Ryan Murray | Co-Owner | Chief Editor | Contributor | Photographer
r.m.music84@gmail.com
On the evening of Friday, November 3rd, the Palladium Times Square in NYC bore witness to the blazing force of DragonForce’s tour, setting the expectation for a night of incredible music. Alongside them, the tour featured Los Angeles’ Edge of Paradise, Italy’s Nanowar of Steel, and Sweden’s Amaranthe, collectively forming a lineup that promised an epic night. The venue crackled with electric anticipation as fans congregated, ready to immerse themselves in a colossal sonic experience.
As the lights dimmed, Edge of Paradise took the stage, filling the venue with screams and shouts of joy. Margarita Monet’s vocals soared through the venue, mesmerizing the audience with her powerful and evocative delivery. The band’s chemistry was palpable, both on stage with each other as well as their interaction with the crowd. With co-founding member Dave Bates on lead guitar, David Ruiz on rhythm guitar, Kenny Lockwood on bass and Jamie Moreno on drums, the band had an energy about them that was absolutely infectious. Musically, having not known the band too well prior, they performed quite impressively, with great melodies, and great instrumentals, commanding the stage with an undeniable charisma.
The band’s captivating setlist, comprised of five newer tracks from their latest release “Hologram”, as well as two tracks from their 2021 release “The Unknown”, showcased their versatility and incredible and undeniable evolution within the metal genre. The audience responded with sheer enthusiasm, headbanging and throwing devil horns in unison. The band’s performance certainly paved the way for what was to follow, making it abundantly clear that everyone in attendance was in for a great night!
Setlist:
Soldiers of Danger
Hologram
This is Personal
Digital Paradise
The Faceless
The Unknown
Basilisk
Finally gracing the shores of the United States, Italy’s comedic metal ensemble, Nanowar of Steel, brought a fresh and humorous perspective to the stage that’s rarely encountered in the genre. Their performance was a delightful blend of metal and satire that had the audience in fits of laughter while headbanging in rhythmic unity. Songs like “Valhalleluja” and “Uranus” weren’t just musically impressive; they were also laced with clever and hilarious references that had the crowd laughing and cheering in joyous harmony.
The unequivocal zenith of their set was the infectious “Norwegian Reggaeton,” a song that magically transformed the pit into a sprawling dance floor, with metalheads trading their moshing for dancing with exuberance.
Boasting a lineup that has remained remarkably consistent since the band’s inception in 2003, Nanowar of Steel featured Potowotominimak (Carlo Alberto Fiaschi) on lead vocals, Mr. Baffo (Raffaello Venditti) handling co-lead vocals and sound effects, Mohammed Abdul (Valerio Storch) showcasing his prowess on guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals, Gattopanceri666 (Edoardo Carlesi) anchoring the rhythm on bass, and Uinona Raider (Alessandro Milone) laying down the groove on drums and backing vocals.
Notably, this quintet isn’t just an assembly of incredibly talented musicians and singers; they radiate an infectious energy that transforms their performance into an unforgettable experience. Even the most stoic of concert-goers would have found it nearly impossible to suppress a smile throughout their set. Nanowar of Steel’s debut on American soil left a resounding impression, leaving audiences yearning for their return to the States in the near future.
Setlist:
Uranus
The Call of Cthulhu
Il Cacciatore Della Notte
Disco Metal
Norwegian Reggaeton
Valhalleluja
As the night continued, the enchanting sounds of “Amaranthe” enveloped the venue. Blending heavy metal with electronic elements, they showcased a diverse array of talent. Elize Ryd’s enchanting voice, backed by the growling and harsh vocal power of Mikael Sehlin and the soaring harmonies of Nils Molin, created an unforgettable dynamic and juxtaposition that swept across the entire venue.
Olof’s riffs and guitar leads blazed like an inferno, igniting the stage with a ferocious energy that sent shockwaves through the audience, while the rhythmic backbone provided by Morten and Johan was rock-solid and thunderous. Their tight and precise playing laid the foundation for the band’s powerful sound, ensuring that each song was delivered with an unrelenting force. Johan’s thundering bass lines resonated through the venue, while Morten’s drumming was a relentless assault on the senses, driving the music forward with unyielding precision.
Songs like “Damnation Flame,” one of the new singles from their highly anticipated upcoming album “The Catalyst,” set to release on February 23rd, 2024, through Nuclear Blast, were met with a resounding applause that echoed through the venue, while the crowd engaged in synchronized headbanging. This inaugural single from their forthcoming album showcased breathtaking soaring melodies, a delightful addition to the setlist that left me thoroughly pleased. Although I had harbored hopes of hearing “Insatiable,” “Damnation Flame” sounded just as spectacular as I had envisioned.
The band even took a nostalgic detour back to 2011’s “Amaranthine,” a personal favorite from their self-titled album, and the crowd’s enthusiastic response was a testament to the enduring charm of this classic track. In sum, their set seamlessly melded the old and the new, crafting a unified and headbang-inducing experience that highlighted the band’s remarkable ability to bridge the eras of their music.
Setlist:
Intro
Fearless
Viral
Digital World
Damnation Flame
Hunger
Strong
PvP
The Nexus
Amaranthine
Archangel
That Song (With snippet of “We Will Rock You” by Queen)
Drop Dead Cynical
And then, the eagerly anticipated moment arrived as “DragonForce” assumed their rightful place on the center stage. The band’s reputation as virtuosos of speed metal had already set a high bar, and their performance effortlessly soared beyond the pre-show hype. As the opening intro began, the atmosphere was electric, with anticipation slicing through the venue like a surgical scalpel. Herman and Sam took their positions, standing on opposite sides of the stage, each framed by colossal video arcade games, just as the thrilling sounds of “Revolution Deathsquad” came ripping in, accompanied by CO₂ blasts that intensified the already electrifying environment.
The lightning-fast guitar duels between Herman Li and Sam Totman left the audience in jaw-dropping amazement, while the soaring vocals of Marc Hudson propelled the crowd to new heights. Alicia’s bass lines reverberated throughout the venue, pulsating through the very core of the audience, while Gee’s drumming not only rattled eardrums but also laid down the rapid rhythms that DragonForce is renowned for.
Adding an extra layer of brilliance to the performance was the incredible Billy Wilkins, known for his remarkable cover of “Through The Fire and Flames.” Effortlessly, he held his own alongside two of the greatest and fastest guitar players in the genre, barely breaking a sweat. His guitar and vocal contributions were the perfect complement to an already astonishing performance.
As if the energy, melodies, speed, and technical prowess weren’t enough, during “Power of the Triforce,” the band’s latest single from their highly anticipated upcoming album “Warp Speed Warriors,” set to release on March 15th, 2024, through Napalm Records, DragonForce decided to inject some humor into the mix. They tossed three stuffed chickens into the crowd, because what’s a metal performance inspired by video games without a bit of chicken-throwing chaos? The crowd enthusiastically embraced every moment, even indulging in circle pits involving the chickens and launching them up to the balconies.
For the encore, the band treated the crowd to a medley that included “Highway to Oblivion,” a surprising rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams,” and, of course, brought the evening to an epic conclusion with the timeless classic “Through the Fire and Flames.”
The audience left the Palladium Times Square that evening with a collective sense of euphoria, having experienced an unforgettable journey through the realms of metal.
Setlist:
Revolution Deathsquad
Cry Thunder
Heroes of Our Time
Power of the Triforce
Soldiers of the Wasteland
The Last Dragonborn
Fury of the Storm
We Love the War (Sabaton Parody – w/ Dave Davidson of Revocation and Potowotominimak of Nanowar of Steel)
Doomsday Party
Valley of the Damned
Encore:
Highway to Oblivion
Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift Cover)
Through the Fire and Flames
Ethereal Metal 
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