MANTICORA, SEVEN KINGDOMS – Essen (03-06-2014)
SEVEN KINGDOMS steal the show in Essen!
I might be watching some kind of casting show or school band contest, or so it seems when I get into Turock’s loud hall to see the opening band SAPHENOUS. The local supporters are fond of mixes: the 7 band members’ ages range from twenty to fifty, their lyrics are a mix between English and German and their music a combo of gothic rock and all kinds of metal. It’s their first gig with a new singer, who is clearly nervous, but manages to hit the right notes, well for the most part.
When the SEVEN KINGDOMS-guys and girl get on stage the audience consists of maybe fifty people. That’s such a shame, but those who weren’t there, definitely missed out. The Floridians are such a fireball on stage; front lady Sabrina Cruz has an amazing and powerful voice and a very strong presence. Their slogan “powermetalize your ass” gets a whole new meaning, for they really rock our socks off. I’m not really a fan of Power Metal, but my body can’t help but move to the music. They are an absolute highlight and a MUST for every fan of power and/or female fronted metal: my head spins, it feels like a truck has run me down – the freaking SEVEN KINGDOMS truck!
But the cool long-haired (not one of them has hair shorter than 30cm) musicians have to go and make place for the headliner of the tour, MANTICORA. The Danes impress with their height and with singer/manager/booker Lars Larsen’s clean strong vocals. Their music is dark and heavy and the performance is too much for this audience, which slowly gets going. At the end we’re about twenty people watching the show, and that includes all press and maybe even the barkeeper. But that won’t stop the MANTICORA-dudes, who give their all until the end. Well they made one specific person really happy: their probably biggest fan, with their logo tattooed on his shoulder stands front row, singing and screaming along.
Pictures thanks to Anno von Sachsen Photography.