Epica, one of my favorite Symphonic Metal bands, released an album, Ωmega, in February of 2021. It was originally to have been released in 2020, but the final stages of production were delayed due to COVID lockdowns. And then they couldn't tour for the same reason. So in June of 2021 had a live broadcast of a concert, called Ωmega Alive. My understanding is that it was a pay-per-view sort of thing. Not really a live concert, because there was no audience, but it was the only thing available.
The performance was recorded, of course, and will be released as a DVD/Blu-ray/whatever on December 3rd.
I think Simone Simons, the lead singer, has a wonderful voice. Mark Jansen was a guitarist for the band After Forever (where Floor Jansen - no relation - was lead singer) before he joined Epica. Ariën van Weesenbeek is the drummer, with Coen Janssen on keyboards, Rob van der Loo playing bass, and Isaac Delahaye as lead guitarist, and also doing some accoustic guitar work. Yes, they are out of The Netherlands, but they sing in English.
While I do like Epica, and this has an advantage over most live performances in that the sound is pretty good, and there aren't a lot of screaming fans. That is also what detracts from it as a "live performance." Life in the age of COVID.
This is "The Skeleton Key" by Epica, from their upcoming video release Ωmega Alive. (Fixed the full-screen issue.)
My favorite Epica song is "Cry For The Moon", there is a video version shot in a recording studio the I have heard many times.
ReplyDeleteOdd video I like "Big Ship, Little Ship" by Alestorm, it has some quick cuts of a frantic red headed woman playing a hurdy-gurdy.
My current band on repeat on the tube is Wagakki band, traditional Japanese music and instruments rocked up with lead and bass guitar and a rock drummer. The Japanese lute played like a rock lead guitar is fascinating.
The is a version of "Cry For the Moon" That I love, play it often.
ReplyDeleteOdd music I like is the video of Alestorm's "Big Ship, Little Ship" There are quick cuts of a red headed woman frantically playing a hurdy-gurdy that fascinate me.
Wagakki Band is the latest thing to get me hooked. Traditional Japanese instruments and singing with modern rock instruments and all rocked up. The woman playing the Japanese lute like a rocking lead guitar is something else.
I find some of Wagakki Band to be interesting, but it isn't something that I listen to.
DeleteMy only post on that band is from long ago.