KAMELOT Closes North American Tour With DELAIN and BATTLE BEAST Under A Rainy Fort Lauderdale’s Night

If you are a musician, you should be aware of the consequences of scheduling a performance on Mother’s Day, which also always falls on a Sunday (many won’t stay long as they must work next morning). And if on top of that the weather conspires against you and turns the afternoon/night into a raining-cats-and-dogs mayhem, you should certainly expect for the turnout to be highly impacted. The three aforementioned factors came together as one last weekend, while US powerhouse metallers Kamelot prepared to raise the curtains for the last time in their ongoing US Tour alongside Delain and Battle Beast. Nonetheless, even when the attendance was not a “full house” the three bands received a warm welcome and the crowd stayed until the end, proving that metal allegiances are a strong bond which overcomes bad weather and familiar celebrations.

Battle Beast inaugurated the night, and they were firing on all cylinders with singer Noora Louhimo taking the spotlight. Their extremely straightforward approach, which emphasizes crunchy grooves, spacey yet tight keyboard-drenched atmospheres and hook-oriented songwriting has all the elements to peg them as the illegitimate sons of mid-80s Warlock and Accept, with maybe a tad bit of earlier 80s hard rock after the mold of Survivor and even Journey elements at the fringes. With a set-list revolving around straight up heavy metal style anthems such as “Straight Through the Heart” and “Beyond the Burning Skies” to the more pop-oriented tunes like “Familiar Hell” and the disco-to-boot “King for a Day” they were very fun to watch and gained several cheers throughout their set.

After the usual changeover, which lasted approximately 30 mins, Delain came on stage while “The Monarch” played over PA. With keyboardist Martijn Westerholt and drummer Joey de Boer in the back on elevated platforms, guitarists Timo Somers and Merel Bechtold, alongside bassist Otto Schimmelpenninck held the front line; while the band charged through an excellent set of old favorites and more recent cuts, with vocalist Charlotte Wessels constantly moving around the stage and engaging with everyone, particularly the two guitar players. The other band-members were no slouches in terms of crowd participation either, leading frequent request for the audience to sing, jump and clap. One of the two funniest moments of the night happened when all the male members of Battle Beast took the stage after “Don’t Let Go” almost completely naked, covering their genitals with pink and green marking tape and wearing birthday hats, to dance around and sing happy birthday to Charlotte, who was coincidentally turning 31 that night. Needless to say the audience chanted along, and after they left Charlotte seemed genuinely surprised and speechless. The band closed their set with “We Are The Others”, unanimously clamored by the motivated fans.

As the stage was being uncluttered and prepared for Kamelot, the anticipation build up, and the few empty spots in the general audience floor became scarcer. A giant backdrop was slowly lifted, showing the artwork for the band’s recently released album The Shadow Theory, and “Knight’s March” started making its way through the airwaves. The drum-kit was located in the center and atop a very high platform, and the suspended cymbals reflected the dancing light beans, the whole stage looked very menacing and entrancing. Slowly, and amidst an phenomenal crowd eruption Sean, Oliver, Thomas and Alex Landenburg (Luca’s Turilli’s Rhapsody’s drummer filling in temporarily for Johan Nunez) creeped to their position, the first notes of “Phantom Divine” started to sound, Tommy walked to the center downing his usual hoodie and combat boot, raised his hands in the air, and Florida welcomed his illustrious power-metal sons one more time.

During the 14 songs-long set the band seemed to be enjoying as much as the fans did, with Thomas bringing a camcorder attached to a stick, aiming at the audience and asking them to scream at the top of their lungs “as they were filming the sets for a future Blu Ray release” and Tommy descending into the photo pit to share handshakes with the front row attendees and picking up random phones to film around the venue from his own perspective. As expected the restless Sean Tibbets sort of stole the visual part of the show with his constant headbanging and metal stances while playing the bass furiously. The second and final amusing moment occurred during “March of Mephisto”, one of the set-list staples in every Kamelot show, and was anew led by the Battle Beast’s members. They showed up with the previously described attire (or lack thereof) – this time were accompanied by their singer – and brought beers and a small grill with them along with some picnic chairs. Sitting just in front of the drum’s platform they drank and cheered while Kamelot played, and Noora Louhimo joined Once Human‘s singer Lauren Hart (who provides the growling vocals for Kamelot in several songs) in a vocal duel counterbalancing Karevik‘s clean voice. After “Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)” they disappeared backstage to come back 5 minutes later and attack on “Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)”, sort of an odd choice for an encore, but tastefully executed and featuring a beautiful vocal due between Tommy and Lauren.

A highly entertaining night of symphonic and power metal, accompanied by the best sound equalization I’ve heard at The Revolution Live in quite some time, all three bands managed to defied the odds and gave their very last ounce in a performance which surely will linger in the memories of the fans who braved the rain and forgot about the next morning commitments. 

Battle Beast Setlist:

Straight to the Heart / Bringer of Pain / Familiar Hell / Black Ninja / Lost in Wars / Bastard Son of Odin / Touch in the Night / King for a Day / Beyond the Burning Skies

Delain Setlist:

The Monarch (Intro played over PA) / Hands of Gold / Suckerpunch / The Glory and the Scum / The Hurricane / Danse Macabre / Get the Devil Out of Me /
Fire with Fire / Mother Machine / Don’t Let Go / We Are the Others

Kamelot Setlist:

Knight’s March (Intro played over PA) / Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire) / Rule the World / Insomnia / The Great Pandemonium / When the Lights are Down / End of Innocence / Veil of Elysium / Here’s to the Fall / RavenLight (with drum solo) / March of Mephisto / Amnesiac / Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife) / Forever (with keyboard solo)

Encore: Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)

PHOTO GALLERY: