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Sölvesborg, Sweden
3rd – 6th June 2009
Sweden Rock Festival Day 4:  Ripper Owens, Blackfoot, Riot, Journey, Electric Boys, Dream Theater, Europe, Immortal, Heaven & Hell

The last day comes with a final conlusion: in the end Sweden Rock set standards once more. Organization, smooth execution, friendly security, high quality food, the location of the festival and their selection of bands were amazing. As in the years before there’s one final thing to say: “Vi ses nästa år!” – The next Sweden Rock will be held from June 9nd to 12th, 2010.

In the meantime, there will be two Sweden Rock cruises (October ’09 + April ’10) and a warm-up show in Stockholm (December ’09). This was going to be the last day already. At least weather was good for a change, though it was still pretty windy. It took a while to get out of the tent after all these days of camping and partying, resulting in missing the first half of Ripper Owens.


Ripper Owens

Tim “Ripper” Owens started in a British Judas Priest cover band before he actually got the lead post with Priest. After the return of Halford, he went on to front Iced Earth but was eventually kicked out with the return of Matt Barlow. As of 2005 he had put together a band himself, Beyond Fear. In 2009 however, he’s touring solo for his album “Play My Game”, using his own name for promotion.

Music & Performance
Ripper Owens  is the kick-off on the Rock-Stage today. The band played tracks from the solo album “Play My Game” with the ’76 Priest classic “The Ripper” being the only exception. Owens seemed a little lost, noticeably he had to check the set list a few time. Other than that he performed well, supported by former Savatage guitarist CHRIS CAFFERY and the rest of the band.

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 7.5 / 10


Blackfoot

Southern rock legend Blackfoot was about to return to Sweden Rock after four years to celebrate their 40th band anniversary. Though their music can be considered coequal, they never reached the same recognition as genre competitors Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Music & Performance
There was a huge crowd in front of Sweden Stage, reaching even back to the fest’s entrance. The quintet powered up and blasted away the audience with their double lead guitars, playing hits like “Highway Song” or “Morning Dew”. “Amazing Grace” was dedicated to their deceased drummer Jackson Spires. Great performance by a hugely underappreciated band, but they did a great job on this festival today!

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 8 / 10


Riot

Originally founded in 1975 in New York by guitarist Mark Reale, Riot has undergone a lot of line up changes. Current frontman Moore had already been the band’s vocalist from ‘86 to ‘92 and the band is currently touring in the classic Thundersteel-era line-up.

Music & Performance
Moore, who was wearing an ‘Obama 44’ jersey, clearly expressing his political views, easily hit even the highest notes. After all this years of line up changes, the guys seemed to work great as a band. Set list featured plenty of songs from the “Thundersteel” LP, getting tougher throughout the second half. Fans were pleased to hear “Johnny’s Back”, “Flight Of The Warrior”, “Wings Are For Angels” (from their upcoming album), “Bloodstreets” and “Thundersteel”. After a checkered history, Riot proofed that they are still a great band!

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 8 / 10


Journey

Journey, created in 1973 with former members of Santana, is an AOR legend and they have sold more than 80 million albums worldwide so far. They had some severe line-up changes, the most recent being the dropping of Steve Augeri, who was shortly replaced by Jeff Scott Soto, before Filipino singer Arnel Pineda took the lead post. Their latest release is “Revelation” in 2008.



Music & Performance
As Journey played the Festival-Stage, some Goblins and other decorative parts for Heaven & Hell could already be seen, which looked a little strange. Singer Arnel Pineda’s voice was remarkable and he really owned the stage, though he looked like he just got out of his living room with the hoodie he was wearing. Anyway, the band’s sound was amazing, producing an intense atmosphere that captured the entire audience with its steady quality. Of course they played highly appreciated classics like “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Faithfully”, “Wheel in the Sky” and “Anyway you want it”.



There were some good songs from their latest album “Revelation”, too, especially “Where Did I Lose Your Love” stuck out. Journey will most likely stay around for while and with Arnel at the lead post, they now seem to have a singer that can compete with Steve Perry’s legacy. All together Journey give the audience a real rock feeling and the spirit is back for sure!

Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 8.5 / 10




Electric Boys

After 15 years of hiatus, funk metal pioneers Electric boys were to play their reunion concert at Sweden Rock. The band was founded in Sweden in 1988. The former members created 'Hanoi Rock' in 2005 but now the band is on the festival for an unique epxrience.

Music & Performance
A band who released a track that pretty much translates to “Too Fat (To Fuck)” (“För Fet”) has to crap your attention, especially when they get a 6 o’clock spot in the billing. Fans seemed to be fairly entertained by their catchy tunes, “Groovus Maximus” being one of the anticipated songs that they played that night. Even though their funk metal style isn’t probably appealing to everyone, the gig was great for many who like the music. Just vocalist Conny Bloom’s preposterous outfit was a bit disturbing and it got caught in the mike cable a couple of times. A new experience but defenitly not bad for all the festival visitors!

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 8
Sound: 7
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 7 / 10


Dream Theater

Founded under the name Majesty in 1985, Dream Theater had to change their name due to legal issues. They are considered one of the leading and most successful bands in progressive metal and have had pretty steady line-up since the early nineties (with  the exception of keyboardist). Their latest album “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” is just released in June 23rd, 2009.

Music & Performance
This band has quite a collection of great musicians, with James LaBrie being one of the greatest vocalist and Petrucci being one of the best guitarists in metal. Yet one has to wonder why a band that plays complicated and hard to approach Progressive Metal was put as one of the closing bands on a festival. Sure there are certain classics, only “Metropolis Pt. 1” and “Hollow Years” were played. It is a bit strange to have ten songs in 90 minutes. By the end of the gig a lot of fans had left, with the remainder not being sure about what to think of this performance. Sorry but they could’ve done a lot better.

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 6
Sound: 8
Light: - (daylight)
Total: 7 / 10


Europe

After ten years hiatus, the band had reunited officially.  Headlining Sweden Rock back in 2004. Fife years after they were to return, this time co-headlining the fest. Though they are mostly known for their super hit “The Final Countdown”, the band has released seven albums so far, “Secret Society” (2006) being the latest, another album is coming up in September of 2009.

Music & Performance
It was quarter to ten and Europe was pleasing their audience with a best of show, featuring pretty much every hit that they had throughout their career. They opened with “Last Look At Eden” from their upcoming album. Fans were happy to hear songs such as “Superstitious”, “Open Your Heart”, “Wings of tomorrow”, an acoustic version of “Carry”, “Cherokee” and their biggest hit “The Final Countdown”. Though their show could not measure up to their headline gig in 2004, it was great fun seeing them again. Europe brings the old rock feeling on stage in a great stmosphere, they are still going strong for sure!

Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 8 / 10


Immortal

The Norwegian black metal pioneers Immortal have been around for 18 years, yet this was their first time in Sweden, ever. The band broke up in 2003 but reunited in 2007. A new album by the name of “All Shall Fall” is planned in fall 2009.

Music & Performance
A lot of people seemed to have wandered off to Europe, who were playing concurrently. The remaining black- metal devotees however celebrated their heroes, giving them a warm welcome to their first gig in Sweden and the band give them back some warmth, mostly by firing off plenty of pyros.
Musically not attractive to just anyone, because of the dark atmopshere.  The band managed to perform well and lead vocalist Abbath was using his world famous “crab-walk” to raise spirits. No doubt that the upcoming release will be a follow-up in their tradition of very dark black metal. For sure good news for the old school fans!

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 7.5 / 10


Heaven & Hell

Heaven & Hell, the band that is basically Black Sabbath with Dio on vocals, is about to close the festival for this year. As usual, they were to play songs from the Dio-era plus tracks from their new album “The Devil You Know” only. Dio is a legend, and the band is stronger than ever with this new release. No doubt that they are the headliner of the whole festival!

Music & Performance
Last show for this year’s festival and Heaven & Hell made clear that they were far from going into pension. They had put up Goblins on both sides of the stage and the rest was nicely decorated also. From their new album they played “Bible Black”, opener for the show was “Mob Rules”, followed by songs like “Time Machine”, “Children Of The Sea” and “Falling of the Edge of the World”, to name a few. They had no difficulties inciting the audience to sing along, even though the temperature had dropped close to freezing point (I had to wear 2 pullovers and a leather jacket once again inside my sleeping bag that night). It turned out to be one fo the coldest days in this season in Sweden.



Dio, who has gone a little sparse, proofed once more that he’s one of metal’s finest singers, though he probably wasn’t the first to use the devil horns. Totally awesome show and a well deserved great closing to Sweden Rock 2009! Hails to the little man with the great voice, much respect from the whole crowd for sure!

Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 8
Light: 9
Total: 9 / 10

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