Written and photographed by Rob Botten

(C) 2018 www.metalmasterkingdom.com


KAMELOT w/ DELAIN & BATTLE BEAST
@ Opera House
Toronto, ON, Canada
April 23, 2018

Presented by Inertia Entertainment

On one of the first warm early spring evenings on April 23rd 2018, with a long line going around the corner and down the block from the Opera House in Toronto, excited fans were all eager to enter the venue to experience three powerhouse sets of metal.  It would prove to be an incredible night of power metal with Battle Beast, Delain, and Kamelot on stage.

While I was still in line, I could hear the crowd from inside the venue erupt as Battle Beast entered on stage, followed by the deep rumble as the first song began.  Those of us still outside all became a that much more excited and eager to get in.  Although I was about three songs late getting into the venue, I was still able to witness an incredible first set.  This group out of Helsinki, Finland had the crowd singing and chanting along through their entire set.  Frontwoman Noora Louhimo showed off her powerful voice with songs such as "Straight To The Heart", "Black Ninja", "Bastard Son Of Odin" and "Beyond The Burning Skies".  Battle Beast started the night off with a bang and had the crowd more than ready for the rest of the night.​

​As the stage was being prepared for the second set with foggers and lights at the front of the stage, banners, and white mic stands that would be lit up during the show, it was clear this was going to be an incredible performance.  Second on stage was Delain out of Zwolle, Netherlands, put on an absolutely fantastic set mixed with Charlotte Wessels' stunning voice, and a light show that could blow most concert sets out of the water.  Delain played a total of ten songs including "Hands Of Gold", "The Hurricane", "Fire With Fire", and "We Are The Others".

Finally, Kamelot were up to begin the end of what has so far been an incredible night of power metal.  With the crowd cheering and chanting their name before the lights went dark,  the anticipation was high for the music to begin.  As soon as they entered on stage, an eruption of cheers filled the hall.  With the start of their first song "Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)", Kamelot seemed to only keep building their energy up until their last song.  Guitarist Thomas Youngblood and frontman Tommy Karevik both kept saying how awesome the fans in Toronto were with their energy.  “I can’t believe this is a Monday.” Karevik said.  Thomas Youngblood spoke to the crowd: “This doesn’t feel like a Monday, this feels more like a F—ing Saturday!”  Karevik even had a equipment box in the middle of the pit to get a little more up close and personal to the fans at the front.  His voice maintained its power and clarity throughout the entire night.

Near the end, he even held on to a note for what must have been over 15 seconds, and just kept going.  He then waved to the crowd the cheer with him as he continued to hold his voice.  Midway through the set, the band played "Here’s To The Fall", which they dedicated to the victims of the tragic event that took place that same day here in Toronto.  Fans used lighters and cell phone flashlights to light the concert hall during the song.  Kamelot even had Charlotte from Delain, come on stage for "Sacrimony (Angel Of Afterlife)", joined by Lauren Hart of Once Human.  Hart also joined Kamelot on stage for songs "Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)", "March Of Mephesto", and "Liar Liar".  I was completely blown away from the band’s entire performance.  From their light show, to their energy and showmanship, their fifteen-song set seemed to end as soon as it begun. 

Written by Alex Stojanovic
Photography by Rob Botten

(C) 2018 www.metalmasterkingdom.com

@ The Opera House
April 20, 2018
Toronto, ON, Canada​

Presented by Collective Concerts

Click here for our interview with Billy Sheehan

​On April 20th, the Opera House hosted a show that featured a huge amount of talent and impeccable musicianship with Sons Of Apollo, the new supergroup featuring Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Derek Sherinian, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Jeff Scott Soto.  Fans of all the members' past and current projects, who have become Sons Of Apollo fans, packed the Opera House to witness this unique combination of legendary musicians, who have earned every accolade they've received throughout their careers, thanks to their individual virtuosic skills.  The fans certainly got their money's worth.

​​Venezuelan instrumental performer Felix Martin and his trio took the stage first to warm up the crowd.  The trio is rounded out by Chilean bassist Javier Sepulvida and Spanish drummer Victor A. Carracedo.  During the band introduction, Felix jokingly said that Victor didn't count as a Latino because "he's from Spain", which drew a big laugh in the crowd.  Felix and his trio were super talented.  One of the new songs played was a mix of progressive metal and Venezuelan folk music.  My only criticism was that after three songs, it got a little hard to tell the other songs apart.  The finger-tapping technique is amazing, but it can also be pretty limiting, and I felt that Felix overuses tapping.  As a result, it was hard to differentiate the songs, but the new song they played stood out a bit more.  Don't get me wrong, they are incredibly talented musicians, but by the last song, it started getting a little tedious.

It was now time for Sons Of Apollo to hit the stage.  With only one album under their belts, their debut album Psychotic Symphony was played in its entirety, along with a few cover songs by Dream Theater, Van Halen, Henry Mancini and Queen.  The result was a fun-filled and entertaining almost-two-hour show.  There's a lot of musicians out there that are incredibly virtuosic, but they take themselves too seriously and come across as pretty snobby sometimes.  I won't name names though.  It's always refreshing to see a band where all the members are virtuosos in their own right, but they don't take themselves seriously (although serious about their crafts) like Sons Of Apollo, and that was proven by the fact that they were having a lot of fun on stage playing together, as well as having plenty of laughs and cracking jokes.

One of the elements that proved they are a fun band was that they played the Pink Panther theme by Henry Mancini.  During one of the instrumental segments, Mike, Billy and Bumblefoot played an extended version of the That Metal Show theme song, because for those that don't know, the three of them are friends with Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, and Bumblefoot composed the theme song.

​The band faced a couple of technical issues with the P.A. going out twice.  The first time was a little longer than expected, and it caused the band to stop playing until the issue was resolved, but they were able to continue playing during the second time it went out, because it didn't last as long as the first time.  The band handled the situation really well and had a good laugh about it with the crowd.  That just goes to show their level of professionalism.  If all that wasn't enough to make this a fun and entertaining show, it was also Mike's birthday and they brought out a birthday cake on stage.

Written and photographed by
Xavier Cattarinich (Ravenkin Photography)

@ Dickens Pub
Calgary, AB, Canada
April 4, 2018

(C) 2018 www.metalmasterkingdom.com

On April 4th, Chicago post-metal giants Russian Circles played a sold-out show at Dickens’ Pub in Calgary, Alberta, with guests King Woman. 

Comparisons between the sound of openers King Woman—a doom metal band hailing from San Francisco—and that of Chelsea Wolfe, who was in town just three days prior, are inevitable. 

​Still, this monarch exhibited plenty of distinctiveness in her sonic canvas to keep my attention.  Led by the enigmatic Kristina Esfandiari, the group dragged the audience down a rabbit hole of oppressive dirges conjured primarily from their debut album, Created In The Image Of Suffering (2017). 

​That well of shame and despair, inspired by Esfandiari’s childhood spent in a cult-like commune, drove the singer to her knees by the end of King Woman’s set. Wailing.  Suffocating.  Bent over.  Petrified.  Liberated?

Written and photographed by
​Xavier Cattarinich (Ravenkin Photography)

​
MINISTRY w/ CHELSEA WOLFE and THE GOD BOMBS
@ The Palace Theatre
Calgary, AB, Canada
April 1, 2018

(C) 2018 www.metalmasterkingdom.com

Written and photographed by Alex Stojanovic
Photo edit by Rob Botten

(C)2018  www.metalmasterkingdom.com


ICED EARTH w/ SANCTUARY & KILL RITUAL
@ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Toronto, ON, Canada
March 26, 2018


Presented by Live Nation

At the show, we also did interviews with Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth and Joseph Michael and Lenny Rutledge of Sanctuary.  Jon from Iced Earth also makes a special guest appearance in the Sanctuary interview.

​

​Click here for the Iced Earth interview

Click here for the Sanctuary interview