The Dream Festival, which initially was just a Dream Theater and expanded into a festival with various metal genres, took place this Saturday (07) in São Paulo.
At the Anhembi Sambadrome, a smaller space compared to other large shows that take place there, a diverse audience from different metal subcultures gathered. The event, for example, began with the operatic symphony of the Italian band Turilli/Lione Rhapsody , which caught the attention of those arriving at the festival under the sun.
Judging by the t-shirts, it was clear that the majority of fans there were indeed Dream Theater fans, with smaller groups supporting the bands that came before. Much of this, perhaps, is due to the fact that the event only became a festival after the show by the progressive metal legends was announced.
When Sabaton took the stage and the sun was beginning to set, the power metal tribe made its presence felt. Joakim Brodén , sporting the traditional costume with metal plates on his torso, seemed happy to be in Brazil and to see the reach of Swedish music, whose lyrics are steeped in stories of battles and world wars.
From the start, with “Ghost Division,” the small group of fans on the floor formed a lively mosh pit, mixing pushing and hugging, to the rhythm of the war hymns. Perhaps they didn't realize it, given the excitement, but the band was greatly hampered by the terrible sound quality of the event up to that point. The PA system muffled the sound and then let it in, mainly affecting the drums and vocals.
Even so, the fans sang along throughout the entire setlist. As a surprise, the vocalist announced: “We’ve talked a lot about Swedish history today. How about we talk about Brazilian history?”, and they played “Smoking Snakes”, about the Brazilian army's involvement in World War II. With the refrain “Smoking Snakes, eternal is your victory”, in Portuguese.
Night had already fallen as the audience waited for Killswitch Engage . The technical crew was testing all the microphones again, with one of the band's roadies announcing: "You'll have to wait a little longer. We're making this perfect, because it was really a mess," which drew laughter from the audience.
Jesse Leach and his band then took the stage a little less than ten minutes late. While up to that point the bands had been much more theatrical and full of choruses and operatic vocals, Killswitch brought the best of metalcore, with guitar distortions, blast beats, and guttural vocals.
Starting with “Unleashed,” from their most recent album, Atonement , and continuing into the now-classic “Hate By Design,” Jesse Leach’s vocal range is impressive, especially after the vocal cord surgery he underwent earlier this year. When he returned to the band, replacing Howard Jones, many said that Leach didn’t reach the level of his bandmate. Now, it’s impossible to say that, since Jesse’s performance is perfect. Killswitch is definitely at its peak.
With one powerful hit after another, “My Last Serenade”, “This Fire” and “Reckoning” gave way to “I Am Broken Too”. The track was preceded by a dedication to all those who suffer from illnesses such as depression, anxiety and addiction, making it a moment of intimacy between the vocalist and the audience.
KSE's show was raw, fast, powerful, and technically flawless. Jesse even dedicated songs to Derrick Green , who was in the audience, and to Sepultura . And they closed the setlist with an incredible cover of "Holy Diver," as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio .
Interestingly, during Sabaton and Killswitch's performances, it was possible to hear the famous "enough, next band..." chant from Dream Theater fans. Most likely due to the festival's somewhat schizophrenic lineup, featuring bands from genres that don't really mesh well.
After Killswitch, the stage began to transform. LED lights and projections were spread throughout, preparing for the spectacle that Dream Theater was about to present.
James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Mangini took to the stage to the audience's delight. The three-hour setlist featured, in the first part (one hour), classics such as "Untethered Angel," "A Nightmare to Remember," and "Fall Into the Light." Needless to say, the technical skill of all the members is impressive.
The band creates the atmosphere of a true "dream theater," aided by projections and lighting effects. From there, Dream Theater presented the album Scenes From a Memory in its entirety, a concept album that tells a story involving spiritual regressions and murders.
The audience roared and cheered at every solo, tempo change, and new song the band presented. The question that remains is, "How do they do it?" The songs are long, and the show is even longer. And there isn't a single wrong note or a pause for these geniuses to rest.
Despite its diverse lineup, the Dream Festival ended up pleasing every tribe that gathered there. Distinct performances crowned a celebration of metal in all its forms.
Check out the exclusive photos taken by Marta Ayora :
