Amaranthe/I Prevail/Santa Cruz – The Regency, San Francisco, CA 6/15
By Jeffrey Easton
Amaranthe is one of the bands that are creating a massive scene of technically precise, electronically driven music that is heavier than thou but so deliciously accessible. But unlike some of their Euro counterparts they have chosen to come to America and give their fans a taste of what makes them so amazing and bring some incredibly deserving bands with them.
Santa Cruz, hailing from Finland, gives their public a taste of what made dirty hard rock work in the first place, searing solos and melodic yet forceful vocals. They do it so well and they have built a massive legion of fans here and the turnout told exactly that. They wasted no time in nailing into their new S/T album and it does smoke. Opening with Bonafide Heroes, they had the attendance by the throat and would not let go. Screaming vocals, dual guitars, the look, the feel, it was all back to the unabashed 80’s with no regrets. My Remedy was thrust out to rabid screams as well as Bye Bye Babylon and Wasted & Wounded. The new album is so good you want the fans to hear it so unleash it and make them listen. They did not forget Screaming For Adrenaline as they closed out their massive set with Aiming High and the crowd was spent.
On a different trajectory is I Prevail. I Prevail is another entry into the guttural level of heavy music and they are dominating the scene. Touring in support of the Fearless Records released Heart Vs Mind they have been on the road consistently setting an inferno wherever they go. This band was built for the Warped Tour and I forsee them headlining it one day. The band took the stage strains of Heart Vs Mind seeped out and the fans took to them like flys on Shit. Their music is so heavy yet you can latch into it and live Face Your Demons, Deceivers as well as The Enemy took a higher plane and the fans were taken away.. Their cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space really opened up a lot of people’s eyes to the band and live it freaks people out who do not expect this song to drop from this band. Don’t you love it when a band crosses the lines set for them? If you have yet to witness them live you must and you will be converted on the spot.
Amaranthe’s time had come and their entrance was anything but subtle. Once the lights hit the screams started and the band took full advantage of it to the opening beats of Digital World from the Massive Addictive album. Amaranthe takes a different approach to the power metal realm, making it darker and colder in the digital realm. The new album does those things and more, taking their fans on a sinister ride through their thoughts. That dim coldness emerged once the darkness gripped the Regency and the band emerged. Digital World from Massive Addictive and the proceedings were on. Digital World is their primer for the evening, what sets the grim tone for their show and the fans were in trance. Trinity from Massive Addictive continued the dark feelings as the fans were enveloped into their grid. Their breakout was The Nexus and they shelled the crowd with Electroheart, Invincible, Stardust and the break out hit, the title track the Nexus. The three lead singers, augmented by the lovely and talented Elize Ryd, knew their places and gave so much depth to the material that Olof Morck created. If you have never witnessed what they can do live then you are seriously missing out..
Official Amaranthe Site
Official I Prevail Site
Official Santa Cruze Site
By Jeffrey Easton
Amaranthe is one of the bands that are creating a massive scene of technically precise, electronically driven music that is heavier than thou but so deliciously accessible. But unlike some of their Euro counterparts they have chosen to come to America and give their fans a taste of what makes them so amazing and bring some incredibly deserving bands with them.
Santa Cruz, hailing from Finland, gives their public a taste of what made dirty hard rock work in the first place, searing solos and melodic yet forceful vocals. They do it so well and they have built a massive legion of fans here and the turnout told exactly that. They wasted no time in nailing into their new S/T album and it does smoke. Opening with Bonafide Heroes, they had the attendance by the throat and would not let go. Screaming vocals, dual guitars, the look, the feel, it was all back to the unabashed 80’s with no regrets. My Remedy was thrust out to rabid screams as well as Bye Bye Babylon and Wasted & Wounded. The new album is so good you want the fans to hear it so unleash it and make them listen. They did not forget Screaming For Adrenaline as they closed out their massive set with Aiming High and the crowd was spent.
On a different trajectory is I Prevail. I Prevail is another entry into the guttural level of heavy music and they are dominating the scene. Touring in support of the Fearless Records released Heart Vs Mind they have been on the road consistently setting an inferno wherever they go. This band was built for the Warped Tour and I forsee them headlining it one day. The band took the stage strains of Heart Vs Mind seeped out and the fans took to them like flys on Shit. Their music is so heavy yet you can latch into it and live Face Your Demons, Deceivers as well as The Enemy took a higher plane and the fans were taken away.. Their cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space really opened up a lot of people’s eyes to the band and live it freaks people out who do not expect this song to drop from this band. Don’t you love it when a band crosses the lines set for them? If you have yet to witness them live you must and you will be converted on the spot.
Amaranthe’s time had come and their entrance was anything but subtle. Once the lights hit the screams started and the band took full advantage of it to the opening beats of Digital World from the Massive Addictive album. Amaranthe takes a different approach to the power metal realm, making it darker and colder in the digital realm. The new album does those things and more, taking their fans on a sinister ride through their thoughts. That dim coldness emerged once the darkness gripped the Regency and the band emerged. Digital World from Massive Addictive and the proceedings were on. Digital World is their primer for the evening, what sets the grim tone for their show and the fans were in trance. Trinity from Massive Addictive continued the dark feelings as the fans were enveloped into their grid. Their breakout was The Nexus and they shelled the crowd with Electroheart, Invincible, Stardust and the break out hit, the title track the Nexus. The three lead singers, augmented by the lovely and talented Elize Ryd, knew their places and gave so much depth to the material that Olof Morck created. If you have never witnessed what they can do live then you are seriously missing out..
Official Amaranthe Site
Official I Prevail Site
Official Santa Cruze Site
