Arriving at Gazarte shortly before doors opened, we found a relatively small crowd gathered outside, perhaps put off by the day of the week and uncertain weather. However, numbers gradually grew, and it became clear that quite a few people would make it to the show. One of its attractions was the presence of two very good Greek bands from the current scene, alongside the opportunity to see Fifth Angel, whose appearance in Athens would be the third and final stop of their mini-tour in Greece, taking place in the city center. The occasion, of course, was the 40th anniversary of their self-titled album, a record that has passed the test of time and earned an increasingly special place in the hearts of both listeners and fans. With these thoughts and growing anticipation, we made our way inside, ready for the night ahead.
by Tasos Bouhoutsos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
First on stage were the highly active live outfit Darklon. With three albums under their belt and a line-up featured on their latest release, which formed the basis of their set, they began with plenty of drive, eager to prove their worth. Their material, characterized by fast-paced sections and mid-tempo passages, as well as high-register vocals, brought to mind bands from the past, mainly from the American heavy, speed and epic metal scene. With songs like the opening “In the Abyss”, “The Mad Messiah”, “Mind Reaper” and the new track “Venom Faith”, they delivered their material with energy, tight playing and plenty of movement from their vocalist, Bill Chrepas. However, the sound most of the time lacked clarity, particularly in the string instruments, so the riffs and melodic passages did not come through with the definition their material requires. This made it harder for those unfamiliar with the band to get a proper sense of what they have to offer musically. Nevertheless, Darklon delivered a successful performance, leaving a positive impression, while those who had seen them before could notice a further improvement in tightness and execution. Hopefully, we’ll have the chance to catch them again soon and possibly with a sound that does their music more justice.
The second Greek band, heavy/power metallers Black Soul Horde, took over without delay, keeping the atmosphere lively and benefiting from a slightly more defined sound. Their frontman, Jim Kotsis, established a good connection with the audience, encouraging them to join in by singing certain parts of the songs. The band delivered material from their now sizeable discography with directness and conviction, opening and closing their set with “A Scream in the Snow” and “The Creatures of the Night”, respectively, both taken from their latest album, Symphony of Chaos. The playing was solid throughout, the twin-guitar harmonies came through with the right sonic texture, and the vocals guided the performance, bringing out the expressiveness of the compositions. These featured several changes and heavier passages, while leaving most of the space to melodic sections and vocal lines that were easy to catch on first listen. The improving sound along with their consistency helped the band capture the audience’s attention. By the time they left the stage, their performance had surely encouraged many who might not have known them to seek out and explore their music. The evening was now at an almost ideal point, with the atmosphere just where it needed to be for the much-loved veterans Fifth Angel to take over.
The legendary American band took the stage without delay, with the iconic drummer Ken Mary appearing first. He stood behind his kit for a few moments, modestly greeting a crowd that responded with joy and excitement. There was a feeling he owed us this appearance after missing the band’s show two years ago due to other live commitments. It was also a chance for him to rejoin the live line-up of his own band and reconnect with the audience that first came to know him through Fifth Angel. The tour’s celebration of their defining debut made the occasion all the more meaningful and proved to be practically the perfect motive. With three classic members now on stage, they launched into their set with the feeling of a long-awaited appointment finally taking place. “In the Fallout”, “Shout It Out” and “Call Out the Warning” were enough to make everyone in the venue realize that the promise of the evening was about to become reality. There was plenty of movement, headbanging and singing along to every chorus, but above all, emotions rarely encountered in live settings these days. There are not many bands from the past still around, let alone ones capable of delivering their material so convincingly and expressing the unique feelings that this particular blend of heavy, power and hard rock can offer. As its true ambassadors, Fifth Angel were not discouraged by the rather poor sound with which their performance began. Their experience, tight playing and energy almost made you forget about it. Fortunately, things improved as the night went on, although the sound never quite reached the level needed to do justice to the band’s playing dynamics and the songs themselves. All of this, however, remained secondary, as the audience was experiencing the entire first album performed in its original running order. The band was obviously not there just to perform, but to treat them to a generous run of songs, as if fully aware of their anticipation and eager to give them the kind of night they had been waiting for. The set was rounded out with almost half the songs from the band’s exceptional second album, Time Will Tell, while the closing encore came after they had been offstage for barely a minute, with their established cover of UFO’s “Lights Out”. The experienced veterans, together with the two newer members on vocals and lead guitar – who proved excellent, fitting into their roles naturally – completed the picture of a band that holds its strong musical identity, not only in terms of its historical significance but also in the present. Almost as if enjoying a second wind, Fifth Angel took us back to another era through their music, seemingly distant yet somehow close, more romantic in our minds but still connected to the present through living, open bridges. When the set came to an end, the band bowed to their audience, took photos, and exchanged thanks and smiles. The feeling was mutual, as the evening closed in an atmosphere of warm satisfaction and genuine metal emotions.
For more demanding listeners, certain details mostly unrelated to the bands’ performances may have kept the experience from reaching its peak. Nevertheless, everyone seemed more than satisfied. All three bands gave their best, and their styles combined harmoniously and effectively. Although Sunday always comes with the thought of Monday waiting just around the corner, quite a few people would probably have been happy to continue the night out, with another dose of those sounds. That was ultimately the strength and message of this event: a celebration of the positivity this music can offer, bringing emotion and energy in a way that gives motivation and strength to those devoted to it. Until next time, then.
