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Usually Wednesday isn't the best day for a concert and it's worth if there is a soccer game. Tonight it was Germany vs Netherlands at the European Championship, the Euro 2012. At the bar they showed the game on TV while the support bands were on stage and so only a handful of people were watching the Swedish youngsters Degradead.
The Swedish melodic deathers started in 2006 and now 3 albums later they are opening for US thrashers Sacred Reich. Their last album World Destroyer was released in 2011 as well as a DVD Live At Wacken And Beyond. Due to their limited stage time they did a kind of best-of set which they kicked off with Take Control. The guys did their best to cheer up the small crowd. Singer Mikael Sehlin managed the switch between growls and clean vocals live as good as on CD. After Wake The Storm Mikael Sehlin addressed the people: "We are Degradead from Stockholm / Sweden! It's an honor to be on tour with Sacred Reich and to play here tonight!" The Degradead sound shows similarities to their fellow countrymen In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, if you need a hint what they sound like. After Achieve The Sky Mikael Sehlin spoke again "Thanks for being here. it's football night... Germany vs. ..." and the fans helped him out by shouting "Netherlands!" And they headed into No One Prevail. In front of the stage 2 guys really enjoyed Degradead and when the guys finished their set with Human Nature a few more people joined in and sang along.
After a short change over it was time for Belgium thrashers After All, a band I saw several times in the last decade. Unfortunately the soccer game was still in full swing, but a few more people came in to check them out. The guys toured a lot and have been supporting bands like Overkill, Anthrax, Candlemass, Agent Steel, Vicious Rumors - to name just a few - and just about a week ago they opened up for Saxon and Judas Priest in Antwerp, but still they are nobodies to many. The quintet combines thrash metal and US metal, especially since singer Sammy Peleman joined they have this US metal touch as he hits some high notes. They choose My Own Sacrifice to start their set and headed straight into Demolition Course. All songs they played are on their latest release Dawn Of The Enforcer, but some are re-recorded versions of tracks off Cult Of Sin - like My Own Sacrifice and Betrayed By The Gods. "Are you ready for some thrash metal?" Sammy asked the audience and quite a few showed their support. Still quite a lot metal fans preferred to watch the soccer game - what a shame. Guitarists Dries van Damme and Christophe Depree and his mates delivered a good show. Hopefully next time more people will see them on stage!
The American outfit Sacred Reich is no longer recording albums - their last studio album was Heal in 1996! -, but they enjoy to play live and when they entered the stage the place was quite filled. Where have all these guys been while the others were on stage? Phil Rind and his mates kicked off with Independent, the title track of their 1993 album. The foursome enjoyed playing the old tunes and the fans loved the way singer and bass player Phil Rind talked with them. He didn't just announced songs, he had a conversation with the fans. He talked about the Beatles - and told us that even if he wasn't born when they were big, he has all their albums - and about Metallica, he thanked everybody to come out and see them while the German soccer team played. Songs like One Nation and Crimes Against Humanity still sound fresh. A special treat was the cover of War Pigs, even if Mr. Rind forgot the first words and the fans had to help him getting into it. After Death Squad they finished the show with The American Way. A Sacred Reich show without Surfing Nicaragua?, you might ask. No, they returned for this one and afterwards spent time with their fans talking and signing stuff. These guys are really down-to-Earth! And it's always a pleasure to see them live!