their debut CD was available for sale in the back of the room... Kat's clear vocals, a bit hesitant in the first song, were quickly warmed up and reached impressively high tones. The music of Visideon is catchy, with nice rythms and melodies. Obviously the keyboard plays an important role, but the contribution of each instrument is well balanced with nice alterning soli. Also, Justy behind the drums was backing Kat's voice with grunts perfectly synched which gave an interesting more agressive character to the music. Visideon have a great vibe and super solid musicianship. Not only do they have great high voltage energy but they are all around super cool people and will hang out with fans and talk.
Rating
Music 8
Performance 8
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 7.5
Benedictum (USA)
Benedictum is a heavy metal band from San Diego, California, formed by the gorgeous and sensual vocalist Veronica Freeman and guitarist Pete Wells after the end of their earlier band Malady. On drums is Paul Courtois , the very recent addition to the band on bass is Chris Shrum and Tony Diaz is the newest member playing keys and backup vocals. This is some of metals finest female vocals. They recorded their debut album UNCREATION in 2006, which was praised by the metal press and soon followed by their powerful second release SEASONS OF TRAGEDY in 2007. Benedictum was on the bill of the Metal female Voices festival in Belgium in 2007, but the show was cancelled in the last minute. Fortunately they are again on the bill to play on October 19th this year and we are looking forward to seeing them in Belgium.
http://www.myspace.com/benedictum
Music & Performance
To use a terminlogy often used in the midwest, the set of Benedictum was simply "awesome"! It was powerful, pounding, and headbanging delight! The charisma and presence of Veronica on stage, and even off stage (as she does not hesitate to come down and mix with the audience while singing!) is worth any famous metal queen. When their set was over, Veronica had Dani Nolden from Shadowside come out and they did a duet honoring the Great Ronnie James Dio. 2 songs, Heaven and Hell and Rainbow in the Dark. It was FANTASTIC!
Rating
Music 9
Performance 10
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 8.2
Shadowside (BR)
Shadowside was up next! They came all the way down from Brazil to play at the FotV festival. Power, energy, intensity. Ever since the beginning, in 2001, Shadowside could be defined by their attitude and passion for Rock and Metal music, bringing together catchy Hard Rock melodies and a current sound, with heavy guitar riffs, solid musicianship. Their debut album THEATRE OF SHADOWS was released in 2007. Shadowside is fronted by the beautiful Dani Nolden. Her vocal style primarily has a rougher and throatier sound, but she possesses a sexy range that can soar to spotless clarity in a split second. Backing Dani in Shadowside is Raphael "Micheaut" Mattos on guitar, Fernando Peto on bass and Fabio Buitvidas on the drums.
http://www.myspace.com/shadowsideband
Music & Performance
Shadowside came out and exploded into their set with a Fury and Passion that was inviting and powerful! The performance and presence on stage of guitarist Micheaut was remarkable. The crowd was dancing, headbanging and chanting! Shadowside was a treat to see live and I look forward to seeing them again!!
Rating
Music 9
Performance 9
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 8
Unexpect (CA)
Our Headliner, Unexpect played last! Unexpect is an eclectic band rooted in the creative soils of Montreal, Canada. "UnexpecT is a metal laboratory mixing elements of black, death, core, symphonic, progressive and melodic metal; classical, operatic, medieval, goth, electro, ambient, psychotic, noise and circus music with an occasional jazzy touch. The septet includes a violin, keyboards/sampling, a singing contemporary dancer, a 9 stringed bass, 2 guitarists/singers and a drum. The vocal performance of the two singers range from an extreme to the other as they alternate between glorious choirs; inhuman screams of deep, high, mid-growl and delirious intensity; theatrical narrations; and clean/sober sections strewn with a female singer who's angelic voice could melt the will of the most vile politician." The metal lab started in 1996, with a first full length album released in 1999, followed by a mini CD in 2003 and the album "In a Flesh Aquarium" released in 2006 received distinguished honors and has been acclaimed nearly unanimously by the critics as a milestone in contemporary metal. The members of Unexpect are: Leïlindel leading the vocals, Syriak and Artagoth on guitars and vocals, ExoD on Keyboards and Sampling, ChaotH on 7/9 stringed bass, Blaise playing Violin, and Landryx on the Drums.
http://www.myspace.com/unexpect
Music & Performance
Watching this band perform is entertaining to all the senses. There is so much to experience with each member, just within their individual performance, as well as Unexpect in its entirety and how they meld together to define the sound of the band.Like Finntroll has created the trollish metal style, by mixing polka with death metal, Unexpected has invented the "unexpected metal" or should I say "ska metal" as we can sense a strong presence of ska rythms. But it would be a mistake to try to reduce the unexpected metal to one influence. Imagine you take different music scores with each a different style: classic, tzigane, progressive rock, heavy metal, death metal, polka, ska,industrial, tango, jazz, celtic (maybe I missed some!); you cut them in pieces, mix everything and re-assemble them randomly. When you play the new score you may have an idea of the Unexpect style: an orchestrated cacophony! The sound is intriguing and somehow will change your DNA... But don't be misunderstood. The result sounds definitely heavy metal and invites the audience to headbang and mosh. Watch out for the European tour dates at the end of the year!
Rating
Music 9
Performance 10
Sound 8
Light - 6
Total 8.2
Written by Lorri V from sixsixtysix.net and Stéphane Odent
All pictures by Stéphane Odent (www.stepix.be).
All the pictures of FotV Fest.
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