Edguy

w/ Cynic and Black Majesty

Billboard The Venue, Melbourne – 3rd Jan 2010

Click here to see photos from the night.

Despite the amount of decent bands on the Screamfest line-up, it’s just not how I wanted to spend my New Years Eve. So instead, I made a little holiday out of the sideshows; spending three days staying at the pub across the road from Billboard The Venue. After a few pints of the gorgeous Fat Yak, I headed across the road to catch the first show.

I don’t listen to anywhere near as much power metal as I once did, but Melbourne’s Black Majesty are one that I still do. Thankfully, it seems most of the events crowd had come in early too. The place was already half full, and the response was fantastic. Powering through the usual live tracks including “Silent Company” and “Fall of the Reich”. But, as with every set including this track, “Guardian” proved to be the highlight once again. Eyefear vocalist Danny Cecati is absolutely astonishing, and the two vocalists trading lines is spectacular. It’s a set that was hard to fault, and thankfully the sound was pretty good from the get-go as well.

The night really was an odd mixture of bands, and Cynic were the ones I was most excited to see. The mix was perfect, and the band were as tight as can be, but as a whole the band was a bit lacking in power. The tracks essentially sounded the same as their recorded equivalents with no real improvement, and never have I seen such a boring frontman. With someone like that attempting to interact with the crowd, bands are better off just playing their music straight through. I did have a good laugh when he praised Melbourne’s weather though. I’m sure an extra week here would change his mind. Ultimately, I think it’s the type of band where your enjoyment comes down to how much you actually like their music. I fucking adore ‘Traced in Air’, so I enjoyed their set. They’re an impressive band to watch nonetheless, with “Textures” and “Integral Birth” being definite favourites.

As soon as Edguy burst on to stage, my eyes were drawn to one thing. I want Tobias’ jacket. But more importantly, their music: it really isn’t my type of thing. The whole ‘happy rock’ thing that these guys have going isn’t the type of power metal I like. But regardless, they are fucking fun live. It might not beone of those shows that’s going to stand out in my memory, but at the time I had a blast. It was sing-along galore with an absolutely massive response from the audience. Tobias was chock full of energy, constantly pumping up the crowd, and the whole band had smiles from ear to ear which is always a positive. The whole “let’s see if you guys are better than Sydney” is something that I usually cringe at, but when a band is this fun and cheesy to begin with, you can’t help by join in. It’s not my type of music and I’m certainly not about to head out and buy an album, but any fans that missed the show definitely have to get off their lazy arses when the band return on their next tour, which Tobias’ promised they would.

Photography by Scott Boelson

Black Majesty setlist
Tomorrowland
Dragon Reborn
Silent Company
Forever Damned
Guardian
Fall of the Reich

Cynic setlist
Nunc Fluens
The Space For This
Evolutionary Sleeper
Celestial Voyage
Veil of Maya
Adam’s Murmur
King of Those Who Know
Textures
Nunc Stans
Integral Birth

Edguy setlist
Dead Or Rock
Speedhoven
Tears of a Mandrake
Lavatory Lovemachine
Vain Glory Opera
The Piper Never Dies
Babylon
Save Me
Superheroes
—–
Mysteria
King of Fools