30-11-2013 Into The Limelight

Venue: Azotod, De Meern (Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren

Into The Limelight Festival was planned for the day in the stage of Azotod in De Meern (Netherlands). There were a bunch of energetic bands scheduled.

Opening act was Only Fate Remains. The Dutch female fronted formation was having a bit of a false start, enduring some sound issues at first, but when they overcame that the show floated a bit better. The songs are showing some diversity from the band which shows that the band is clear of how to want to set themselves down, without pinning it down to just one sound only. A point of critic may be found in their performance self. There is not really a lot going on as a show, therefor at the end of the set you may have lost interest a bit. The band seem to play their show as if the stage is only half the size it actually is and that is a bit of pity as well as an opportunity for them to put up an amazing show next time. All they have to do is think big.

The German formation Wolfen came in straight away with a bit stronger package. Currently the band is ready to go back to studio, their latest release dates back to early 2012. Their fourth full length album in their career started in the mid-90’s . The band seem to know their way well on the stage, joking around a bit and put down a bit more active performance. Their Powermetal has some Thrashy influences making their sound a bit more strong. A song named “Last Chance” stands out for the way it is brought, you feel all words in it come alive. A good performance of these Germans that quite set the tone for what comes up next.

The band Martyr is known for giving an energetic show, where always plenty is going on. So it was this evening. The guys have been doing this since the 80’s with a breakup in between but active again since 2001. About two years ago the band has released the album “Circle of 8” and last year they celebrated their anniversary with a big party at Utrecht’s Tivoli. The majority of the songs played this evening were coming from “Circle of 8” and it is obvious the audience know the album rather well. The vibrant “Afterlife” played at the beginning of the set, is bringing everyone into the right atmosphere. Unfortunately some sound issues stroke these guys as well and new bassist Jeffrey seem to be a victim of those. Sooner they are able to continue and when at the end of their set “Circle of 8” comes along you could see that it becomes a sort of theme track to their sound. Martyr brings a show as expected, full energy. Always a pleasure to see live.

Izegrim is a Death/Thrash formation form The Netherlands, female fronted. Pretty much every time we are at any other country than NL, music fans feel the need to tell us who is their fave Dutch female singer and while it pretty much always are the obvious ones we begin to think that Izegrim is maybe NL’s best kept secret. The band does not stay within the borders though so perhaps the word will spread one day. The band formed in 1996 and has recently released their fourth full length album “Congress Of The Insane”. Today they are cheerful as it seems. A released video clip is playing during their set, giving the audience some interesting video art during their show and it seems that they can bring it all with a lot persuasion. At the end of their set it seems like they are leaving to early, which makes it even more obvious that the band has the music, the show and the experience all together as it should be.

Closing the evening is Spoil Engine, a Belgium formation making Melodic Death. The band seems wilder than any we saw before and vocalist Niek does not think the stage is large enough as he is more than once to be found on the floor between the audience which did not have to catch any nightliners. Though the vocals are not the one and only main attraction as it are the both guitarists who bring some vehemence into it. Here and there some catchiness is to be found in their songs, but the guys do not step away from the heavy sound at all. With their active performance and energetic performance Spoil Engine shows a worthy closing of the evening.