Photo report from the concert (photos by McAllen)
A remarkable band, this SUIDAKRA — folk melodic death is how their genre is most often described; though you can encounter this same label applied to, say, ENSIFERUM — but the difference is considerable: the latter play in the Finnish tradition established by CHILDREN OF BODOM, whereas SUIDAKRA, having begun as more of a folk-melodic-black band, has by now transformed into a quartet playing highly technical melodic death metal with genuinely remarkable folk elements. What to compare them to — I will only say that a number of the band's tracks strongly remind me of the genre's legislators, the Swedish IN FLAMES.
The band clearly belongs to the second tier — they are not widely known, which however does not prevent them from working at a staggeringly intensive pace. The debut album came in 1997; 1998 and 1999 brought two more albums; 2000 was albumless, but after that three consecutive years yielded three more albums. 2005 brought yet another. In total, seven albums in nine years — not many bands can claim the same. And incidentally, a new album was due in 2006, one track from which we heard at the concert.
As already noted, the band's sound has transformed — while on the debut, vocalist, guitarist, and band leader Arkadius's project was little more than aggressive symphonic black metal crossed with folk, from that point onward the music becomes increasingly expressive, slowing down, with technique taking on a primary role. Not long ago the clean-voiced vocalist (who also serves as lead guitarist), Marcel, returned to the band — the same Marcel with whom the band had originally begun their journey. Though not only clean-voiced: as the concert itself revealed, he is also capable of growling (during the performance of "Havoc" from the debut album, it was he who took on that role).
I see no need to dwell at length on the support acts. First, they were FRAGILE ART and THE NEVERLAND — bands who perform very frequently, the latter of whom can regularly be seen at the Relax warming up for foreign acts. The former play melodic death in the Swedish manner with a distinctive, specific vocal style; the latter in the Finnish tradition, so popular and fashionable today.
The one act that genuinely impressed was the third band: RASTA from Belarus — brilliant angry metal, interspersed with clean vocal passages and lyrical instrumental sections. Despite the limited audience, the band made an excellent impression on the crowd that was preparing to see the evening's main attractions, who shortly appeared on stage.
Bands of this level typically play 60 to 75 or 80 minutes in clubs of the Relax variety. That a two-hour set at the Relax was possible, no one believed — so when that information appeared on the band's official website forum a few days before the concert, it was not taken seriously. In vain. The band genuinely played a set that fell just short of two hours.
From the latest album, incidentally, only three songs were performed. The band's 2002 and 1999 albums also received little special attention — two songs each. The true emphasis was on the band's 4th and 6th albums — five songs from each. The band also did not forget to play a track from the upcoming new release. And a further surprise came in the form of the extremely aggressive, black metal-style "Havoc" from the band's very first release. In terms of genre, thus, everything the band had ever created was covered. Not omitted was one ballad in pure clean vocals.
The sound in the club was very, very good, and the atmosphere overall was excellent. The band played with enormous enjoyment — this was visible — and the response from the sadly limited audience was nonetheless quite high.
In terms of technique, there is nothing to find fault with — throughout the full two hours of the set the musicians delivered their material brilliantly. Arkadius has excellent command of high growling; the clean vocals, to tell the truth, were not the finest thing we heard that day. Perhaps this was related to the microphone setup; on the other hand, the ballad performed in acoustic sound allowed him to be heard brilliantly. Bassist Markus and drummer Lars were equally in step with the frontmen, giving their maximum. All of this made an extraordinarily positive impression — regardless of one's feelings toward the stylistic direction of this music, watching these musicians was simply interesting.
The one regrettable fact: people simply did not expect a set of that length, and a considerable number of the already limited audience that day left before the concert ended — and they did so very, very much in vain. Because a short time after the concert the band came out into the corridors of the Relax — despite such a long concert programme — and actively posed for photos with everyone who wanted one, signing autographs and chatting. And a few days later on the band's website there appeared very touching words about the concerts in russia, where the band members expressed great joy and said they had received an abundance of positive emotions in st. petersburg and moscow (despite the genuinely small attendance). In short — an excellent, positive, and simply brilliant concert in every respect.
Report by Alan
Photo report from the concert (photos by McAllen)
Special thanks for the accreditation provided.
Setlist: • Pendragon's Fall • Gates Of Nevermore • Crown The Lost • Reap The Storm • The Well Of Might • Darkane Times • The One Piece Puzzle • Dead Man's Reel • Revenant • new Caledonia track • Wartunes • Rise Of Taliesin • When Eternity Echoes • Havoc • Dragonbleed • The Alliance • A Vision's Demise
— encore — • Trais Of Gore • Morrigan