10-03-2015 Amaranthe

Supports: Santa Cruz, Engel; Venue: Doornroosje, Nijmegen (Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren

Amaranthe is back on the road and they brought two band, Engel and Santa Cruz, with them.

In Nijmegen the bands are ready to play in this fairly young venue. A brand new building giving space to a sold out concert. Santa Cruz from Finland was the first band that was going to play. Just one day after the release of their new, self-titled album. The combination with Amaranthe seems quite remarkable, Santa Cruz is after all a band that plays Rock with the Sleaze in it. A good old rock party and therefore the guys seem to have a bit trouble to reach the audience with their music. But what works in their advance is that they play an entertaining show. The guys are energetic, but never go too far in a way that show takes over from the sound. After a bit the connection is made and have they found the hearts of some in the audience.

Santa Cruz

Engel Engel is up next. The Swedish formation is having their focus on a bit harder metal and this also is not exactly what the audience seems up for. Then the band has bad luck with their sound also. The drums are coming across very loud which makes it a bit of a hassle when you care to listen to the rest as well. Then more problems are ahead when only the drums and some vocals come across. Tough luck. While Santa Cruz has a bit more charisma, Engel needs to try harder to come across.

The band plays some songs of their new album called “Raven Kings” and makes a good impression with these. At the end of the set it seems that they manage to impress some people and they even managed to get people to response to the request for a pit, but the sound issues certainly cut it off for them. If this would have been better the songs would have come more alive as right now the vocals could not be heard very well in front of an audience that comes to see a band that has a lot of catchy sing-along songs.

Engel

When Amaranthe starts the venue transforms into a whole new dimension of party. Where people were first just standing and watching now everyone is jumping around, singing along and it is clear that the album has been out for a bit already as the fans know all the words by heart. The band reaches out their microphones to the audience to invite them to be part of the performance. Three vocalists and a sold out venue performing altogether. Whether it is the song “Digital World” they start with or their single “Drop Dead Cynical” which is played at the end of the song, the band maintains the high energy.

A performance of Amaranthe has obviously the vocals in their base but the catchiness comes also from the diverse electronic elements in their sound. Their disco-ish songs get their heaviness with the guitars, but they tend to be overpowered in the live show. Not that it matters. It’s obvious, Amaranthe gets their crowd into a party mode and the whole venue seem to have a great time tonight. An easy win for the Swedes!

Amaranthe