Words and Photos: Kyle Mueller
The Forge, situated in historic downtown Joliet, has established itself as a premier venue for metal performances. Sunday night’s lineup affirmed this reputation. Prior to attending, I was unfamiliar with any of the three acts scheduled to perform. Delain, Xandria, and Edge of Paradise all represent exemplary female-fronted powerhouses within the genre. Following the performance, my commute home was spent alternating between their catalogs, eager to experience more of their artistry.
Edge of Paradise commenced the evening’s performances. WOW! Currently touring in support of their latest release, Prophecy, their performance was nothing short of exceptional. Vocalist Margarita Monet demonstrates remarkable talent with her dynamic energy and commanding vocal prowess. Her performance was truly captivating. Guitarist Davis Bates, equipped with a luminescent neon guitar that rivaled the brilliance of Monet’s attire, delivered impressive solos throughout “Prophecy Unbound” and “The Other Side of Fear“. Jamie Moreno demonstrated considerable skill behind his percussion set while bassist Kenny Lockwood provided a solid foundation during “Hologram” and “Death Note“. Concluding their set with “Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)“, “Digital Paradise“, and “Falling Light“, I resolved to monitor future appearances of Edge of Paradise in the region.
Subsequently, arriving from Germany, Xandria took the stage. Active in the music scene since 1999 and having undergone various personnel changes, their current configuration continues to uphold their distinguished legacy. Rhythm guitarist and founding member Marco Heubaum remains an influential presence. Recent vocalist addition Ambre Vourvahis has integrated seamlessly while simultaneously revitalizing the ensemble. Lead guitarist Rob Klawonn, the embodiment of stage presence, maintained exceptional energy throughout the performance. His audience engagement and technical proficiency were particularly impressive to observe. Drummer Dimitrios Gatsios established a commanding presence behind his instrument. Despite the absence of bassist Tim Schwarz, Xandria delivered a compelling set featuring “You Will Never Be Our God“, “Reborn“, “Universal“, “200 Years“, “Two Worlds“, “Live the Tale“, and concluding with their signature composition “Nightfall“.
The evening culminated with the headline performance. Originating from the Netherlands, Delain emerged onto the atmospheric, fog-enhanced stage. Founder and keyboardist Martijn Westerholt was able to participate in this performance, much to my appreciation. Observing his musical execution represents a demonstration of artistic excellence, seamlessly integrating symphonic elements with metal characteristics. The group’s newest vocalist, Diana Leah, achieves notes of remarkable clarity and purity. Ludovico Cioffi provides bass accompaniment while complementing Leah with his distinctive harsh vocal contributions. Guitarist Ronald Landa executes each progression and solo with technical precision while occasionally contributing supplementary vocals. Positioned behind the drum kit, Sander Zoer demonstrates mechanical precision and unwavering consistency. Performing an extensive 18-composition set, the audience was treated to a comprehensive representation of Delain‘s musical evolution.
Setlist:
The Cold
Suckerpunch
The Reaping
Dance With the Devil
Burning Bridges
Creatures
The Quest and the Curse
Stardust
Get the Devil Out of Me
Your Body is a Battleground
Queen of Shadow
The Gathering
Don’t Let Go
Moth to a Flame
April Rain
Not Enough
We Are the Others
DELAIN w/ support from Xandria and Edge of Paradise
03/07/25: Phoenix, AZ @ The Nile
03/08/25: Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
03/09/25: Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
03/10/25: Portland, OR @ The Bossanova Ballroom
03/11/25: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
03/13/25: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
03/14/25: Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
03/16/25: Joliet, IL @ The Forge
03/17/25: Detroit, MI @ The Token Lounge
03/19/25: Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs
03/20/25: Toronto, ON @ Axis
03/21/25: Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theatre
03/22/25: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
03/23/25: New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
03/24/25: Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
03/25/25: Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans
03/26/25: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell)
03/28/25: Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
03/29/25: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
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