Best Concerts in 2011

Since I don't think I'll get to see anymore concerts this year (not really interested in anything else but Hammerfall, and I really can't go see them), I think it's safe to write this now.

10. Epica (29th of march, The Silver Church Club)

As I said before, Epica aren't on my "beloved bands" list, but I do respect them as musicians and it was a nice concert to see. Funnily enough, it was not Simone who really caught my eye, but the guys. They work very well together, as a band, and the Imperial March moment was pretty goddamn awesome in itself.

9. Sonata Arctica (13th of august, Artmania Festival day 1, Sibiu)

It was one of the bands I was really excited about in Artmania and one of the beloved bands of my adolescence. It was a very nice concert and Toni Kakko is one of the best and cutest vocalists Finland's ever offered us. It's on the 9 th place only because I could not really enjoy the concert because of an idiot who stalked me. And that chaffed my willy.

8. Monarchy (30th of september, The Silver Church Club)

As I stated before, Monarchy is one band I really trust in, since they are new and fresh in our music. And the concert in Silver Church did not disappoint. They are fun to listen to and full of energy. And I really hope they'll have a lot of success with what they're doing. Plus any band that has the Imperial March as its  concert intro is worth at least a listening ;)

7. Tim "Ripper" Owens (20th of february, Kulturhaus Club)

This was a concert I almost didn't get to, since I wasn't in a very prosperous situation at the time, but a friend gave me a ticket as a gift for the 1st of march and so I went and saw him in the end. And it's a good thing I did, since Owens is indeed one hell of a vocalist. I am somehow sorry Judas Priest kicked him out, although I do prefer Halford over him. His band isn't really perfect, but he is, and he can run through anything from Dio to Metallica with a lots of ease. I am glad I got to see him. 

6. Sabaton (2nd of july, Rock the City, day 2)

Even though I've seen Sabaton 2 times before, in Sweden, I figured what the hell and got a 3-days pass for the festival. And boy didn't I regret it for one moment. The Swedes are just as I remembered them: funny, entertaining, and very dedicate to their music. I screamed, jumped and headbanged like hell. I hope they come back soon, since they're an entertaining band that can always put a smile on my face.

5. Dark Tranquillity (19th of may, Silver Church Club)

I'd seen these Swedes before, too (2010, Artmania) and boy did I have an awesome time. So on the 19th of may, with my new good friend Kay, I went to see them again. And I did not regret one bit. Despite singing in front of a much smaller crowd than at Sibiu,  both the band and the concert-goers seemed to have the time of their lives and in the end it turned out to be an event which one shouldn't have missed. Except for some wacko who kept disturbing me and my friend (and whom the guards stopped halfway through), it was an awesome night. Also, no opening band, which more often than not is a good thing.

4. Helloween (12th of august, Artmania Festival day 1, Sibiu)

Although I regretted when Nevermore canceled their concert in Sibiu, I cannot say I was sorry that it was Helloween who took their place, since the Germans are a band that still works damn fine and Andi Deris is one hell of a vocalist, charming and talented and who easily gains the public over. It was one of my "to see" bands and my expectations were not failed. I cannot say how awesome it was. But the next day was a difficult day for my neck. 

3. Amon Amarth (19th of november, Arenele Romane)

11 days after the concert and somehow I still feel the energy and the raw power in my blood. Both me and the friend I went there with had a really good time. It was indeed something not to miss and I hope it won't take them 20 years to return. I for one will be waiting, axe in hand. 

2. Blind Guardian (1st of may, Arenele Romane)

I remember how pissed of I was when my dad didn't allow me to go and see them the first time when they came to Romania and this time around I wasn't gonna miss them. It was indeed an event an, besides offering me a great time, it was also the day when I met one of my dearest friends, Kay, and the  awesome Iulia. The Germans are indeed awesome and I must admit i shed a tear during The Bard's Song (in the forest).

1. Judas Priest (3rd of july, Rock the City, day 3).

One life, I'm gonna live it up.And so I did. Judas Priest was a band I always liked and one of the first I listened to (when my dad played Painkiller for me, as a child) and since I could not see them in 2008 (university admission exam *grumble*), I wasn't gonna miss this occasion. Together with some of my dearest friends, I went to see the Metal Gods. And gods they were indeed. This is a concert I will tell my children of with great pride.

Alte 10 obsesii muzicale

Pentru ca mi-am dat seama ca prima lista a lasat pe afara multe chestii dragi mie, hai sa le punem aici, for good measure.

 Manowar- Each Dawn I Die

De vreo 8-9 ani sau cam asa, Manowar e una din trupele ce se regaseste constant in playlistul meu. Povestea o gasiti pe undeva pe aici. Dintre melodiile lor, nu cred sa fie multe care sa-mi displaca complet, iar a alege doar una pe care, la un moment dat, am ascultat-o pe repeat a fost destul de greu. Am ales totusi Each Dawn I Die pentru atmosfera putin Conan-ish pe care o are. Plus, niste versuri care-mi sunt tare aproape de suflet: I taste the serpent's poison on the lips of the one I love.

Dark Tranquillity- Lethe

Spre rusinea mea, pe DT i-am descoperit FOARTE tarziu, si anume la Artmania 2010, dar stiu ca atunci m-am distrat pe cinste si, aproape un an mai tarziu, anul asta in mai, i-am revazut la Silver Church, unde am urlat si am dat din cap pana la epuizare. Dintre toate piesele suedezilor, Lethe e cea mai importanta pentru mine. I mean, cati dintre noi nu si-au dorit, macar odata, sa uite, sa uite chestia aia care doare, care arde, care iti sapa adanc in suflet? In currents of cobalt you storm through my heart, to sever, to puncture memories that burn. Daca am trai intr-o lume mai normala mi-as numi fetita, daca o sa am una, Lethe.


Type O Negative - Black No. 1

clipul sa-l tot fi vazut cand aveam 11 sau 12 ani si tin minte ca ceva la Peter Steele m-a ingrozit atunci. De fapt, inca ma ingrozeste. Era un barbat masiv, genul care ar putea sa te rupa in doua si nici nu arata ca si cum nu i-ar placea. Are aceeasi privire psihopata ca si Aaron Stainthorpe. ToN imi dau aproape aceeasi stare ca si My Dying Bride. E toamna si Type o Negative pica tocmai bine..

Dream Theater- Wither

Black Clouds and Silver Linings a fost pentru mine albumul anului 2009, fara doar si poate. Cand, pe undeva prin august 2009, treceam printr-o pasa foarte, foarte proasta, melodia asta a stat aproape constant pe repeat. Stiu ca suna stupid si emo sa zici ca te recunosti in niste versuri, dar chiar asa mi s-a intamplat. So I wither, and render myself helpless.. si mai neajutorata ca atunci nu m-am simtit niciodata.


Nox Arcana- Labyrinth of Dreams

melodie mai obsedanta ca asta n-am mai gasit de mult, mult timp. E ca si cum ai deschide o cutiuta muzicala din care, pe langa melodia in sine, iese un basm intreg, intunecat si gotic, in care sfarsiturile fericite sunt doar un mit iar printii si lupii cei rai sunt una si aceeasi persoana.

Sonata Arctica- Deathaura

Sincera sa fiu, aici am ezitat mult intre asta si Shamandalie, pe care-am ascultat-o obsedant prin clasa a 12-a, dar pentru ca am fost destul de emo mai devreme cu DT, am ales aici o melodie care-mi place pentru povestea din versuri, si nu pt ca ma regaseam in ele. Cumva, ceea ce se intampla in Deathaura imi aduce aminte de seria The Spook a lui Joseph Delaney (daca n-ati citit-o, puneti mana, e foarte draguta)

Cargo- Ziua Vrajitoarelor

Se facea ca era Halloween, anul trecut, iar eu eram in Suedia si alaturi de cativa amici, toti nordici, ne jucam de-a "bu-hu-hu pe ma-ta ca m-ai speriat". Si cum se cam facuse 4 dimineata si noi cam eram in padure si nu prea stiam ce sa ascultam, mi-a venit mie ideea asta. Reactia a fost ca melodia asta s-a ascultat pe repeat pana dimineata, cand s-a spart cheful, si unul din suedezi, fermecat, mi-a zis "habar n-am ce zic versurile, dar atmosfera e perfecta". Si, cum zicea cineva pe youtube, si Judas ar fi gelosi pe un intro ca asta. 

Blind Guardian- Sacred Worlds

Pentru cine a jucat Sacred 2, Blind Guardian sunt mai mult decat o trupa. Sunt cei care iti dau taskuri, ba chiar , intr-o misiune, te trezesti cu Hansi pe post de ajutor. Si cum naiba sa nu-ti vina sa termini taskurile vietii cat mai repede cand ca reward primesti asta?

Black Sabbath (Dio)- Heaven and Hell

Pe undeva prin mai 2010, subsemnata asculta in disperare cam tot ce insemna muzica facuta de Ronnie James Dio, ca e Dio, Rainbow sau Sabbath. De pe 16 mai insa, s-au schimbat niste chestiute. Dio s-a dus, si cumva, cu asta, eu n-am mai putut sa-l ascult o perioada mare de timp. Mai putin piesa asta, pe care tin minte ca pana pe undeva prin iulie (acelasi an) o ascultam zilnic.

Amon Amarth- Valkyries Ride

Faptul ca mitologia nordica, cu eroii, zeii si valchiriile ei, ma fascineaza complet nu e niciun secret. De aia am ales facultatea pe care am ales-o, si nu intamplator am username-ul pe care-l am. Mitul valchiriilor e unul din preferatele mele din intregul panteon nordic (mai ales partea cu Brunhilda si Sigurd), iar Amon Amarth canta atat de misto despre toate astea. Abia astept sa-i vad pe 19 noiembrie, goddamn motherfuckers. Waited too goddamn long.

The hitchhiking rocker's guide to the rock concerts' galaxy (Part 2)

As I was saying earlier on, Sonata Arctica have been confirmed for Artmania (13th of august one year to the day to the Kamelot gig), while Lake of Tears are having a concert of their own on the 25th of june (exactly one year after the Manowar concert in 2010).

But yeah, more things were to come my way, God save my wallet.
Whitesnake. Judas Priest. 3rd of July, Romexpo. Holy f**king macaroni, Judas AND Whitesnake. Goddamn. I'm extatic.

Also, a band I've been really wanting to see and missed twice last year are the wonderful Haggard. Who, miraculously enough are coming back to Romania, the 8th of may (I hope I still have a voice, mind you, it's only one week after the Blind Guardian concert).

I'm also considering the Magica (13th of march) and Negura Bunget (3rd of march) concerts. I'll see if I can still afford them.

Until next time (because I have a feeling there's more to come), hail and kill!

The hitchhiking rocker's guide to the rock concerts' galaxy

Kind of like last year, 2011 promises to be a pretty full year, in terms of concerts. Rock/ metal concerts, because that is what I am most interested in. After seeing, last year, among others, Kamelot, Serj Tankian, Manowar and Sabaton (concerts I've had most fun at), I did not really expect to have any big surprises this year, but so far, I've had quite a few.

Impaled Nazarene will be here on the 1st of february, but since I'm not a fan of their music I won't probably go to the concert, despite some of my friends doing it. Their genre rarely appeals to my tastes and this is not one of those rare times, so I'll probably pass.

Theatre des Vampires are having a concert on the 19th of march and so far, I'm pretty tempted to go, although the band isn't really one of my favorites, but I kind of like the whole atmosphere, plus the company I'd have if joining. Also, I must admit, they're cheap enough not to really care if I won't have that much fun.

10 days later, there's Epica. I must say now, Epica was far from being one of my favourite bands for a long time, just like Kamelot (whom I've hated passionately until the Artmania concert last year and loved ever since). However, I have to admit that Simone Simons is both a talented and charismatic front-woman, and lately I've grown to like quite a few of their songs. I already got the ticket for Epica, anyways, so wish me luck.

Children of Bodom are here, the 20th of april (with Ensiferum) but I'm not sure if time will allow me to see them since that's about the same time as my exam session. Meh.

Blind Guardian, the 1st of May and this time no one's stopping me. Having seen the Germans before, I must tell I'm really looking forward for another gig. Hansi Kursch is one damn talented vocalist (on about the same level as Roy Khan, I'd say, minus the hotness, though), and for a couple of hours I'll be back in Middle Earth through their music. Once again, I'll scream my lungs off to Nightfall or discretely wipe a tear during The Bard's Song (In the Forest).

I've also bought the ticket for the Artmania festival this year, although only Nevermore and Lacrimas Profundere have been announced so far (and Sonata Arctica are rumored but shh, you don't know it from me). Nevermore would have been a good enough reason anyways, plus the whole Sibiu adventure I can't wait to repeat, together with my friends.

Bon Jovi's also coming to town, but I don't plan anything. First of all, for only a couple of songs I love from them (Blazing Glory, Living on a Prayer), they're gonna be insanely expensive. So no thanks, unless someone buys me tickets. Anybody? ;;).

Also, as a rumor, I've heard from about 4 sources, plus what they've said themselves, that Manowar are returning, which I'd really love, despite seeing them for two years in a row now and passionately hating their new album. I have to give it to them, they do put on a huge show.

That's all for now. Anyone want to join?