All Photos By Mike Lewis Photography
ARCH ENEMY headlined the sold-out show at Portland’s Roseland Theater on November 25th. The last time around the band performed at The Hawthorne Theater across town. This was a co-headlining tour, which I wasn’t aware of, so each band alternated closing the show based on which band’s fan base was ‘bigger’ in the region that they happen to be performing in.
I was surprised that TRIVIUM were still ‘a thing’. I viewed them as the spawn of Load and Reload era METALLICA with a more melodic singer; nothing all that groundbreaking, they put on an energetic performance however. TRIVIUM were represented well in Portland, based on the reception by the sold-out audience and the TRIVIUM t-shirt brigade. As stated, this is a co-headlining tour which meant an equal helping of TRIVIUM, for better or worse. I believe my beard grew three inches during their set. TRIVIUM are promoting their latest effort (their 8th studio) The Sin And The Sentence, released in October of 2017. About ¼ of the crowd cleared out after the TRIVIUM set and more trickled out 2-3 songs deep into the ARCH ENEMY set.
ARCH ENEMY issued Will To Power this Spring, and marks album number two with (singer) Alissa White-Gluz (formerly of THE AGONIST). White-Gluz had some huge shoes to fill since the Angela Gossow era was a smashing success. White-Gluz provides an energetic show, causing a ruckus as she leaps from the drum riser, hops from (guitar) wedge to (guitar) wedge in her Cher-inspired bodysuit. Guitarists Michael Amott and Jeff Loomis and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo could not contain White-Gluz, the stage was hers. ARCH ENEMY blazed through classics such as “Ravenous”, “My Apocalypse”, “We Will Rise” and “Nemesis” with a more recent fan favorite “War Eternal” securing it’s rightful place in the ARCH ENEMY arsenal.
The latest ARCH ENEMY record, Will To Power, was represented amply in the set with new tunes that included “The World Is Yours”, “The Eagle Flies Alone” and “The Race”. Alissa tried diligently to ‘sell' the band to the crowd with unnecessary stage banter and by eliciting the audience ‘sing-along'. It was at times a bit much for a club gig and better suited for one of those European festival shows. I totally understand White-Gluz’s enthusiasm and excitement fronting ARCH ENEMY, though a little of that goes a long way at least in this subgenre.
Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Mike Lewis Photography
