Dakesis – Madhouse Bar – Friday 17th July 2009

Keep this one quiet – you ain't seen me right? - Chop at a classic and power metal gig? Oh the shame.... Not at all, variety is the spice of life and all that. And all extreme metal, with no respite, doth make Chop a dull boy... Enough of the flowery intro, first band of the night were...

Dycian Maze. You know what you're getting when you see a five string bass, and six and seven string axemen - right? To a degree. This was their second gig with their new vocalist, and aside from the obvious observations, they played a good set. With time, and more gigs under their belt who knows? They played three songs off their EP, and three new songs – so new that they were using working titles. There were power metal leanings, but for the most part they played classic rock, with Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, especially, springing to mind. There were sections reminiscent of Fight and Testament too, so it's fair to say they were at the chunkier end of classic rock. Clearly difficult to pigeon hole then?! Hopefully a band I'll see again later in the year, if not early in 2010 . Set list; “The Hand Inside”, “Fiji”, “Into This Hell”, “ROL”, “Adventures In The Sin Trade”, “Soldiers Of The Grave”.

Winterstorm weren't at full strength as their keyboard player wasn't with them, so it's slightly unfair to judge them on first viewing. They played a set which was at the heavier end of female fronted goth metal. Their lead guitarist also took on the vocals (and the frontwoman role) and was timid to put it mildly. Pity, because she's clearly a gifted guitarist, and her PRS was played well. Unfortunately there was a disjointed feel to their performance, with an overall stilted, or mechanical, feel. It seemed that the band were struggling to keep it all together. And you've got to ask why a rhythm guitarist was a) playing a seven string, and more pertinently, b) only playing a movable – apart from the “solo” which was embarassing. A band I need to see at full strength to form an opinion I feel. Set list; “Internal Storm”, “Fire Dancer”, “Spirit”, “After Thought”, “Sinners Saint”, “Inner Demon”, “Drowned in Tears”.

Dakesis were playing a different set to usual, making it clear from the outset that this was a gig for their fans and they were going to mix it up. Usually their run of the mill European power metal (in the style of, shall we say, HammerFall or Blind Guardian) would have me heading for the exit rapidly, but there's something about this band. That indefinable something that many bands aspire to that's worth its weight in gold. They've got the moves, attitude, and presence that you'd normally associate with a far bigger stage, which is where I suspect we'll be seeing them sooner rather than later. Guest keyboard players and vocalists were called upon from the assembled mass, and there were more than the regulation number of covers too. The minimalist version of Blue Oyster Cult's “Don't Fear The Reaper” didn't work, although Nightwish's “Wish I Had An Angel” and Iron Maiden's “The Trooper” were more than passable. Obviously it's their original material that will make or break them, and from my limited knowledge of power metal they should acquit themselves well. In the final analysis, Dakesis are a competent and confident band, and one I need to see again on a larger stage, with a more usual setlist, to form a considered opinion. First impressions though were more than favourable. Set list; “Trial By Fire”, “Liar”, “Valhalla”, “Broken”, “Wish I Had An Angel”, “After The Storm”, “Don't Fear The Reaper”, “440”, “The Trooper”.