Text by Rodrigo Simas
The tour, which is traveling throughout Europe with Mothica , Black Veil Brides , and Halestorm, made a special stop in Lisbon at LAV (Lisboa Ao Vivo), which was completely sold out.
Opening the show at 8:00 PM, Mothica took to the stage to showcase her latest work, the excellent Nocturnal . Performing her music with elegance, the American singer captivated the audience, even though she was stylistically the most distinct of the night's artists, heavily influenced by pop and electronic music.
Black Veil Brides came on stage with the show already in full swing. Even though they were the second act on the lineup, a large portion of the audience was there to see the band, singing along to every song and rocking out the whole time. You could see the happiness on everyone's faces with such a warm reception from the crowd. From the beginning with "Crimson Skies" and "Rebel Love Song" to the end with "Fallen Angels" and "In The End," the energy didn't stop for a second.
The band members have excellent stage presence, running all over the place (the most still one is the vocalist, Andy Biersack ), with guitarist Jinxx , constantly rocking out. Dominating the stage, the group played songs from all phases of their career and three from the album The Phantom Tomorrow , released in 2021. The visual style, a mix of 80s glam metal bands like Motley Crue and the early career of Avenged Sevenfold, has a gothic touch, which also appears in the sound, a hybrid of rock and metal with modern influences.
But the night truly belonged to Halestorm. The moment Lzzy Hale stepped onto the stage and sang the first verses of “Raise Your Horns” a cappella, you could already feel it was going to be a unique concert! “I Miss The Misery” followed, with the full band and a lot of heaviness. Arejay Hale became a lunatic on the drums, now with green hair, spinning his drumsticks in the air with many incredible fills. It's interesting to see that the band also makes room for jams, as in “Amen,” which has its extended ending with solos by Lzzy and guitarist Joe Hottinger.
The sequence featuring “Wicked Ways” (from the latest Back From The Dead ), “Freak Like Me,” and “Rock Show” is highly celebrated by fans, with Lzzy screaming at the top of her lungs. Much of the attention is focused on her, who is truly impressive: from her raspy screams to the highest notes, she delivers absolutely everything and much more, in addition to commanding the audience with great charisma. In “Break In,” “Shatter Me,” and “Raise Your Horns,” she takes to the piano and moves many in the audience.
Arejay also has room for a (manageably engaging) drum solo towards the end of the show, which also includes “Back From The Dead” and “Uncomfortable” before the band leaves the stage. The encore features three songs: “Terrible Things,” “Here To Us,” and “The Steeple,” closing the performance with a flourish and demonstrating why Halestorm holds its current status. Great compositions, impeccable performance, and genuine respect and affection for the audience. Rock is alive and well!
Halestorm – Lisboa Ao Vivo
(Raise Your Horns)
I Miss the Misery
Love Bites (So Do I)
I Get Off
Wicked Ways
Freak Like Me
Rock Show
Amen
Break In / Shatter Me
Raise Your Horns
Familiar Taste of Poison
Takes My Life
Back From the Dead
Uncomfortable
BIS:
Terrible Things
Here’s to Us
The Steeple
