{"id":16104,"date":"2017-05-30T11:52:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T18:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/?p=16104"},"modified":"2017-05-30T11:52:54","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T18:52:54","slug":"folk-metal-fury-arkona-brings-15-year-anniversary-show-to-echoplex-with-sirenia-mindmaze-graveshadow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/metalassault.com\/gig_reviews\/2017\/05\/30\/folk-metal-fury-arkona-brings-15-year-anniversary-show-to-echoplex-with-sirenia-mindmaze-graveshadow\/","title":{"rendered":"Folk Metal Fury: Arkona brings 15-Year Anniversary show to Echoplex with Sirenia, MindMaze, Graveshadow"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jason Williams<\/strong>
\n(photos by Samuel Ware)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Arkona<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 26th 2017, The Echoplex, Los Angeles CA:\u00a0<\/strong>Moscow, Russia. Through the history books, assumed stories, and what we\u2019re told about it as kids, Russia was something unlike most other places. Destined snowfall, frigid weather conditions, vodka, vodka, vodka, and Matryoshka dolls. Oh, and I forgot to mention, vodka. We know little about the country of Russia. There are aspects I do know well from it: Fedor Emelianenko, the most accomplished heavyweight to ever grace Mixed Martial Arts. The other? Pagan folk metal\u2019s finest from Moscow, the band Arkona. For 15 years and counting, Arkona have graced our metal hearts and passions with some of the finest complexity, bringing forth passionate traditional Russian style folk, as well as intense black metal on the roaring front. The provocative nature of the lyrics, Russian mythology, legendary tales, and various folktale Paganism cannot be denied, which simply brings this band to life in a rare, blissful way. Coming off a high-profile tour supporting Epica and Fleshgod Apocalypse last fall, Arkona are playing a special 15th anniversary set on their current North American headline tour. What’s more, this is also the first ever US tour for Norwegian symphonic\/gothic metal group Sirenia. This evening was a highly anticipated one for the folk metal crowd, and I couldn\u2019t wait for the metal to flow.<\/p>\n

One unique aspect of this show was that all four bands have a female singer. But as I entered into the venue, there was\u00a0some confusion as I arrived at\u00a0the Echoplex, amongst an early crowd patiently waiting for the doors to open. Checking the set times posted throughout the venue, it seemed that this was a co-headlining tour, and that Arkona and Sirenia decided to take turns closing the set, but with each band getting the same amount of time. Given that this was Sirenia\u2019s first US appearance, and Arkona doing very well when touring here, also coming off a huge tour with Epica, I was rather surprised, and doubtful of how that would turn out. Nevertheless, I wouldn\u2019t find that out until later in the evening.<\/p>\n

But in the meantime, Graveshadow<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0opened\u00a0festivities. Personally, Arkona was the only band on this bill that I know about, giving myself an opportunity to hear some new bands. With a dose of symphonic metal, the Sacramento, California based Graveshadow provided some inspired energy to the crowd, as more and more people filled the venue through their set and found themselves head-banging right away. The sound can be described as a polished, guitar-driven potent attack, with a catchy tone that worked quite well with this crowd. Frontwoman Heather Michele Smith moved all across the stage, providing the commanding vocal presence the fans truly enjoyed. Although the clean, operatic vocals felt a little flat at times, the growling was superb and fit quite well. Rhythm guitarist William Lloyd Walker\u2019s guitar volume was rather low in the mix, but the bits I was able to hear, gave their symphonic backtracks that extra power and boost, and translated well live. Their closing song ‘Blood and Fire’ was the highlight of the set, and specially for the crowd, who formed a large line by\u00a0their merch booth after their set. It’s\u00a0rather rare to hear a symphonic metal band hailing from Sacramento, but with more metal bills as perfectly suited to them as this one, I can see Graveshadow on many more tours to come.<\/p>\n

Graveshadow photos:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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