Arch Enemy - Friday 22nd July

Expectations were big for the Swedish Melodic Death Metal band led by Mrs. Attitude, German singer Angela Gossow.

On tour to promote their most recent album Khaos Legions, released in May of this year, they were the second headliner of the first day of Tuska
Open Air, playing after Forbidden.

For a Friday afternoon I would say it was a success, there was already a big crowd in front of the Radio Rock Stage, an audience of real fans who knew the songs by heart, and participated on the concert actively singing, clapping hands and punching the air with the traditional “hey, hey, hey, hey…” during most of the atmospheric and melodic moments.

Those who have watched an Arch Enemy´s performance know how it goes, Angela is full of energy and has a great ability of interacting to the audience, she has a real sexy attitude not trying to be sexy, being just natural.

The band got on stage punctually at 15:45, the set was opened by the intro Khaos Overture, and the song Yesterday is Dead and Gone, both from Khaos Legions. Then we had Revolution Begins and Ravenous. During the three first songs the vocal mic sound was terrible, quite lower than the other instruments; it was hard to hear Anglela´s guttural.

Fourth song, My Apocalypse, and Bloodstained Cross, bringing Angela´s first speech of the concert: “This song is dedicated to the Morbid Angel who saved me from God…we should all have free minds and no religion”.

Being born to orthodox Christian parents, Angela lifts the flag of being Anarchist and Atheist, and this song, actually, gave us one of the best moments in the whole concert. The sound got better too and we could finally hear her voice better.

Dead Eyes See no Future, I am a legend/Out for Blood, Under Black Flags we March and No Gods no Masters, bringing the announcement that the end was near: “I would like to dedicate this last song to all of you, then you can get the fuck out of here and grab a beer, production should give you guys free beers ´cause this is what this weather asks for.” This is a great song, deep lyrics and very good melody, one of the best in Khaos Legions for me.

Yes, it was really hot and I think this is already a Tuska tradition, temperature around 30 degrees open air under a boiling sun. No Gods no Masters closed the set list, letting us apprehensive to the encore.

Three songs to make us happy: We will Rise, Nemesis and Fields of Desolation.

Arch Enemy played a great concert, we were all really satisfied and this was definitely one of the best gigs in the whole Tuska 2011, the only problem was the mic sound, too low at the beginning and never loud enough during the whole performance. At the end Angela thanked the crowd, said a lot of stuff to the crow during that last-minute-riffs, but we could not hear nor understand a word of her talks…this would be my only criticism.

Arch Enemy Setlist

Khaos Overture
Yesterday is Dead and Gone
Revolution Begins
Ravenous
My Apocalypse
Bloodstained Cross
Dead Eyes See No Future
I Am Legend / Out for Blood
Under Black Flags We March
No Gods, No Masters
We Will Rise
Nemesis
Fields of Desolation
(Outro)


Check them out :
http://www.archenemy.net

Review & photos: Maila-Kaarina Riippa

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