Plagues of Babylon Tour 4/18/14

Holy Smokes… yes, ladies and gentlemen of the music community, this tour is quite a sight to experience. Never in the year 2014, have I discovered the sheer excitement out of a tour. I went into this show thinking it was just going to be another night but my oh my was I wrong. Best Buy theater erupted into excitement the moment the first act went on. With a 7:45pm start time and a end time of 11:30pm, this show went by too fast for its own good.

Revamp opened up the show with a bang. Floor Jansen, the bands lead singer and newly appointed lead singer of the Nuclear Blast recording artist Nightwish, took the stage with such intensity and grace that all of my photos of her held the impact she unleashed onto the audience surveying the concert. Even her fellow bandmates were photogenic beyond any band I have shot prior to this show. Such enthusiasm and innate ability to naturally be in the moment. This was a headlining performance of epic proportions. Floor walked onto the concert stage with a camcorder in tow and recorded the audience members as they screamed and shouted for the show to start. Even at the end of the set the crowd was still in an uproar. Everyone was truly satisfied and filled with gratitude for the thirty minute experience. Performances were top notch, with all members interacting with photographers and showing them how much life musicians can really have. I myself was completely floored (no pun intended) at how amazing my photos came out and the six song set-list that encompassed their time. I really look forward to seeing them again anywhere on the East Coast. Go check out their current album Wild card and their debut E.P. Some very solid songs from those albums. Their set-list is as follows with photos below.

1. Wild Card
2. Head Up High
3. The Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown: On the Sideline
4. The Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown: The Limbic System
5. In Sickness ‘Till Death Do Us Part: Disdain
6. Wolf and Dog

Sabaton was my TRUE reason for being there. Never seeing this band before but hearing their music in the past, I was immediately drawn to them. And, beyond expectations, those men not only raised the standard to how a performance should be, they destroyed the glass ceiling and left glass everywhere. Frontman Joakim Broden (who eerily looks like UFC legend Chuck Liddell) had more energy in him than I could capture on camera. The man was singing, screaming, picking his nose, oozing dramaturgy throughout the first 3 songs. YEAH, THE FIRST THREE SONGS! The band was no different. Perfect lighting was on a roll since the first band, allowing such crystal clear portraits. My favorite photos taken were of all three members (Pär Sundström on bass, Chris Rörland on guitar and Thobbe Englund) all near each other playing their guitars and bass and acting goofy as if nothing was going on. The nine song set-list comprised of only one NEW song from the upcoming “Heroes” album and the rest from previous records before 2012 (only one song was played off the current album Carolous Rex, which is the song they played). Check out their set-list below and the photos. What truly fascinates me about this band is their masterful detail to historical context within the lyricism. Beautiful, historical music infused with masterful performances make this band one of the top I have witnessed live. No doubt about it.

Intro: (The March to War)

1. Ghost Division
2.Gott Mit Uns
3. Carolus Rex
4. Swedish Pagans
5. To Hell and Back
6. 40:1
7. The Art of War
8. Primo Victoria
9.Metal Crüe

Iced Earth… round 2. It was 2 years ago I had to privilege of shooting Iced Earth as they toured with Symphony X and Warbringer. With that pass still emulating the memories of the time, it was redemption to me. To look unto the new and comparing the old Dystopia stage of the first time to the Plagues of Babylon stage in front of my eyes. With a new camera in tow, better perspectives and experience, I knew I was ready. Then those god forsaken red lights came and I was pissed off. Until the second song at least. The photos were way more fleshed out this time. Dramatic and empowering, Stu Block and guitarist Jon Schaffer brought out the best as they usually do. I expect no less of this band but its those finicky atmospheric lights that drive me insane. Between the red/orange combos and strobe lights, It was a massacre that was easily amended by white fluorescence radiating over the shadows of the musicians on stage, the colors were no longer my enemy. My favorite shots were of Stu. Bar none… this man can bellow out the heavy and bring you down to your knees with such passionate singing. A perfect way to end the night to such stellar performances from artists who truly deserve to be at the top of their individual game. Check out the set-list below and the photos that accompany.

1. Plagues of Babylon
2. Democide
3. V
4. If I Could See You
5. The Hunter
6. Burning Times
7. Red Baron/Blue Max
8. Blessed Are You
9. Vengeance Is Mine
10. Cthulhu
11. My Own Savior
12. A Question of Heaven

Encore:
13. Dystopia
14. Watching Over Me
15. Iced Earth

With such tough competitors for best tours of 2014, this one truly takes the cake. Nuclear Blasts own Sabaton came to destroy and they truly did. By far an amazing turn out with an amazing group of artists that I would of kicked myself for the rest of the year if I missed out. Believe me, you’ll be doing it to if you don’t catch this tour package wherever you are. That is how this show unfolds and managing to meet Joakim of Sabaton with the whole band of Revamp as well, I was truly happy to end the night on a very high note. Catch you rockers on the flip side.

–Derek Soto–

For full Flickr Gallery CLICK HERE!

Revamp Photo Gallery

Sabaton Photo Gallery

Iced Earth Photo Gallery