To start off things off, I was surprised at the difference in the music genres being offered at this show! Not too often can you cover this much ground in one night and it was nice to see. It’s a great way for bands to break into crowds they normally would not be able to reach and get the opportunity to create new fan bases.
I was not too familiar with the first band of the night, One Final Moment, from Montreal. So, when they stepped on stage I really didn’t know what to expect. After taking in a few songs, I can best describe it as if System of a Down was turned into a sludge/doom band, mixed with a bit of simplified Tool, added with the stage antics of Korn. I would have been really down for that, however they were not pulling it off as well as I would have liked to have seen. I felt the band lacked togetherness and it was a sloppy slowed down simplified version of these influences. The vocals also I felt suited the project but needed to be more defined in all aspects, except for his lower scream growls that came across well. I wanted to keep interested, but it wasn’t until near the end of their set, when girls panties showed up on their headstocks, that they caught up to me again from after the first few songs. I feel this band has the potential to pull off well what they are trying accomplish live and do justice to a style not seen much around these days. I would enjoy seeing them again if they spend more time practicing, getting tighter and putting more passion in their movements other then jumping up and down on stage. This is my opinion, but I always have felt getting tight as a band first and then working on stage presence after is a good way to go.
Next up was Melodic Death Metal band Fateless from Longueuil, Quebec. This band’s style is very reminiscent of your traditional melodic death metal, wavering back between Swedish and USA influences. The one thing I found that set this band apart was vocalist FX Jodoin. I was completely entranced by his insane stares, serial killer expressions and erratic body language combined with an intense and varied death vocal style. I can tell you if I saw this guy in an alley and he gave me even one of those facial expressions, I would not hesitate for a moment to get the fuck out of there as quickly as I could! On the last song they played, friend Kevin Ouellet was invited on stage to do a spoken work/ dual vocal during the song.
Again however, I was to experience a band of not real tightness. I felt all of the members were great musicians in their own right, especially vocalist FX was a pleasure to encounter, but together lacked a tightness that if worked on would get them in the upper level of shows. I have listened to their album and they unfortunately didn’t pull that off live. Even though I think they need some practice getting tighter and playing as a whole, they are not far off from being a staple in the Montreal metal scene. If you like melodic death metal, I think this band would be one to add to the list. In due time, I am sure they will be a band not to overlook as they are evolving with new drummer Tristan Beaulieu. Fateless have a very enjoyable presence and covered the melodic death metal style well, with clean toned melodic interludes followed by chugging and sped-picked rhythms, rocking guitar solos, warm bass tone, straight forward death metal drumming, with an added insane and diverse death vocal.
Third in the lineup for the night was Power Metal band Eclipse Prophecy from Pointe Calumet, Quebec. It is always a pleasure to see power metal done right. This genre has a hard time getting bands that can really serve it justice and in my opinion they are one of the top power metal bands around Montreal. There are different styles of power metal and this band consist more in the vein of Dragonforce/Lost Horizon/Blind Guardian, mixed with the heavier side of Heed and Judas Priest with some Megadeth influenced solos. I must mention that in 2011, Eclipse Prophecy was invited to Germany to record a remake version of “The Bard’s song – In the Forest” with Blind Guardian. The CD was made for a Japan charity event, released in 2012 on a compilation disc called “Memories of a Time to Come”.
As soon as they started to play it was like a wall of power hitting you in the face, blasting kick drums with a solid rock beat, catchy Swedish power metal rhythms with technical sweeping guitar solos, punchy bass, combine vocals and a main vocal that is on key with incredible range. This band is fun to watch as they all are giving the crowd 110%. Constantly keeping contact with the crowd, they throw in some anthem styled songs and continuous wind milling was all that was needed to really get the pit going at this point. They play very tight, on key set that is crucial to what you want to see in a power metal band. I cannot describe enough how vocally talented Dave Mc Gregor is to see. His vocal range is uncanny to most vocalist I see around here. The power and control with such a broad range. Rolling high and low vibrato clean to dirty with an improved lower growl that I noticed from when I saw them last. So needless to say if you like power metal, check these guys out. You will be well entertained.
Headliner for the night was Symphonic Mesopotamian Folk Death Metal band Aeternam from Quebec City. I had only heard about this band before seeing them tonight and really had not checked them out much. After they played, I was very disappointed in myself for not looking them up sooner. My main consensus after seeing this band was me asking myself why they were not playing a bigger stage and with more well known bands. These guys play like a pro and do not have the feeling of a starting band whatsoever. Their first album “Disciples of the Unseen” was signed to Metal Blade Records and they are currently on Galy Records with their 2012 release “Moongod”. With only two albums under their belt, I could tell right away they were a well-seasoned band. They have combined vocals, the drummer doing backing vocals, and styles ranging from heavy Krisiun to a clean alternative mixed with traditional Mesopotamian. Musically, they have a newer Testament /Krisiun/Behemoth mixed with a melodic death metal blend to the drumming and guitar riffs combined equally with Melechesh-type Mesopotamian styled guitar riffs and samples as well as layered symphonic and traditional folk accents. They have many enjoyable elements that really make them a band to want to watch live, with full Arabic knight outfits and Egyptian styled make up. They played just as good as they looked. By the energy presented, you could tell they loved every moment of being up there playing together for everyone and kept in character the whole time. They really make the combination of styles work together in harmony, going between singing twin melodic guitar riffs, shredding solos and attacking driving drum beats, easing back and forth through a varied feel of Mesopotamian, brutal death, melodic death, folk metal and technical death. Layered on top symphonic, Mesopotamian and folk samples. I felt these men had come to sing us the long lost tails of their Arabic ancestors, if they were into death metal at the time. So easy for me to say, they made my night and I will be looking forward to seeing them again.
~Krystal Koffin
