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Chapter 4: Oh no! It's almost over! – Day 4 & Post-Event
By Gilberto Morais
Good morning guys!
It's hard to say goodbye! Just when you're finally used to and familiar with the event, you realize how quickly time flew by and it's already time to pack up and go back to normal life. Sad, but true!
First, this is your last chance to buy merchandise, as the store will close early, at 1 PM. Finally, if you wish to check your luggage, you must leave it in the hallway directly in front of your cabin between 7 PM and midnight so that the ship's crew can retrieve it. It will then be available for collection on the baggage carousel after US customs clearance.
However, relax, there's still one day left to enjoy the end of the holidays and the shows. Let's go straight to the schedule for this 4th and final day of the event.
ANACRUSIS (13:00 –13:45) – POOL DECK
I was aware that there was a good chance I would really enjoy this show, and thankfully it didn't disappoint and was a pleasant surprise.
As a Prog Thrash Metal band, Anacrusis has something in common with the wonderful Swiss power trio Coroner. Of course, they aren't as technically proficient or as good as the Europeans. Their music is more raw, very good indeed, and full of energy. Great stuff!
When I don't know a band well enough, it's difficult to point out any highlights, but I'd venture to mention their beautiful cover of "I Love the World" by "New Model Army" and their own song "Afraid to Feel". From what I could tell, the setlist was quite different from the first show, which was great of them in order to give their fans as many songs as possible.
This band is worth checking out, even though they recently announced they will be inactive for an indefinite period.
LIZZY BORDEN (16:15 – 17:00) – POOL DECK
After the amazing Anacrusis show, which was well worth seeing, I returned to the pool deck, this time to watch the entire Lizzy Borden show. It's a shame the slot was only 45 minutes. At that moment, not only was the sun shining, but the Californian band was also thrilling.
Lizzy Borden plays a very catchy sound, top-notch Hard/Heavy, and it's impossible not to enjoy a show like this. Featuring good musicians, and with the theatrical performances of vocalist Lizzy Borden, heavily influenced by Alice Cooper and his shock rock, as well as his stage presence, albeit with a much more modest production than Alice Cooper's, Lizzy Borden doesn't disappoint given their budget.
It's masks, black clothing concealing the face, simulating death, plus a performance of a beautiful woman dancing and being sodomized and murdered by the vocalist, who is then removed already dead, lying down with blood on her neck. In other words, everything you expect from a show of this kind, but don't be fooled into thinking this surpasses the quality of the music, because it's quite the opposite. The music is far superior to the vocalist's theatrical performances. The other band members, in truth, only concentrate on their respective instruments, and to be honest, the theatrical performance becomes just another ingredient that adds to the already exceptional show of this 80s band.
Finally, the impression I got was that there was a larger audience at this show compared to the indoor show, which took place almost simultaneously with Helloween's at the Spectrum Lounge. Precisely for this reason, I couldn't check if the setlist had any significant changes, as the last three songs they played were also present this time, although in a different order, which increases the suspicion that they varied the setlist. Especially since in the Lizzy shows I've attended, it was common to end with the cover of "Born to be Wild," which was performed this time. Another highlight was the excellent "There Will Be Blood Tonight."
EVERGREY (17:00 – 18:00) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
Starting the rush to catch the next show again, I barely stepped into the Chorus Line and caught Evergrey's show starting, without having to sacrifice Lizzy Borden and without missing anything from that show either.
Having put on a great show by the pool, I had high expectations for this performance, and perhaps that was the reason I was disappointed this time.
Again, I noted the charisma and charm of frontman, guitarist, and vocalist Tom Englund as a highlight. Furthermore, I enjoyed the track "As I Lie Here Bleeding." In any case, the band's performance was adequate, but a little cold in my opinion, lacking emotion. Therefore, it was merely an adequate show. Nothing more than that!
GOTTHARD (19:00 – 20:00) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
After Evergrey's lukewarm show, someone needed to heat things up, and there's no better or more fitting band for the job than the Swiss band Gotthard. Pure European hard rock!
The band entered the same Chorus Line as the previous show, kicking ass and tearing it up. The setlist was different, as they opened with the excellent "Master of Illusion." Overall, there were about 2 or 3 different songs, among them another highlight, the track "Mountain Mama," featuring interaction between Leo Leoni and the audience using the tail box.
It would be unfair not to congratulate the entire band, who with each passing day demonstrate greater cohesion and prove that there is life after Steve Lee. Nic Maeder was a perfect fit, and if they make an album even better than Firebirth, the band will shine brightly.
RAGE WITH LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA (21:00 – 22:15) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
The second Rage show, as I mentioned before, was once again held at the Chorus Line, which proved to be a wise decision. The choice was more than appropriate and couldn't have gone wrong. It was like a football match where a team is on a roll, you know beforehand they're going to win, you just can't predict the score, but you can expect a landslide victory.
Once again, the Germans and the orchestra shone, although the first show, perhaps due to anticipation and anxiety, was better. In any case, the work of the Lingua Mortis members was once again superb (precise and surgical), and similarly, the power trio led by maestro Victor Smolski also delivered a fantastic performance on stage.
As far as I remember, the setlist didn't change much, and I'd highlight the opening with the magnificent "From the Cradle to the Grave" and the closing with "Empty Hollow," as well as some interludes performed by Lingua Mortis. It's a show that, if you have the chance to see it, I highly recommend you don't miss for anything.
KREATOR (23:30 – 0:30) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
Up until that point, the audience's behavior at the shows, aside from a few mosh pits and circle pits, had been quite calm. Would Kreator break the mold at this final performance?
The answer is: YES! For the first time, and on the very last day of the event, I witnessed crowd surfing and mosh pits even more intense than the previous show by the German thrash metal institution and Onslaught. This show broke all records in terms of excitement and audience participation.
And it was no wonder, Kreator treated us to a very different setlist compared to the first show, where highlights such as "Under the Guillotine", "Riot of Violence", sung by the master Ventor, "Betrayer" and the classic final medley composed of "Flag of Hate/Tormentor" were performed.
It's worth mentioning that before the encore, Mille didn't handle the "hate flag" and said that someone invited on stage would do it because it was his birthday. Incidentally, moments before this show, I ran into him by chance in the elevator and his bizarre outfit, consisting of a pink skirt and all, caught my attention. Anyway, it was nice of Mille to honor him on his birthday.
As I said before, a Kreator show is always a winner. If they rock even in bad weather, what can you expect when they're in the mood? A spectacular show, nothing more to add!
SABATON (0:30 – 1:30) – POOL DECK
Arriving after the show had already started due to the transition of the stage from Chorus Line to the pool, I was struck by the fact that there wasn't as large an audience as at the Swedish band's first show. This suggests that Kreator must have been competing with them for the audience's attention, which is why it wasn't as packed as one might expect. Even so, they had a large crowd, and this was for a show scheduled for a time that tends to thin out, as I've noticed on previous nights.
In this show, I felt Sabaton were more relaxed, at ease, and confident, which is why they were better than on the first occasion.
Lead singer and frontman Joakim Broden also seemed more communicative, and the sound quality on this poolside stage was impeccable: clear and crisp, a stark contrast to the previous show which lacked such precision.
Besides their most celebrated songs like "Uprising" and "Metal Crue," they also performed two songs in Swedish: "Gott mit Uns" (oddly, the name is in German). A good show, better than the first, but below the best shows of theirs that I've seen. Due to the following show, I left about 5 minutes before Sabaton's set ended.
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM (1:30 – 2:30) – CHORUS LINE THEATER
The final show of this edition arrived, at least for me, because what I was about to see wasn't of interest to me. Similarly, this was the last show on the Chorus Line of the entire event, and perhaps for that reason, the slot, which was supposed to be 45 minutes, was extended to a 1-hour show.
Like Fatal Smile and Rage Against the Machine, Flotsam and Jetsam was another band I noticed only performed indoors. This time, in a larger venue.
It was no surprise that it was empty, far fewer than the crowd that had previously seen Kreator, which was quite full. But, no matter, quantity of audience, even in Metal, doesn't necessarily mean quality. And the quintet from Phoenix proved that!
This performance, even though it was 15 minutes longer than the previous one, featured different songs and the order of execution was modified. They opened with "Ugly Noise," the title track from their recent studio album, released two months ago, which they brought for sale on the ship, so I could buy it, since I didn't participate in the crowdfunding campaign they did to raise money for its release.
Once again, the setlist was based on the band's first 6 albums, and highlights included "Hard on You," "Master Sleeps," as well as the classics "Hammerhead" and "No Place for Disgrace," which closed this excellent performance.
Let's hope that, as they toured with Testament and Overkill, the North American audience rediscovers how good they are and that they have a chance to fit into a similar tour in Europe and South America, because they still have a lot of potential. They just need the recognition they deserve from the public.
CONCLUSIONS:
1) Cost vs. Benefit:
Considering what was offered, I'd even say it was well worth the price. The food and service were top-notch, I have no complaints. I just think it would be fairer if at least soft drinks were included in the package and not extra; getting beer would be complicated enough, I understand. Considering also how much a regular cruise costs, the extra cost of the shows, which is what interests us, doesn't end up making the package too expensive at all, so it feels like a well-invested expense and not money thrown away. Given the number of shows available, some running simultaneously with others, if we think about the separate cost, it balanced the finances well.
But to get the most value for your money, I recommend combining the cruise with sightseeing in the region, because in addition to the cost of the ship, there are expenses for airfare, and therefore it's important to spend some time in the US or nearby locations that offset the total cost.
2) Comparison between Themed Cruises and European Festivals:
Although the goals and objectives are the same, it's clear that these are two distinct worlds! If you're only interested in seeing concerts, it's worth focusing on regular land-based festivals, as they'll be cheaper and perfectly meet your needs. Themed cruises aren't just about concerts; they're about fun! After my experience on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, I've become addicted to the world of cruises too. Once you try this experience, you won't want to give it up and you'll be eagerly awaiting your next trip. Avoid the first one if your wallet is immediately worried.
Would I do it again? Yes, absolutely! Honestly, I can't wait to go on the next cruise. See you in 2014!
POST-EVENT:
Around 7:30 am on February 1st, we arrived back at the Port of Miami. Anyone who thinks our adventure ends when we disembark is mistaken.
Firstly, if you haven't checked your luggage, there's the option of express disembarkation, which is faster, from what I could see. Remember that those who chose to pay for ship expenses with cash, upon receiving their bill the night before, must first go to the customer service center and make the payment before disembarking. For those who opted for cards, it's straightforward; only go to the center if there are discrepancies in the bill, to file a complaint and have it corrected.
Upon disembarking, you will need to fill out the same customs declaration form again that you present to the local authority when you disembark from the airport and re-enter American territory; however, the procedure is faster than the one at the airport.
Therefore, the area where you waited for clearance to board the ship on the outbound journey will be the same area where, along with other passengers boarding the same ship or others, you will disembark, and where you will find shared vans, taxis that will take you to airports, hotels, etc.
Expect to wait in line and get into the spirit of the event, as there are many metalheads gathered together. The dispersal begins from there, but gradually, the airports will be taken over by legions of black t-shirts arriving in small groups and gradually adding to the mix.
In my case, I chose to return the same day after the ship arrived, and I selected Miami airport, which was attracting the cruise ship crowd. At the restaurant where I went for lunch and some beers before flying, there was a waiting line and many headbangers were still arriving. In contrast to my arrival at Fort Lauderdale airport, the atmosphere of the event still prevailed.
After passing through airport security and already in the boarding area, I had a pleasant surprise, and this may have happened to many people. I sat down waiting for my flight to be called, and lo and behold, right next to me sat Dani Löble, Sascha Gerstner, and Markus Grosskopf from Helloween. We were on the same flight. And it's only on the plane that it finally sinks in that you've just returned to the normal world.
END!
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.
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