Photo: Bryce Van Patten
Extreme Power Metal on the Road
It was a cold and rainy night in Portland, Oregon on a Thursday night with Judas Priest in town playing to several generations of metal fans, while at the Hawthorne Theatre a younger metal crowd packed the sold-out house for England’s superstars DragonForce. Finally able to resume their Extreme Power Metal Tour that was interrupted back in 2020 due to the pandemic, the band kicked off their tour just days before with supporting acts Seven Spires, Visions of Atlantis and Firewind (joining the tour later).
Photo: Bryce Van Patten
The Hawthorne Theatre is a small little club in the hip Hawthorne district, and offers bands a very intimate experience with their fans just a few feet from the small stage. Though bands can rarely utilize their full stage show, it does give fans a chance to see great acts like DragonForce up close and personal, and with Covid restrictions finally lifting it was great to experience the thrill of live music again.
Visions of Atlantis
Hailing from Austria, Visions of Atlantis have been building their fan-base since 2000, and now promoting their 8th full-length album Pirates they hit the stage with high energy that was instantly infectious. The stunning vocal duets of Clémentine Delauney and Michele Guaitoli thrilled the audience as they performed songs from the new album like “Master the Hurricane”, “Clocks”, “Melancholy Angel” and “Legion of the Seas”. The band was extremely tight with guitarist Christian Douscha and bassist Herbert Glos locked in to the solid drumwork of Thomas Caser, delivering a powerful Heavy Metal punch in the face to the standing room only crowd.
Photo: Bryce Van Patten
DragonForce
When DragonForce hit the stage, the avid fans were pumped up and ready for the shredding onslaught that is Hermann Li and Sam Totman on the guitars. Though the band was one tour bus and half of their stage gear short due to a breakdown just outside Sacramento, the crowd neither noticed nor cared as they performed the opening track “Highway to Oblivion” with extreme vigor and smiles all around. Though drummer Gee Anzalone was forced to play on a kit provided by the opening act, he seemed nonplussed and full of energy while hammering out the lightning speed double bass drum riffs that are the bands trademark.
Playing their homage to the game Skyrim, the band performed the anthem “Last Dragon Born” to screaming fans that ate it up. With fun little breaks like the Sega adverts and singer Marc Hudson doing a very cool guitar solo, the show had plenty of variety to keep you guessing as to what was coming next. The band was always smiling and sharing their enthusiasm with the crowd, making it a more than memorable experience for all. If you get a chance to see this tour, don’t miss it.
Photo: Bryce Van Patten
DragonForce Setlist
Highway to Oblivion
Fury of the Storm
The Last Dragonborn
Ashes of the Dawn
Sega Commercials
Heart Demolition
Dracula’s Castle / Fight On! – (Marc on guitar)
Banjo Solo / Guitar Solo – (With Visions of Atlantis and Seven Spires)
Black Fire
Cry Thunder
Remembrance Day
Valley of the Damned
Encore:
My Heart Will Go On – (Céline Dion cover)
Through the Fire and Flames
Visions of Atlantis Setlist
Master the Hurricane
A Life of Our Own
Return to Lemuria
Clocks
A Journey to Remember
The Deep & the Dark
Melancholy Angel
Heroes of the Dawn
Legion of the Seas
Photo: Bryce Van Patten
DragonForce – Lineup
Marc Hudson – lead vocals
Herman Li – guitar, backing vocals
Sam Totman – guitar, backing vocals
Alicia Vigil – bass, backing vocals
Gee Anzalone – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Photo: Bryce Van Patten
Visions of Atlantis – Lineup
Michele Guaitoli – male vocals
Clémentine Delauney – female vocals
Christian Douscha – guitars
Herbert Glos – bass
Thomas Caser – drums
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