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Iced Earth + Fury UK - 12/1/2011 - Nosturi - Helsinki

It’s been about 10 years, according to Jon Schaffer himself, since the last time that Iced Earth paid a visit to their Finnish fans. The addition of the singer Stu Block to the ranks of the band, replacing Barlow after his second coming, is another reason to speculate about this show. I must say I wasn’t fully convinced by the studio performance on the new “Dystopia”, it is then with some reserves that I approach tonight’s concert.
But first a little introduction, as there should have been three bands at this event, the American White Wizzard couldn’t make it. The economical crysis hitting Europe hasn’t done any good to the outcome of this self-financed supporting tour, and they had to pull off from the remaining shows due to the lack of founds, which is a shame.
With two bands left on the road, Fury UK is now the only warm-up act. This band results in a mixture of various influences within the heavy metal tradition, and it’s evident the impact that the English scene had on this trio. Unfortunately the show, even with the virtuosism and the energy pulled out by the Appleton brothers, isn’t getting really to the audience, which has little to no involvement.
Too bad, because this affects the overall performance, that fails to fully entertain the crowd here in Nosturi. The set itself is quite long, but I personally would have enjoyed more fast and aggressive songs rather than long guitar solos and the likes in this case. I would give nonetheless to the guys a second chance, I mean, they do seem to have what it takes at least technically-speaking.

As the curtains close in front of the stage, it’s time to prepare the set for Iced Earth (which happens surprisingly fast as I happen to overhear from the crew). “Dystopia” is the obvious opening of the show, and soon one thing is clear: it’s not by chance that this guy from Into Eternity has been chosen by Jon Schaffer to be the new singer of the band. The boy knows it’s job! And it is much better in my opinion that on record.
This comes more clear with the song following the titletrack of their 10th studio album, “Burning Times”, coming from that masterpiece that is “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. While the soul of the band is certaintly Schaffer with his killer riffing, the new entry has charisma, and shows it by how he manages to grab the fans attention as the show goes on.
The setlist focuses of course on the new album and on SWTWC, and even if I could never have the chance to see the band with their original singer, I would say that the band’s performance is at least comparable to the gig I saw back in 2007 with “Ripper” Owens, who has, nonetheless, a different style.
As I can really make a comparison between the two, let’s say that both have their strong points within the Iced Earth context, with the indiscussed talent of Owens, and that Barlow-like feeling that Stu Block gives back to the songs, still adding his own interpretation. While songs such as the great “When The Night Falls” and “Dark City” pass by, the gig reaches one of its highest points so far with “Declaration Day”, while the first part of the show ends with “Watching Over Me”. Some people start leaving, and I would have been fooled too if it wasn’t for the hint on the two encores, with “Dante’s Inferno”, “Iced Earth” and of course “My Own Saviour”, all well interpreted by the new vocalist. All-in-all surely an above-average show tonight, at least better than what I was expecting in the first place. Way to go, Iced Earth! And congrats to the new career of the Canadian Stu Block, which seems to have had quite a promising start!


Setlist Iced Earth:
01) Dystopia
02) Burning Times
03) Angels Holocaust
04) Slave To The Dark
05) V
06) Stand Alone
07) When The Night Falls
08) Damien
09) Dark City
10) The Hunter
11) Anthem
12) Declaration Day
13) Days Of Rage
14) Watching Over Me
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15) Dante’s Inferno
16) Iced Earth
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17) My Own Saviour


Photos:
Iced Earth


Fury UK


Report a cura di Marco Manzi