Having spent the last two decades being involved in the music industry in one way or another, including everything from being a roadie for a metal band right after turning eighteen to having my photographic services used by major record labels, I felt as though my background gave me a solid foundation to be a concert reviewer.  That is, until I had to show up and try to critique a group of musicians who’s individual credentials include being given a lifetime chair on the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, obtaining the “Solist Cellist” diploma at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and just for fun, being the first Finnish band to ever have a #1 Billboard single.  Uh-huh, easy review.

However, before trying to figure out how to even begin to describe the masterful musical monster that is Apocalyptica live, I’ll take a few moments to tackle the part of this review that in so many different aspects is much closer to home.  That being a review of Colorado Springs own metal maestros, Grindscape.  A band whose use of melodically driven backing vocals in combination/competition with a very aggressive demonic throat screamed lead vocal stylization helped try, but did not achieve, to bring cohesiveness to a quintet of very distinct and talented individuals.

With a sound that draws its influences from groups such as Lamb of God, Carcass and Meshuggah these heavy hitting highlanders had every ingredient and all the talent to make a moshpit meltdown, but the end only produced a simmered sauce.  Very unfortunate, as the beginning of their set most definitely got my attention and ear, but in my humble opinion, members Todd, Karsti, Dave, Jimmy and Marshall need to spend some time figuring out what exactly is the glue that holds them together.  If they ever do, then watch out! 

As the house lights went on between the acts and the sold out Black Sheep crowd began jockeying for their positions in anticipation of the Finnish ferocity that was about to occur, it made me realize something.  That it was truly in places like this; loud, cramped, sweaty little boxes of a venue with hundreds of energetic, almost fanatical, concert attendees clamoring for the show to begin, that real musical grit and performance assessments can honestly be given. 

Yes, I’m sure that there are critics out there who could give a very well educated and articulate review of an Eicca, Paavo or Pertu performance of a particular Beethoven or Mozart piece while doing a guest appearance for the London Symphony, but one look on a face in the crowd when Apocalyptica is playing their rendition of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, well, all I can say is that it would take way more than a thousand words to ever hope to describe that type of critique.

And it was thinking about that, the fans and their reactions, as I walked out into the abnormally cool May 12th evening air, still hearing faint echoes of “I’m Not Jesus”, “I Don’t Care” and “Nothing Else Matters”, that in a very enlightening way, ended up making this one of the easier reviews that I’ve ever done.  After all, what better of a critique can be made than by saying I was surrounded by looks of enjoyment and happiness?  I believe in the future I’ll end up paying as much attention to the fans as I do the group.  Thanks again to the Finnish foursome for such an entertaining evening, but most of all, a very large thank you to the fans!

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