Expecting big things: Although many fans and critics alike could argue about who started symphonic metal and when, most can agree the genre has made great strides in both the United States and abroad in the last 10 years.
Just look to Graveshadow, one such band with a growing fan base, not just in Sacramento, but also across the country and overseas. The group recently released its debut full-length record, Nocturnal Resurrection, on the Belgium-based Mausoleum Records and celebrated with quite the raucous crowd.
One might think that a local five-band CD release show on a rainy Sunday night would be destined for failure. But the band brought its A-game and drew upwards of 200 fans. More importantly, it also delivered a ferocious set replete with fan favorites including the infectious “Blink,” “Namesake” and album closer “Blood And Fire.”
Singer Heather Michele held court center stage with one foot often resting on her monitor while the able guitar duo of William Lloyd Walker and Matt Mitchell provided distortion and riffs steeped in progressive and symphonic metal. Bassist Ben Armstrong roamed the stage like a crazed madman playing his five-string bass, which complemented the double-bass drum quandary coming from Roman Anderson. Keyboardist Valerie Hudak was also a formidable force, providing some key headbanging along with, more importantly, impressive keyboard skills.
Score one for the locals.
(SN&R)