It’s a rare night when every band on the bill delivers a killer set. Moonspell headlined on May 9, 2023, to a small-but-devoted crowd at Last Exit Live in Arizona. They impressed the hell out of everyone on the premises, but they were not the only story of the night.
Phoenix locals, Shores of Ithaka, kicked things off with an attention-grabbing set, minus their usual lead vocalist. The guitarist handled the mic duties, but I was mainly watching his hands on the fretboard. Dude can play. I’m definitely rooting for these guys. On their behalf, I dread the inevitable “Shores of Ivanka” mislabelling.
The touring acts then commenced with the amazing Vintersea. New discovery for me, but their set was a mesmerizing tour-de-force. Frontwoman Avienne Low commanded the entire room, delivering a diverse array of vocal styles, from harsh to screech to clean over their lush, complex, lovely, brutal Prog Metal/Melodeath tunes. She clearly disappears into the music while performing. Some stellar lead guitar work here too! This is a band to watch.
Up next were one of the most advanced and incredible bands of the past 10 years (and a personal favorite of mine): Oceans of Slumber. Their keyboardist was unable to join the tour, so they’re out as a four-piece, but nothing in the material was lacking - - not in the slightest. If you don’t know them, drummer and bandleader, Dobber Beverly, is one of the absolute best in the business. He speaks a complex language of sounds and rhythms through his simple kit. Where 95% of the rest of the Metal world are writing riffs based on some variation around E-string chugging, Dobber approaches composition from a much wider melodic perspective. Their songs on record are as beautiful, soulful, and powerful as anything in Metal, and they somehow intensify all of it in a live setting. On the microphone, Cammie Beverly (nee Gilbert) is possibly the best voice in modern Metal. Talk about a vocalist who’s transported while performing. . . There’s a pause in “A Return to the Earth Below” when everything drops out and she brings the song back in. Not a breath, not a pin drop in the room, everyone was hanging on in anticipation. You need to get into this band.
I’ve been writing about Eleine since their 2019 “All Shall Burn” EP. They are a band of gloomy/gleeful rockstars in dark eye makeup, led by their near-literal goddess and band namesake. Eleine’s voice surpasses any Disney heroine. She’s built like one of Wonder Woman’s sisters - - and her stage outfit doesn’t let you forget it - - but their show is all about the Metal and the music. Their twin lead guitars were great. The synchronized headbanging and hair spirals are endearing. What’s always won for them is simply the quality of their songs: Theatrical Metal with a focus on lush, beautiful melodies with heavy, stomping background riffs. It was great to catch them on their first North American tour.
And then there was Moonspell. Go out on social media right now and mention this band; watch the wildly enthusiastic responses you get. The crowd was kinda like that: a fairly small assemblage, but man, they were chanting and invested. No one in the building (or on the patio) was as invested as vocalist, Fernando Ribeiro, however. Another vocalist who vanishes into the song (this isn’t all that common in the pro music world, but it was pretty prevalent on this particular evening). When singing, he either rolls his eyes up in his head or he squeezes his eyelids tight; he’s clearly being transported into another dimension. He performs like a man possessed. The entire band played like veterans; relative newcomer Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando) was especially strong on the drums. My only minor, minor complaint: with three other amazing female singers on the tour, I wish they’d brought one or more of them up to do Anneke van Giersbergen’s guest vocal on “Scorpion Flower,” rather than just have Fernando sing along with her recorded voice. This venerable band’s music is dear and important to their fanbase. They are consummate professionals live, and well worth the price of admission.
Look, I don’t normally fixate so much on the vocalists when doing show reviews, but it was just that kind of night. Kudos to all of the musicians on guitars, bass, keys, and drums; no short shrift intended.
This tour is a rare alignment of elemental forces. Catch it if you can.
*I’ve also pointed out that the crowd was small, but we had to contend with a Tuesday night event at a downtown Phoenix venue overrun with construction. I don’t fault the bands or the venue. Nekrogoblin were also kicking off their tour in another spot across town, but I don’t know how much of a factor that really was.
Moonspell setlist
The Greater Good
Extinct
Opium
Night Eternal
Finisterra
In and Above Men
From Lowering Skies
Scorpion Flower
Nocturna
Breathe (Until We Are No More)
Everything Invaded
Alma Mater
Full Moon Madness
(No Encore)
Eleine setlist
Enemies
As I Breathe
We Are Legion
Never Forget
All Shall Burn
Ava of Death
Where your Rotting Corpse lie
Death Incarnate
Oceans of Slumber setlist
The Waters Rising
Hearts of Stone
Red Forest Roads
I Mourn These Yellowed Leaves
Pray for Fire
Wolf Moon (Including Zoanthropic Paranoia)
(Type O Negative cover)
A Return to the Earth Below
Vintersea setlist
Illuminated
The Gravity of Fall
Crack of Light
Fiery Tongue
The Host
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