AMARANTHE & BUTCHER BABIES AT STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT

November 5, 2015

Stafford Springs, once again I walked your streets to stand in a line for another show at what is fast becoming Connecticut’s best destination for Metal Shows, The Stafford Palace Theater, that night it was for the killer combination of The Butcher Babies opening for the Swedish band Amaranthe.

Standing in line, I was listening to people talk about both bands, fans from all over Connecticut and Massachussetts waiting to hear either the triple threat vocals of Amaranthe or one of the hardest working bands on the circuit right now, the Butcher Babies. Either way everyone was in for a treat this evening.

First up this evening was a local band from Massachusetts called Seven Spires, all I can say is wow. Adrienne Cowan is THE stage presence behind this group of Berklee School of Music students. Between her voice and the shredding guitar of Jack Kosto, supported by the bassist Peter de Reyna and the drummer Chris Dovas, this band kicked major ass. I can not wait to see or shoot them again! They label themselves as Theatrical Metal Storytellers on their website but I did not see indication of that this evening (I am a huge fan of Alice Cooper so when they say theatrical that’s the bar that has to be hurdled), but the influences of NWOBHM, such as Iron Maiden, to the devilishly evil growling of Death Metal are more than noticeable and they handle the changes between the styles very well.

SEVEN SPIRES:

Following Seven Spires was not an easy job and that fell to a band that originally hails from Athens Georgia with a stop in Seattle, Lullwater. An alternative rock band consisting of John Strickland, singer and rhythm guitar, Brett Strickland, lead guitar, Roy “Ray” Beatty, bassist) and Joe Wilson,drummer. Their music was catchy and infectious, much like the grunge influences you feel in their style. A band full of energy that shouldn’t have been contained to such a small spot on that stage.

LULLWATER:

The Butcher Babies. I have said it before I have a penchant for any metal band that has a female lead singer, From old school Runaways to Girlschool and the lead singer of a old punk band called The Plasmatics, Wendy O. Williams, but that night was special one of the hardest working bands out on the road with two amazing female singers, the Butcher Babies hit the stage.

Unfortunately not without a glitch or two, the lights started giving them problems and would not go on. After a few words to the lighting guy, the house lights came on and the enthusiasm both on stage and in the crowd started to rise. Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey were all over the stage, with an energy that would make Bruce Dickinson envious. Henry Flury, guitarist, and Jason Klein, bassist, stood a few steps back and out of the ladies way, probably for their own safety. Heidi and Carla probably would’ve knock them off the stage if they weren’t paying attention. The one in the safe spot was drummer, Chris Warner. This is the fourth time this year I have seen them and to be honest they sounded just as good tonite as they did when I saw them back in January.

THE BUTCHER BABIES:

Amaranthe came to the stage to the strains of their single “Digital World” a synth heavy song that brings to mind the music of Lacuna Coil but that’s where the similarities end. With the triple vocals of Elize Ryd, Henrik Englund and for the first time on stage with them in The Good Ole US of A on this tour, Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye of the Swedish band, Smash Into Pieces. Between the beautiful notes from Elize to the demonic growls emanating from Henrik, Chris’s vocals added the right touch distancing themselves from any comparison to Lacuna Coil.

Olof Mörck, guitarist, showed a prowess that complimented the chorus of voices to perfection, backed by the energetic bassist Johan Andreassen and the skin pounding of Morten Løwe Sørensen.

This was an amazing show, all three vocalists were walking the stage, smiling, waving and shaking hands with the fans in front between their turns at singing and not to be left out Olof was wandering the stage basking in the love being shown by everyone, Johan was lost in the music moving all around his side of the stage, and well not much more Morten could do other then bang the drums, and his ferocity kept it all together.

Kept it together for over 20 songs! A great blend of tunes covering all three of their albums, “Amaranthe”, “Nexus” and “Massive Addiction”. None of them slowing down a bit throughout the evening.

This is called the “Massive Collision Tour” and for good reason. The collision of music styles between all 4 bands was perfect and enjoyed by all the fans that were there.

AMARANTHE: