Tales, Imagination, and Sounds of Live Epic Metal:  Sabaton and Epica Perform to an Unforgettable Crowd in Hollywood

September 23rd, 2022

          With Iron Maiden performing several dates in Southern California, as well as Rammstein playing both of their rescheduled dates in Los Angeles, you wouldn’t have been able to assume so, seeing the line wrap around the Hollywood Palladium.  Despite the amount of Metal music within miles from one another, this special occasion would see the Swedish Power Metal masters themselves, Sabaton, make their North America return.  It would also be their first SoCal performance in nearly three years.  Joining them as the sole opener, Epica, and their brand of somber, enlightening Symphonic Metal.  The Palladium filled up quickly as doors opened, seeing lots of joyous faces, and anxious eagerness worn on their shoulders.

            At the stroke of 8 PM, the haunting, yet comforting embrace of the PA Intro to “Alpha – Anteludium”, rang loudly to the delight of this captivated audience.   The benevolent presence and majestic keys opening “Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity”, set the tone for Epica’s 60-minute set, with interesting Symphonic Metal, and a balancing mix of chaos, grittiness, and interchanging waves of melody.

            By far the largest venue I’ve seen Epica perform on, the band took complete advantage of movement across the floor, effortlessly engaging with all sides of the packed front.  Using a rotating keyboard base, as well as a fancy curved portable keyboard, not only did Coen Janssen wow the crowd with the rocking hardware, but the range of harmonious melody and lurking peace-breaking notes truly makes Epica stand out in the amount of Symphonic Metal bands we’re quite thankful to have.  It can be tricky to get the volume balanced between the other instruments and the keyboard, with often times it’s either one or the other that gets lost in the mix.  Not only were both guitar and keys present in the mix, but full of power, aggression, and volume.  Janssen’s portable keyboard in “Victims of Contingency”, made for a grand awe, and showed off the counterpoints with the guitars around the end, a friendly reminder for how incredible their 2014 record, The Quantum Enigma, truly was.

               Mark Jansen and Simone Simons’s contrasting vocal work, demonstrates one of Epica’s most prolific strengths. From the angelic, enthralling, Soprano ranges from Simons, to Jansen’s quite sinister high-end growl, it gave the heavier and atmospheric sections such nuance, and dynamic character.  Simone, in-between vocals, moved around and headbanged as much as bassist Rob van der Loo, for the latter that seeing his face clearly was a problem, a great problem to have, being physically involved with the musical notes like that.  From warming up the crowd, being a focal point on-stage, Simone Simon was a marvel; delivering exceptional high-note after another, as well as her outstanding performance in “Cry for the Moon.”  That “Forever and ever!” part of the chorus particularly, stayed in my head the entire show, driving home, and hours thereafter, (and ever).     

Jansen’s guitar work, alongside Isaac Delahaye, contained those sustained power chords accompanying Janssen’s keyboard work, but also lots of complimentary, varied palm-muted rhythm picking, that were in complete sync with Ariën van Weesenbeek’s double-bass fury, noted in the ending section of “Sancta Terra.”  The context added that left-hook punch you barely saw coming, and what separates Epica from the lighter sounding Symphonic Metal groups.

On that note, from a whirling ‘Wall of Death’ to setup “Beyond the Matrix”, to Janssen jumping in the pit to crowd surf with his portable keyboard, while playing, made for a lasting, furious impression to this rabid, passionate fanbase.  Epica’s set was brilliant from an overall mix:  musically, visually, and emotionally.  My only 2nd time witnessing them live thus far, their best; and hopefully more to come.             

Alpha – Anteludium (PA Intro)

1. Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity

2. Sensorium

3. Victims of Contingency

4. Unchain Utopia

5. Cry for the Moon

6. Sancta Terra

7. Code of Life

8. Beyond the Matrix

9. Consign to Oblivion

            Within the 30-minute layover between sets, “Sabaton” chants reigned in these Palladium halls several times.  As the lights went down at 9:30 PM, a professionally narrated montage of the United States involvement and participation in WWI, set up the historic nature, strong lyrical concepts and stories for Sabaton, their greatest and most well-known trait.  This being my 3rd time seeing Sabaton headline, it was a gentle and accurate reminder, the difference and level between their (now rare) support shows and headline events.  Not only in the amount of they play, obviously, but the extra theatrics, much varied setlist, and now on this evening, the substantial upgrade to their live production and equipment.  A massive double-gun cannon artillery set up and mixed with Hannes Van Dahl’s drum kit, as well as other war-themed items found around the floor, the spectacle was fantastic to gaze upon.

            “Ghost Division” opened Sabaton’s set to a massive roar of delight and pure joy from this jam-packed concert hall.  Power Metal can be interpreted and heard in various ways; with Sabaton, the key element is in their lyrical stories, and how they are incorporated into the mood of the music performed.  The rhythm of how the lyrics is sung and how they sound, generally informs you of the method, character, and details of that track.  With so many eras, wars, history lessons, the combinations are seemingly endless.  “The Red Baron” was loudly sung by the crowd, “Higher, the king of the sky!  Higher, an eye for an eye!”  Tommy Johansson’s tapping-based solo after the 2nd chorus, flaring and blazing with speed, and performing much of the back-up vocals, as with the rest of Sabaton:  powerful, and adding layers of booming voice.

            The main staple, and extra, energizing consistence of Sabaton:  vocalist and singer Joakim Brodén.  Seeing Sabaton for the first time at ‘Maidenfest 2013’ in San Bernardino, Joakim’s delightfully positive energy, constant movement, lyrical dedication, and genuine happiness to perform, was the exact same amount of that concert, to this one tonight.  It translates into the incredible effort Sabaton performs with, and Joakim’s outstanding commanding of the stage, shows off one of the band’s most stunning qualities live.  Given he’s been responsible for playing keyboards on most of the band’s records, it was a sincere pleasure to see him perform piano on the emotional track, “Christmas Truce”, arguably my favourite song of their set.  The lights from the cell phones, completely lit up the venue, reminding you how exhilarating Science truly is, and just how breathtaking the atmosphere was from this moment.      

            Given that Rammstein was performing their 1st show of two nights not too far from the Palladium, and Iron Maiden in my neck of the woods in Orange County just yesterday, guitarist Chris Rörland took a moment to humbly thank the crowd, for making this show insanely packed, admitting they weren’t sure how many would attend upon those circumstances.  California for Metal shows, almost always certainly delivers, and tonight proved that ‘rule.’

            From the “Gott mit uns” Swedish version, the catchiness of “Shiroyama”, and powerful staple, “Carolus Rex”, the amount of material the fans soaked up in awe, carried all throughout Sabaton’s 90-minute epic set.  I lost track the number of times, the band laughed on set together, making jokes in-between songs, and giving their all playing and singing.  It’s no coincidence Metal parents take their young kids to see Sabaton, with not just a friendly atmosphere, but delicate character within their stage production, copious amount of history lessons to interpret and songs to sing along to. 

            A tremendous night of epically-played Metal, Sabaton and Epica were more than enough to satisfy this elated, joyous audience.  For those seeking a quality live Metal show, filled with technique, insight, visually exciting, and full of wonder, look no further to this tour.   

1. Ghost Division

2. Stormtroopers

3. The Red Baron

4. Bismarck

5. The Attack of the Dead Men

6. Soldier of Heaven

7. Steel Commanders

8. Carolus Rex

9. Gott mit uns

10. Night Witches

11. Dreadnought

12. Shiroyama

13. The Last Stand

14. Christmas Truce

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15. Primo Victoria

16. Swedish Pagans

17. Dead Skin Mask/Highway to Hell Medley (Slayer and AC/DC cover)

18. To Hell and Back