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Chapter 3: Rest: You are in the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands – Day 3
By Gilberto Morais
Good morning, comrades!
7:00 AM: We've just arrived in Grand Turks, our destination! Metal-themed cruises also mean tourism. And we thank the event organizers for this break and allowing us the opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty of this wonderful place.
TOURISM IN TURKS AND CAICOS:
Just like the embarkation procedure in Miami, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the promoters for the quick, efficient, and smooth disembarkation on this beautiful island. There was no need to take a boat to get us to the shore. Furthermore, you could leave the ship whenever you wanted, respecting the 3:30 PM deadline to be back on board! At 4:00 PM, the ship was sailing back to Miami, and on time.
That being said, have you ever heard of the Turks and Caicos Islands?
If you haven't heard of them, let me tell you a little about this excellent group of islands located between Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Whether you're a musician, a member of the band's crew, or press, it doesn't matter, it was time to go for a walk, relax; after all, human beings also need to take a break from time to time.
Personally, I got up later and went straight to a bar called Margherita and had exceptional Piña Coladas made with typical Caribbean rum, accompanied by totally awesome spicy chicken wings served as an appetizer, and chatted animatedly with 2 Brazilian friends who accompanied me throughout this event.
As time went on, the bar was getting crowded! Suddenly, Markus Grosskopf from Helloween sat down at a table next to ours and remembered me from the previous night, and we chatted a bit in German.
It was noticeable that many musicians were passing by or simply going in for drinks. Among them, I saw Peavy Wagner (Rage), Andi Deris (Helloween). Later, Sy Keller and Nige Rockett (Onslaught) were lying in beach chairs enjoying the sun. I didn't want to bother anyone, and more than ever it was my only chance to taste and enjoy the blue and green Caribbean sea.
CONTACTS WITH ARTISTS DURING THE EVENT
I'm sure you've already asked me how long it will take me to tell you about the relationship between musicians and fans on board? Three words: THE BEST POSSIBLE! Aside from the designated and restricted Meet & Greet areas, it was also permitted to have contact with our idols without any problems. Everything works like a backstage area. In fact, the organizers themselves encourage the public to bring their collections to be autographed, and so on.
Did you happen to meet someone you admire so much? No problem! You can chat casually, ask for a photo or autograph, if they're not busy with something else at the moment. From what I've observed, the vast majority of guys were very friendly and relaxed when we asked, without any airs or pretension. Be polite and nice, and if you notice you're bothering them or that they're busy with more important things, just leave them alone. Don't worry, there will certainly be another opportunity if it doesn't work out on the first try.
Aside from their work as musicians, they're also enjoying a vacation and having this unique opportunity to have fun too. Just be a little patient and you'll see the results. Maybe someone you know will ask if you'd mind sharing a table for a drink or a meal. Believe me, it happens!
Finally, you'll see them everywhere. I'm sure you won't even notice them once you're used to the routine.
Well, time to get down to what you've been waiting for: THE SHOWS!!!
FATAL SMILE (17:00 –17:45) – SPECTRUM LOUNGE
Please note the following rule before proceeding to read the rest of the review:
Days 3 and 4 are dedicated exclusively to the second shows of each band that performed on this themed cruise. There are no new additions to the full lineup, just the same bands that played previously.
The Swedish band's second appearance was once again at the Spectrum Lounge. In fact, Fatal Smile was one of the only bands not to perform once outdoors and once indoors, as one might expect. Not being well-known in the US, the audience turnout was low. Therefore, the venue chosen for both shows was a good selection. Luckily, the band and the audience enjoyed an intimate atmosphere. Not bad for the fans!
Back to the show, because I had a very late lunch and the service was slow, I unfortunately missed the first 15 minutes of this second performance at 70,000 Tons. However, there's not much to add regarding any improvement compared to the previous show. From what I could observe, there was only a slight variation in their setlist. Did they exclude SOB? Or perhaps they played it at the beginning of the performance? I'm not sure! I noticed the same songs I highlighted earlier: "Run for Your Lives" and the ballad dedicated to Ronnie James Dio with the same speech from vocalist Blade, honoring our hero. Indeed, beautiful words and above all, respect for this beloved human being. Furthermore, the set ended with the first single from the new album "21st Century Freaks," the track "Welcome to Freak Show," instead of the aforementioned "SOB," which closed the previous performance.
I wish the guys in the band all the best and hope they get back on track. Maybe they'll manage to release a new album as good as the powerful "World Domination" and play as solidly and cohesively as in the old days. I will continue to support them, despite these last few just OK shows. They still deserve another chance.
ANGRA (18:30 – 19:30) – POOL DECK
People were very curious to know if Angra would reveal any surprises during this show. Would they finally play "Carry On"? Because vocalist Carl Casagrande (Stormborn, ex-Scelerata) commented on social media that he would be with the band on this cruise? Would he just be a special guest or perhaps the band's new vocalist? Answers below:
First, the rumors about the new vocalist remain a secret from us. Fabio Lione sang the entire show, and Carl didn't participate as a vocalist. What I could see is that he was working as a member of the band's crew, perhaps as a tour manager.
The band's second performance wasn't that different from the first. To begin with, they played the same tracks, except for one or two from the first show. Once again, I was impressed by Fabio Lione's high-level performance. Although I suspect he must have learned the band's material at the last minute, it seemed like he'd been a permanent member of the band for a long time.
Better late than never, let me introduce the special guest of this presentation: none other than the beautiful Clarence Cox from the all-female tribute band, Iron Maidens, you know who these ladies pay homage to. Oh yes, they played a Maiden cover: "Wasted Years". Not only the band but Clarence Cox herself killed it on this track! Her solo was played perfectly, with precision, note for note. Fantastic!
Closing this set, their second most well-known and requested song: "Nova Era". There was no encore, and the closing track echoed through the sound system: Gate XIII. That said, "Carry On" wasn't actually played! Nobody knows for sure if it was cut. In any case, in my humble opinion, the band played much better than the last show and seemed more at ease. Let's hope they can be more active from now on and that the dark times are over.
METAL CHURCH (19:30 – 20:30) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
It goes without saying that Metal Church was one of the most anticipated shows of the entire 70,000 Tons festival. At this point, they would be varying their setlist, which consisted of performing songs from their debut album, "Metal Church," in its entirety.
However, our team had the honor of witnessing something that made us very proud: vocalist Ronny Munro was warming up before the show wearing a Wikimetal t-shirt given to him the previous night. He's THE MAN!
Well, what can I say about this performance itself that's necessary? There are no words to describe what I witnessed. Metal Church's debut is exceptional as a whole from beginning to end, including the powerful cover of "Highway Star" which features no keyboards, only guitars, and which was included on some versions of this album worldwide.
Once again, Jay Reynolds, Steve Unger, Ronny Munro, and Jeff Plate honored the band's legacy and this masterpiece, created by the original lineup, provided us with a pleasurable and unforgettable experience.
Please do yourself a favor and don't miss this show for the first time in Brazil at the Live and Loud festival for anything, you won't regret it! Besides that, it's now obvious that these shows weren't for a special occasion, just a one-time thing, and it's clear that the band is keen to tour regularly. Luckily, I'm fortunate enough to see them again at the Headbangers Open Air Festival, recently confirmed and near where I live.
Returning to the show, there was some time left after playing the classic album, so they played a bonus track for the audience, the title track from the album Human Factor. May this reunion last a very, very long time!
DORO (8:30 PM – 9:30 PM) – POOL DECK
I've never been to a Dorothy show that wasn't at least excellent. She never disappoints, and believe me, she gives 110% to please the audience. No matter how many lineup changes there have been, she knows exactly who to put in the band to fill the vacant spots. That's the secret to her consistency!
Although I prefer Warlock to the Queen of Metal's solo career, the aforementioned balance of songs from both bands in her setlist makes me very happy. She never denies her past and, above all, looks to her present and future very clearly and knows exactly what she's doing. She takes the best tracks from her solo career that are essential to her set, mixed with those from Warlock. Simply perfect!
Speaking of Warlock, I love listening to songs like "Hellbound," "Fight for the Rock," and especially "East Meets West," as well as the opening track "I Rule the Ruins," which were part of the set and were highlights.
Regarding the band Doro, the highlights were once again the new hit "Raise Your Fist in the Air" and one of WOA's anthems, "We Are the Metal Heads." Indeed, a top-notch performance from the entire band as always!
ONSLAUGHT (9:30 PM – 10:15 PM) – SPECTRUM LOUNGE
I was always in a rush during this coverage, and 5 minutes before the end of Doro's show, I left the stage by the pool and went down to the Spectrum Lounge.
Although I had already traveled to Braunschweig in Germany last year to see the live performance of the album The Force, I was eager to see them again and I didn't regret it. Absolutely not!
Being one of my favorite Thrash Metal albums and the opportunity to see it again falling from the sky, I wasn't going to miss it easily. This seven-song album was responsible for increasing the English band's fanbase, especially in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium. According to the band members themselves, one of the highlights of their career was their appearance at the Dynamo Open Air festival in the Netherlands, where there was a sea of people eager for their sound, and this was, obviously, during The Force tour. From the first song "Let there be Death" with its long intro of wonderful riffs that make people headbang to the last "Thrash till the Death", was there anything better left for the end that we could expect from this British institution?
The answer is: YES!!! Just like Metal Church, there was some extra time for a few additional songs and they played "Power from Hell". The performance was solid and cohesive, and I noticed a huge mosh pit in the middle of the floor. Pure chaos and a lot of fun! As I mentioned before, only Kreator could top that! Let's see if the Germans nailed it later!
HELLOWEEN (22:30 – 23:45) – POOL DECK
I finally managed to find the right amount of time to avoid rushing through the final moments of my favorite show in order to get to the next one. I had 15 minutes to spare between Onslaught and the following show.
Helloween played a set similar to their first show. From what I could see, they probably only skipped the new track "Burning Sun," the rest seemed identical. Andi Deris even mentioned that he was having a blast during the cruise and talked about having a hangover. Typical German!
In general, the quality of this performance wasn't much different from the previous one. It was OK, however, to be honest, I expected more. In any case, I give them enough credit, as this was just a one-off show, a kind of warm-up or even a vacation. I'm sure they'll be better and more cohesive during the upcoming Hellish Tour.
The highlights of the set were "Eagle Fly Free", "Power", and the classics from the Keepers of the Seven Keys era ("Future World", "I Want Out", and "Dr. Stein").
LACUNA COIL (23:45 – 0:45) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
Since the Italian band surprised me at their first show, I decided to give them another chance and check out the next one, even though I was starving and desperately needed to eat!
To my surprise, it wasn't like the first performance. I imagined that if they rocked an outdoor show, they'd tear the theater down, since it was an enclosed space. And it wasn't as intense, hot, and precise as the show I saw by the pool. Strange! A mistake!
Anyway, I watched the entire set until the end hoping it would get better and better, which didn't happen. What a shame! My first impression had been the best possible. From now on, I'll think twice before going to see a Lacuna Coil show.
HELSTAR (2:30 – 3:15) – POOL DECK
As a long-time Helstar fan who has followed the band numerous times in both Germany and the Netherlands, I wouldn't miss any of their shows for anything, but I needed to eat, drink, shower, and rest a bit at that point. There's no such thing as a bad time for me when it comes to Helstar. Absolutely not. No discussion!
Anyway, while I was in my cabin, that contagious laziness came over me, making me consider giving up on this show! Luckily, I changed my mind, ignored the exhaustion, and went up to the pool.
The setlist was a little different from what James Rivera had announced at the previous show. Right off the bat, the first song was the explosive "Angels Fall to Heaven" from the album "Glory of Chaos," and out of nowhere I realized how lucky I am to have the chance to see a show of this magnitude, no matter that it's the 6th time, because it never gets boring or dull. On the contrary, it's always a huge pleasure and satisfaction to see them perform.
To be honest, every time I see them playing songs like "Baptized in Blood" and "To Sleep for a Chance to Scream" at this show, I go crazy, get goosebumps, and lose my mind! It never sounds dated, and it's hard to describe this feeling at times like these. There are only a couple of bands that still make me feel this energy and emotion, and Helstar is one of them. Lastly, this show was even better than the other, exceeding all my expectations, and the sound quality was absurdly superb! That said, I will never forget this show. Thank you guys for providing such a cohesive and splendid set and for not giving up despite the weak recognition. I can't wait to hear the new album, and count on me at your shows, no matter where they are scheduled, I will always find a way to see you.
KARAOKE (0:00 – End) – BOLEROS
Lastly, I haven't commented on the Karaoke yet! Well, it was held at Bar Boleros from midnight daily until it closed on its own. I don't have many details about which band members showed up and participated, or about the performances of regular passengers. I didn't hear anything about strange or unconventional songs chosen by the artists who performed, nor by the others. In any case, it must have been hilarious for sure. Expect songs you'd never expect your favorite artists to choose on their regular tours. You never know how this fun will end!
Goodnight!
Click here to read Chapter 4.
NEXT: CHAPTER 4 – Oh NO! IT'S ALMOST OVER! – DAY 4 & Post-Event
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Allison Painchaud (The Ultimate Metal Cruises)
, Jan Rosenberg & Björn von Oettingen (CMM Marketing)
*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.
Click here to see other texts by WikiBrother Gilberto Morais!
