Iced Earth and Warbringer live at Button Factory in Dublin on January 13th, 2013

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© Dani Kammler

Photos by Dani Kammler

http://www.neuweltmusic.com/

Live Gig Review by Mark Dean (Journalist/Writer/Contributor) Myglobalmind Webzine

Last year I had the honour of seeing my Iced Earth debut at home in Belfast. Well new year, new venue and even a new country. No where exotic and hot, but still a few hours travel over the border to Dublin.

Second time at the Button Factory as I had seen Queensryche alive and very much still kicking there last year. I always try to check out all support bands when I go to gigs, unfortunately not many are like-minded. Rock fans it seems on both sides of the border prefer to remain supping beer in local bars, until the major bands take to the stage. In the current economic market with ticket prices expensive I would have thought that people would have liked and preferred to get full value for money.

First up was Aussie old school rockers Elm Street. Not new to Dublin and were particularly popular with the younger element of the audience. However for the older and more discerning audience members, myself included who lived and attended shows in the eighties they presented nothing new. From their retro t,shirts and retro sound I’m afraid the show and music was generic and unfortunately cliched. In fairness the band did put in a good work rate, and possessed a strong stage presence. Attempts to interact with the audience were met with general indifference apart from a few. As I say perhaps this was more due to a small audience and perhaps not entirely the fault of Elm Street themselves. On another positive note though, they appeared to have sold a fair amount of merchandise judging from looking around the venue at the end of the show.

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Next up were a band that had quite an extensive musical history. California’s Warbringer have been around from 2007. The tour with Iced Earth was actually in promotion of their fourth release IV Empires Collapse. The band were a new one to me, and this would be my first time seeing them. What a powerhouse performance which quite literally blew me and the rest of the venue away. Incredible finely honed pure brutality. Several people around me had indicated that they had traveled down especially like myself from Northern Ireland, but their purpose was purely for Warbringer. Primarily focusing on their latest album, their set also took in all their previous releases. Particular sounding appealing to my ears were the earlier tracks. Those played from their latest album illustrated a broadening of the bands sound and style and a diversity not present from their earlier stereotypical thrash brutal style. Front man John Kevill had a strong and charismatic stage persona. Following their set he presented an approachable manner happily chatting to fans, signing merch and donating beers to his adoring public.

Warbringer

Well running just a few minutes late, Iced Earth hit the stage powerfully, it was instantly clear that the venue was packed to near capacity for the headliners. Following their Intro it was eyes down and full steam ahead with “Plagues of Babylon”the title track of their new album. Oldie “Democide” was up next, which the adoring audience lapped up, joining in on the songs choruses. A slow track introduced by Stu as being inspired by Jon Schaffer’s grandfather from the new album “If I Could See You”generated an emotive sing along. What a great track which transferred very well to the live setting.

One main difference since I last saw Iced Earth the year before was the more central role played by Luke Appleton. Not content with some exquisite bass enhancement to the songs, he also more than capably handled the majority of the backing vocals. This freed up Jon Schaffer to focus primarily on his guitar, which he seemed to relish and flourish in. Frontman Stu Block continues in the fine tradition of Iced Earth frontmen, with a powerful vocal range which brought to mind prime era Tate Queensryche. Stradling a carefully crafted set of new tunes and old favourites he had the audience exactly where he wanted them. Quiet and unassuming in terms of stage presence Troy Steele proved a musical virtuoso delivering a master class of his instrument. Audience reaction to Iced Earth bordered on ecstatic, and they certainly seemed to have enjoyed the performance of the band. Oldies like “Red Baron,Blue Max blended well with the newer material. Set flew by, until the triple encore of “Dystopia,Watching over me, and the bands namesake Iced Earth and it was job done. While I had enjoyed my first visual of Iced Earth last year in Belfast, live now the Iced Earth machine has moved into another dimension in terms of delivery and quality. I along with the packed audience at The Button Factory eagerly anticipate their return.