In my formative years, when I was first started discovering metal, I was more into 80s glam metal. The big hair, the anthemic choruses, and the larger than life personalities drew me in. A few of my friends also enjoyed this, but the style of music they were drawn to more was power metal. Bands like Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, and Stratovarius. The even longer hair whipping back and forth, the fantasy inspired lyrics, and otherworldly powerful vocals made them feel like kings. There was something special to this kind of music, and the more they played their favorites for me the more I was drawn into these bands. Because of my high school friends, a lot of these bands I have been fortunate enough to see live. One additional band that stood out to me was Kamelot, who I never seemed to catch when they were touring. But I finally saw their advertisement for their upcoming Awaken the World tour with HammerFall and Ad Infinitum, and that it was coming to the City National Grove of Anaheim. Most of my friends have moved away over time, but I knew I had to be at this show for them.
Opening the night was Swiss symphonic metal band Ad Infinitum. This was their first time touring the United States, and the crowd made sure to show up early to show their support for this band. Fronted by vocalist Melissa Bonney, who’s voice probably had the most range of the entire night. Belting powerful vocals that truly didn’t need the amplification of the microphone, to softly holding back the power to enchant the crowd with the essence of a mother singing a lullaby to their child, and then unleashing the fury with harsh screamed vocals. While Bonny was dazzling the crowd with her vocals, guitarist Adrian Theßenvitz and bassist Korbinian Benedict were just as entertaining on stage. The two of them oozed charisma, not only being flawless on their instruments, but being complete characters on stage. Playing it up to the crowd, switching sides, and dancing with their axes. Honestly, I feel they stole a lot of attention from Bonny. But it was drummer Niklas Müller who provided a consistently solid beat throughout the set that allowed the other members to go as crazy as they did. With songs like “Unstoppable,” “Eternal Rains,” “Outer Space,” “See You in Hell,” “Upside Down,” “Animals,” and ending with “Into the Night.” Ad Infinitum’s first outing into the United States will not be their last, as the crowd ate up every moment we got with the band and we can’t wait to have more.
Up next was Swedish power metalers known as HammerFall. The last time I saw these guys was in 2018 when they actually headlined at this very same venue. So I was excited to see them again after all these years. Opening their set with “Brotherhood,” you could tell HammerFall were happy to be back. Fronted by Joacim Cans, who’s sings with a style similar to Ronnie James Dio. One thing HammerFall does different than the rest of the bands, it massive church-esque harmonies. When the rest of the band backs Cans, it sounds like we are in a cathedral listening to a choir. Along with providing those righteous harmonies, guitarist Oscar Dronjak and Pontus Norgren, along with bassist Fredrik Larsson were the Three Musketeers of the band. Galivanting across the stage and getting into a classic rock line up standing next to each other to head bang in tandem. Founding member Dronjak also brought out a Viking hammer style guitar to shred on. The man is in his 50s, but still performs with the energy and flexibility of a 20 year old throwing in a huge back bend while ripping on the guitar. Drummer David Wallin adds more Viking flair to the bands demeanor but is hidden behind the massive drum kit that he blasts away on. HammerFall kept the fans in the palms of their hands for songs like “Any Means Necessary,” “Heeding the Call,” “Hammer of Dawn,” “Renegade,” “Hammer High,” “Last Man Standing,” “Let the Hammer Fall,” “Hail to the King,” “(We Make) Sweden Rock,” and ended with the crowd pleasing “Hearts on Fire.” This was a set that could have been headlining a tour and I hope to see them back soon.
Finally, it was time for our headliners, Kamelot. I’ve personally not looked up any live videos before this show, as I wanted to have an experience that was not encumbered by any expectation. And I am so glad I did! There was two rode cases setup in the pit connected to the stage, and within seconds of the show starting guitarist Thomas Youngblood and bassist Sean Tibbits were standing on those cases, getting just inches away from the fans faces. Locking eyes with the fans, and gesturing at everyone in the crowd, these guys were here to give a crowd-pleasing show. Vocalist Tommy Kaverik was even playing it up for the photographers, nearly grabbing my camera out of my hands at one moment. All this interpersonal play with the crowd just made the show even more of a delightful experience. Drummer Alex Landenburg and keyboardist Oliver Palotai were making the most of the positions at the back of the stage. With Landenburg having a crash cymbal set high above his kit, requiring him to extend to hit it. Which added more flair and personality to his playing. While Palotai would head bang and gesture in between his fingers waltzing across the keys.
Kamelot understands the assignment of a live show, wanting to bring in more spectacle to their shows. One big assistance to this was having Ad Infinitum’s vocalist Melissa Bonny guest vocal on multiple songs. Bonny had a Medusa feel to her, as she danced with snake like movements along the back of the stage but adorn a metal mask that forbid her from casting you to stone. There were times when druids walked out on stage. Hooded figures bringing an eerie presence over the song. Kaverick even went through a slight costume change, donning his own fantasy inspired metal mask. This all occurred while the stage was blasted with smoke canon’s frequently and a colorful light show that bathed the stage with a blue glow. Kamelot kept this energy up for their entire set that featured songs like “Veil of Elysium,” “Rule the World,” “Opus of the Night,” “Insomnia,” “When the Lights Are Down,” “Vespertine (My Crimson Bride),” “New Babylon,” ‘Karma,” “Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife),” “Willow,” “Nightsky,” “March of Mephisto,” “Forever,” and coming back for a two song encore with “One More Flag in the Ground” and “Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy).”
The more I embrace power metal and see these bands live, the more I understand why my high school friends were so devotedly passionate about them. The songs and music take you on an adventure unlike other genres can. Even when the lyrical content can be emotional or depressive, there is always a power and strength to the songs. The brightness that these bands play with resonates with the dreams of every person in attendance. It shows us who we want to be, not who we are in that moment. And just for those few hours, our world is awoken.
