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PROGPOWER 2005
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Sjiwa - Baarlo (NL)
September 30th - October 2nd 2005
http://www.progpower.com
Going to ProgPower is one of the highlights of the year for us. It's just an hour from our home, we have a great B&B address we always go to, we always look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces again, meeting new people, we know the music will be great and the atmosphere even better. The only thing that's different almost each year is the company we keep. This time Paddy and Conny came with us (or rather we with them, because they drove us ;)) for the whole weekend. Silkie
decided in the last minute to drive hours to join us for one evening, Saturday night, to see one band, after her initial weekend plans fell through. Visiting ProgPower is like visiting family, and thanks to the great line-up the family was bigger than ever. Here's our report of a successful 7th edition of ProgPower! (note: some setlists are copied from the lists on stage so I'm not sure if they're all 100% correct) (Marlies)
FRIDAY
The pre-party on Friday evening started in a small pub in the basement which was really nice and familiar. It seemed to be your livingroom so the atmosphere was very good and the entrance was free this evening. The first band on Friday was the Dutch band TIMELINE from Baarlo, the town where the Progpower Europe festival takes place. Timeline started with a 20 minutes delay and their first song was very calm and melodic and so was the second. But the bridges were very powerful. With the hammond organ-like keyboard the sound seemed to be like in the 70s but with a touch of new rock. After a few sound problems it was possible to hear the voice of the singer and to forgive him his bad "singer voice". It got much better, but unfortunately his presentation (none) didn't. The progressive sound started with the fourth song and the five boys from Baarlo showed their talent to the audience in the well-visited basement. The fifth song "Behind These Walls" was very progressive too, and some weird parts were followed by calm and dreamy ones. At least each song was powered by good keyboard and very good drum sounds so that at the end some of the present progmetal fans will join Timeline again just because of the varieties in their songs and their sound. (Conny)
The Italian band MIND KEY started their gig at 10.30pm. The first obvious thing was the very powerful voice of the young singer, who was actually Stamina's Giorgio Adamo, filling in for Aurelio Fierro who had other commitments in a musical. Now this singer did have charisma! Of course the whole sound was very progressive but also often changing between some melodic, powerful and calm parts. Even some fans of the Italian band were there so the audience was influenced and pushed by them. They even did a "light jamsession" and you could hear an influence by Dream Theater. The refrains of a few songs were really melodic and it was fun to listen to it. The music was progressive, tight, sometimes calm, sometimes driven, versatile and had groove. The weirdest song was "Lord Of The Flies" in which the keyboard was nearly raped with some strange "alien sounds" - or was this the singer…? The most surprising song was "Still Of The Night", a Whitesnake cover we didn't really expect from this band, but they did well. All in all the gig of Mind Key was powerful and not boring at all. The international progrockfans will hopefully hear some more music of them out of Italy. Actually they already presented a song from the upcoming second album that is to be released some time next year. (Conny/Marlies)
setlist Mind Key:
Secret Dream
Deep Inside
Caught In The Balance
Eye Of A Stranger
Lord Of The Flies
Now Until Forever
World Of Illusion
Still Of The Night
Love Remains The Same
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Waiting For The Answer
SATURDAY
DISILLUSION, the trio from Leipzig, Germany, started the first festival day well and impressed their fans with their versatile songs. The most versatile one was the title song of their, so far only, album "Back To Times Of Splendor" that lasts over 10 minutes. Death metal riffs and acoustic sounds go side by side here, as well as clean vocals and grunts. Already 
20 minutes before the end of their show they introduced their last song, that lasts.. 20 minutes! Everything between blast beat and rock was again incorporated in this song, but death metal dominated and of course, fitting the festival, it's all very progressive as well. The most curious thing with Disillusion is the fact there are two guitarists and a drummer on stage, one guitarist, Vurtox, does the various vocals. Keyboards and bass were on tape. Vurtox switches seamlessly between vocal styles and the same goes for the music. Impressive! (Conny/Marlies)
setlist Disillusion:
In Vengeful Embrace
Expired
Back To Times Of Splendor
Alone I Stand In Fires
The Sleep Of Restless Hours
THROES OF DAWN from Finland are a bit different from the rest of the line-up for us, with their dark gothic metal. It seems to be the same for many other visitors as well (luckily not for everyone of course). Not a bad gig, but not too inspiring either and none of us stayed for very long, sorry. (Marlies)
The four Danes of ANUBIS GATE had some serious technical trouble and in the beginning the background vocals dominated, which was a bit unpleasant. But we weren't too crazy about the singer either, it was like he was a bit stressed out with the singing and playing bass - it turned out that the actual singer Torben Askholm had serious trouble with his throat and wasn't allowed to sing for weeks and bassist 
Henrik Fevre had to fill in, so it made sense if he didn't feel all comfortable with the double duty - and this was also their first real gig (apart from a small private try-out back home)! All things considered he did pretty good, many bands would've cancelled! Respect for that. Anubis Gate have two splendid albums out, but live their progressive power metal wasn't as powerful as hoped, but with the circumstances I don't think we should despair, hopefully with some more experience (and the original singer) the band will become more powerful in time. (Conny/Marlies)
The later it got, the better the music was. The Israeli 6 piece ORPHANED LAND were one of the inside tips and they surprised many with their good progressive metal, larded with oriental sounds. The high expectations of many were met! Their stage presence and interaction with the audience also added to the great atmosphere. The gig got even more surprising (and successful) with the guest appearance of guitarist Paul Baayens from the Dutch cult death metal band Thanatos, who showcasts he's also a singer by grunting at Kobi's side during "Halo Dies (The Wrath Of God)". But the ultimate surprise was definitely near the end, when they did a cover of the Dutch classic and sing-a-long "Alles Kan Een Mens Gelukkig Maken" (also known as "Een Eigen Huis") from René Froger - esp. rehearsed for this festival! Amazing how Kobi sang in pretty good Dutch (with phonetic phrases in his own Hebrew language on a sheet!) and turned the whole venue upside down! Apart from some foreigners who had no clue what was going on haha! Highlight of the day (and even festival) for many!(Marlies/Conny)
setlist Orphaned Land:
Ocean Land
El Méod Naala
Call To Awake
The Kiss Of Babylon
Halo Dies
A Neverending Way
Birth Of The Three
Norra El Norra
Ornaments Of Gold
Alles Kan Een Mens Gelukkig Maken/Eigen Huis
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Norra El Norra
After I had the bad luck to miss my flight to Oslo on Friday and I couldn't get another one, I decided to travel to Baarlo for the ProgPower festival, just to see GREEN CARNATION from Norway on Saturday. Arriving in time, I was looking forward to see Green Carnation. Unfortunately there were soundcheck problems and it took over 20 minutes to solve it. Then finally the curtains opened up and Green Carnation started the show with "The Everlasting Moment", followed by the song "Crushed To Dust". Other songs of the set-list were "Just When You Think it's Safe", "The Quiet Offspring", "Into Deep", "The Boy In The Attic", "Dead But Dreaming", "Purple Door, Pitch Black" and "Lullaby In Winter". As usual when I see Green Carnation I'm always amazed of their show. This time, they introduced the new line up, new to me was Tommy Jackson on drums. Ole Vistnes joined as guest musician, who replaces Stein Roger Sordal for the time he is on a trip in Australia. Also it was nice to see them with three guitars, Michael Krumins, Bjørn Harstad and of course Tchort - the more the merrier, hehehe. Even if I have to say that I missed Stein Roger somehow on that gig; don't get me wrong - Ole did a great job, Green Carnation did a fantastic show and it was great to see many faces in the crowed singing along to the songs. Michael Krumins did some great solos and I believe Kjetil's charisma and vocals can pull a spell on you. Well, I'm always fascinated how he fronts Green Carnation. Think their "warning"-t-shirt fits perfect, saying the music is addictive... It was very nice to meet the band after the show for a little  chat and getting
the latest album "The Quiet Offspring" signed. Not to forget a nice photo shot with Kjetil and Tchort. Green Carnation saved my weekend! :) (Silkie)
setlist Green Carnation:
The Everlasting Moment
Crushed To Dust
Just When You Think It's Safe
The Quiet Offspring
Into Deep
The Boy In The Attic
Dead But Dreaming
Purple Door, Pitch Black
Lullaby In Winter
None of us, nor many of the regular ProgPower visitors, likes EPICA much, but there was a big crowd there, many (young) fans came esp. for them. Their soundcheck took a while and they started 20 minutes late. We stayed for a few songs and I have to say that they have come a long way since I saw them last a few years back at the Headway festival (when they had just changed their name from Sahara Dust to Epica). Back then Simone was so shy, now she's a sexy diva who knows how to use her sex-appeal to wrap the audience around her elegant finger. The whole band looked professional, even though it was a bit too posed (incl. fans to blow their hair up and lights from below). It made some nice pics though and for those who are into this style of metal (opera vocals, classical influences), it was a good headliner. (Marlies)
SUNDAY
The second day started promising, with the Dutch band THE AURORA PROJECT. They surprised the audience with dreamy songs that reminded me (Conny) of The Gathering's "Mandylion" and "Nighttime Birds" eras. Because of that, the addition of the flute in one song fitted well in the quiet, dreamy atmosphere. In general there were nice, quiet parts, then heavy 
parts again, symphonic, psychedelic. They also payed attention to the optical side of their show, by putting black rectangles on their skin as a sort of make up thing, and a slide show in the background. The band from Katwijk can reflect on a good gig with a good response of the audience. We heard several name them as the big surprise of the weekend.
(Conny/Marlies)
setlist The Aurora Project:
intro
The Betrayal
The Untold Prophecy
The Event Horizon
The Gathering
Nocturnal Lament
The Confession
The Resurrection
The five guys from DYNAMIC LIGHTS found their way to Baarlo from Italy to win some more fans over, about half a year after they first came here for a tour with Nightingale. My (Marlies) first goosebumps moments! I love their album "Shape", so I was very curious about them and they turned out to be my personal highlight of the festival. A bit heavier than the openers, but still prog rock/metal. A highlight was the Swedish guest singer Jamina Jansson, who joined them for "In The Hands Of The 
Siren". She had never performed with them, so she seemed a bit uncomfortable and nervous, but holy, is that voice ever sweet! And another remarkable moment was an intro with a didgeridoo that "someone from Australia would like" :)
And we all looked at Gary, our Australian friend in the audience :) Dominant in the music are the brilliant keyboards/piano by Giovanni Bedetti and the combination of the vocals of lead singer Matteo Infante and of Giovanni as the second voice. They did this a lot and it was awesome! Add Simone del Pivo's drumming, Raffa Mariotti's bassplaying 
(on a 6 string bass) and of course Marco Poderi's great guitarwork - bellissimo! (Marlies/Conny)
setlist Dynamic Lights:
Remembrances
In The Hands Of A Siren
Going To Nowhere
One Thousand Nothing
Connecting
The Big Show
Hard to imagine that this was CLOUDSCAPE's first gig outside of their home country Sweden. A very solid show with melodic, slightly progressive metal and definite roots in classic hardrock bands. They have a very strong singer in Mike Andersson, not only shown in their own songs, but also in the amazing cover of Whitesnake's "Still Of The Night". Hey, didn't we hear that before (see Mind Key review), haha! This version was much more professional and closer to the original though. Most of the songs played were of course from their great self-titled debut  album, but they also played one new song, "Demon Tears", off the next album, to be released in June 2006.
Not as progressive as most of the other bands on the bill, but to many the power of these Swedes was a welcome and successful change. Class gig! (Marlies)
setlist Cloudscape:
As The Light Leads The Way
Aqua 275
Witching Hour
The Presence Of Spirits
Everyday Is Up To You
Slave
Still Of The Night
Demon Tears
Under Fire
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In These Walls
Well, to be honest, I didn't care for any band on Sunday, except for the Norwegian progressive power metal band PAGAN'S MIND. I "know" them since the "Celestial Entrance"-release (about three years ago?) and since then, I am a real big fan of their music! And since they haven't come to Germany for touring, I finally had the chance to see them live, and it really was an experience!! They started 10 or 15 minutes late with "The Celestine Prophecy", the opener of their latest record "Enigmatic : Calling", and they really had fun playing, everyone of them. Next one was "Aegean Shores", a superb progressive number from the mentioned "Celestial Entrance" album, vocalist Nils was in a great mood, and so were Jörn Viggo (guitars), whom I could look straight in the eyes several times, and Steinar, the bass player. "The Seven Sacred Promises" was the next song from "Celestial Entrance", and the whole audience was blown away by these awesome song structures and heavenly melodies. After a little break for Nils, when the rest of the band played an instrumental medley (honestly I cannot think of the very songs containing this medley), his break was over with the nine-minutes-song "The Prophecy Of Pleiades", again from "Celestial Entrance", followed by "Enigmatic Mission", another song from the latest CD. Finally the band finished with "Through Osiris' Eyes", another great song from the "Celestial Entrance" record. Finally, they wanted to play "New World Order", but ProgPower boss René intervened and Pagan's Mind had to stop unfortunately. Well, to be honest, I was really fucking pissed off by that decision, Pagan's Mind hardly ever play live, travelled all the way from Norway… Sorry René, I simply don't understand it. What's five (!!!) minutes compared to 
several hundreds of kilometers travelling time for the band and some fans who just came to see the (to us) secret headliner Pagan's Mind - I did!!??? After the show, I had the lucky chance to talk to the guys a little bit, they are really friendly :) (Paddy)
setlist Pagan's Mind:
The Celestine Prophecy
Aegean Shores
The Seven Sacred Promises
instrumental medley
The Prophecy Of Pleiades
Enigmatic Mission
Through Osiris' Eyes
That ending was certainly unfortunate, but I guess there are arguments for both sides, the organisation trying to keep a strict time schedule (a necessary thing on any festival) and the band (however already overdue) wanting to finish their set with just one more song. If only the crew had been able to look in the future (to see that the headliner would be mucho delayed anyway...)
Anyway, on to the next band! WOLVERINE are among my favorite bands and I was even more looking forward to this ever since I heard Stefan Zell's wonderful girlfriend Jamina Jansson (yes the very same girl we just saw on stage with Dynamic Lights) would be joining them for the gorgeous duet "Leaving Yesterday". It was the 3rd time these Swedes played ProgPower, so the hall filled up very well, I had a very hard time to get to the front shortly before their gig. As always it was a wonderful gig, Stefan's voice always fascinates me, so beautiful, and they played my favorites songs: "New Best Friends" (the best Wolverine song ever IMHO), "Leaving Yesterday" (the duet of Stefan and 
Jamina) and the powerful "His Cold Touch", the closing song everyone wanted. They brought another guestsinger, Peter Rudhberg from Lednote, who handled the death vocals in "Towards Loss" extremely well. There were also new songs from the upcoming album "Still": "A House Of Plague", "Bleeding" and "And She Slowly Dies". My second favorite gig, right after Dynamic Lights! (Marlies)
setlist Wolverine:
A House Of Plague
New Best Friend
Bleeding
Caroussel
Toward Loss
And She Slowly Dies
Leaving Yesterday
His Cold Touch
Another highlight was Arjen Anthony Lucassen, we met him some time after (or maybe during?) Wolverine I think, and - all hail to the delay of PoS - we could really talk to him quite long, about Ayreon, Star One (maybe Star Two) and his latest band Stream Of Passion. Thank you Arjen, it was really really a pleasure to meet you !!! (Paddy/Conny)
And yes, a delay there was before PAIN OF SALVATION came on stage. A very painful one after an almost perfect festival, a very long one too. For a long time nobody knew what was going on and the announcement after close to an hour delay was way too late. The rumor mill was already working at the expense of the band reputation. But the organisation afterwards ensured us that some equipment didn't work as it should and both stage crew and band had worked hard to let the full show happen, and not some shorter version without orchestra tapes and other extras. It's hard to say what the best solution would've 
been, but after 1 hour and 15 minutes, Pain Of Salvation finally did start the show, first improvising, then the equipment suddenly did work again and they could proceed their show as planned! And they played the planned 2 hours after all, no matter how late it got, so that deserved some respect! Only, for some reason the sound was still very fucked up. Very distorted bass sounds and in the beginning it was clear that they couldn't hear each others voice on stage, that became painfully obvious when they did the harmonies in "Used". While improvising they joked about it being an instrumental that Derek Smalls wrote, as this was a situation that was way too similar to the Spinal Tap comedy. Daniel explained they couldn't do any "Be" tracks without the projector, the click track, the orchestra tapes and they had to improvise and apologized for the worst Pain Of Salvation gig ever. After a few acoustic songs all the gear suddenly did work like mentioned before! Songs from all albums passed by (like my faves, the phenomenal "Ashes", "Undertow" and "Second Love") and during "Dea Pecuniae" Daniel came on stage as Mr. Money, dressed in a suit and with a girl hanging around him. Despite the problems the band gave 200% making it a great gig after all and another favorite of mine together with Dynamic Lights and Wolverine. But because of said problems (and the ongoing lousy sound) unfortunately not the ultimate climax it should've been. (Marlies)
Pain Of Salvation titles (not complete and not in the right order):
Leaving Entropia
This Heart Of Mine
Nauticus
!
Waking Every God
74Inside
Undertow
Ashes
Second Love
Ending Theme
Lilium Cruentus
The Big Machine
Nightmist
Animae Partus
Deus Nova
People Passing By
Dea Pecuniae
Because the festival ended so late and we had to get up fairly early the next morning, we unfortunately didn't participate in the after party downstairs. But we had a blast - thanks to René Janssen & ProgPower/Sjiwa crew for again a wonderful weekend! Cheers to our Australian buddy Gary Carson, the Dynamic Light and Wolverine guys, Mattias Norén, Arjen Lucassen and of course our more "local" friends for good times!
submitted by Marlies 12.11.2005
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