{"id":15904,"date":"2017-05-04T17:11:26","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T00:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/?p=15904"},"modified":"2017-05-07T11:36:06","modified_gmt":"2017-05-07T18:36:06","slug":"european-invasion-sabaton-leaves-eyes-battle-beast-visit-louisville-ky-on-north-american-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/2017\/05\/04\/european-invasion-sabaton-leaves-eyes-battle-beast-visit-louisville-ky-on-north-american-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"European Invasion: Sabaton, Leaves’ Eyes & Battle Beast visit Louisville KY on North American Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rosie Walker<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

April 30th 2017, Diamond Pub Concert Hall, Louisville KY: <\/strong>Cut into a corner of Louisville, Kentucky that is still inhabited by old factories and warehouses; rests a venue called Diamond Pub and Billiards. This unsuspecting spot continues to attract local metalheads by the talents they are able to bring in. Last Sunday night was no exception. A line of folks dressed in black wrapped around the place waiting impatiently for the doors to open. Cold rain started to sprinkle, but it didn\u2019t deter any fan from keeping their place in line, because the mighty Sabaton was in town. ‘The Last Stand’ tour with opening acts Leaves Eyes and Battle Beast arrived in\u00a0the States only 10 days prior to this event. This European package already sold out five out of their nine shows, proving North America is a big fan of the supreme Sabaton.<\/p>\n

Exactly at 7:30 PM, Battle Beast<\/a><\/strong> took the stage by storm. With half the audience still waiting to get inside, the promptness of the show was unhindered. Bursting with unbridled energy and intense moxie, the band overwhelmed the building crowd. It being the first time this Finnish band has played in the US, they were ready to prove themselves. As the audience began to process the well rehearsed, energetic bunch, the cheers became louder and more fists were thrown in the air. Noora Louhimo\u2019s voice could make a heart of stone swoon. The band\u2019s precision and obvious fun demanded the crowd to react with approval. Playing a lot from their newest record, \u2018Bringer of Pain\u2019, each song was filled with fight and fire. Battle Beast is the ultimate opening act. Their constant \u2018pump up\u2019 sound stirs the soul and gets everyone excited. The band egged the audience on by screaming, “Let\u2019s make viking magic!” and jumped into their lovable number, \u2018Bastard Son Of Odin\u2019. Every face in the mass of people were smiling from ear to ear. The riot of colors, the limitless energy, and majestic display of the band\u2019s talent really connected with the fans. Their deliberate presentation in leather and studs gave a real classic heavy metal vibe and everyone was feeling it. It might have been cold and rainy outside, but the powerful performance of Battle Beast got everyone warmed up.<\/p>\n

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Battle Beast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As steam from the sweat started to fill the sold-out room, the crowd eagerly anticipated Leaves’ Eyes<\/a><\/strong>. The legendary symphonic metal band waltzed on stage ready to entertain. Their dramatic presence captivated the crowd. The two leads, Elina Siirala and Alexander Krull delightfully demonstrated their vocals styles of \u2018beauty and the beast\u2019. Elina\u2019s smooth angelic sweetness coupled with Alexander\u2019s gritty growls makes a happy marriage of sounds. You could hear the experience and ease in their sound by the band\u2019s confidence and obvious joy of what they were doing. As Alexander addressed the crowd, he stated it\u2019s about \u2018global metal\u2019. Being from Scandinavia all the way in Kentucky in the name of heavy metal is a powerful thing. The crowd was so eager and hungry for their Norse themed songs, fists constantly raised, and the energy of the room continued to grow. Their popular number, \u2018Hell To the Heavens\u2019 was a crowd favorite as they loudly sang along. Leaves Eyes is a vibrant band with substance. The band\u2019s aesthetic of long, sweeping hair made their stage presence potent and enchanting. The small leather shorts on the frontwoman certainly was the icing on all of the gentlemen\u2019s cakes.<\/p>\n

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Leaves’ Eyes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Right before 9:30 PM, \u2018The March To War\u2019 seeped through the speakers. The hot, glistening group of Sabaton<\/a><\/strong> devotees roared with excitement as the lights dimmed and the band took the stage. Immediately, the crowd was transported to a world of warfare, tragedy, and triumphs. The band boomed with their massive and marvelous militant themes. Their signature look of cargo pants and unbridled headbanging allows their visual presence to be fun, but brutal at the same time. Their catchy choruses and insightful lyrics allowed a special connection between the band and fans. Between every song the crowd chanted \u2018Sabaton\u2019 so loud that it left vocalist Joakim Brod\u00e9n speechless. The whole band seemed humbled by the audience\u2019s enthusiasm, making it a very special evening.<\/p>\n

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Sabaton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Energized by the response from the crowd, the band\u2019s banter and playing only got more lively. After not approving the set list\u2019s order, bassist P\u00e4r Sundstr\u00f6m proceeded to tear it up and take suggestions from the crowd. Needless to say, everyone went nuts. The band\u2019s ability to go off script revealed their genuine talent and love of what they do. The ease and elegance of their playing sent waves of pleasure through their devoted fans. The title track off of their newest album \u2018The Last Stand\u2019 was a crowd favorite along with \u2018Sparta\u2019 and \u2018Swedish Pagans\u2019. The floor of the venue shook and the walls trembled as the crowd chanted along to every number. This band knows how to grab hearts by their amazing storytelling. They convey events of strife, loss, but also of hope and victory. Everyone in that room became comrades through the band\u2019s music and performance. Till the very end their fists never left the air. Though everyone was drenched in sweat and it wasn\u2019t even their own due to the cramped space of the sold-out room, no one wanted the show to end. Grasping for the last straws of energy, the crowd continued to roar with delight well past the encore. Finally as the venue lights came back on, we all snapped back into reality. With a few stragglers looking for guitar picks on the ground, the roasting room hesitantly cleared out. Everyone went back to their homes, to their lives as if nothing had changed that night. Yet something did.<\/p>\n

With three bands from overseas gracing us with their art and all of us sharing together in music makes the mundane just a little bit better. Live music moves and conquers barriers of the heart. ‘The Last Stand’ tour hits, and hits hard. The metalheads from Kentucky, Sweden and more, came together and celebrated global metal. And it was a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n

If you like what you\u2019ve read\/seen, buy a shirt<\/a> and help keep Metal Assault running full time!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If you live in the LA area, come to one of our Metal Assault Nights<\/a> at the Viper Room, and\/or the Metal Assault Matinee<\/a> events at the Silverlake Lounge!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sabaton set list:<\/strong>
\nIn The Army Now<\/em>
\n March to War<\/em>
\n01. Ghost Division
\n02. The Art of War
\n03. Blood of Bannockburn
\n04. Attero Dominatus
\n05. The Last Stand
\n06. Union (Slopes of St. Benedict)
\n07. Sparta
\n08. Screaming Eagles
\n09. Carolus Rex
\n10. Swedish Pagans
\n11. Gott mit uns (Swedish version)
\n12. Resist and Bite
\nDiary of an Unknown Soldier<\/em>
\n13. The Lost Battalion
\n14. Winged Hussars<\/p>\n

Remaining Tour Dates:<\/strong>
\n05\/07\/2017 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
\n05\/08\/2017 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
\n05\/10\/2017 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
\n05\/11\/2017 – Anaheim, CA @ City National Grove
\n05\/12\/2017 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
\n05\/14\/2017 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
\n05\/16\/2017 – Dallas, CA @ Trees
\n05\/17\/2017 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamo Music Hall
\n05\/18\/2017 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
\n05\/20\/2017 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
\n05\/21\/2017 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
\n05\/22\/2017 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Rosie Walker April 30th 2017, Diamond Pub Concert Hall, Louisville KY: Cut into a corner of Louisville, Kentucky that is still inhabited by old factories and warehouses; rests a venue called Diamond Pub and Billiards. This unsuspecting spot continues to attract local metalheads by the talents they are able to bring in. Last Sunday … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “European Invasion: Sabaton, Leaves’ Eyes & Battle Beast visit Louisville KY on North American Tour”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15904"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15904"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15904\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15911,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15904\/revisions\/15911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}