Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: 13th Floor Entertainment (https://www.13thfloorentertainment.com/ )
Venue: The Nile Theater (https://www.theniletheater.com/ )
Date: Tuesday September 21, 2021
Tour: Into The Abyss
Wikipedia defines Power Metal as: “a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contrast with the heaviness and dissonance prevalent, for example, in extreme metal. Power metal bands usually have anthem-like songs with fantasy-based subject matter and strong choruses, thus creating a theatrical, dramatic and emotionally “powerful” sound.” Another characteristic of Power Metal groups, is that the audience sings along with the band and the bands encourage it.
Tonight, we got to see 2 of the newer power metal bands that have started to storm the scene. Both Unleash The Archers and Seven Kingdoms have the traditional 2 guitarist setup with strong drummers and amazing bass players. Where they differ from the traditional power metal bands, is that both have extremely talented and amazing female singers.
Unleash The Archers were finally let into the US after a delay with US immigration. The delay was especially bad for Seven Kingdoms and Æther Realm that were touring with them. I met Heinrich of Æther Realm at their merch table prior to the show. He was very personable and friendly. If you purchased an item, they would sign it. The bands make very little from people streaming their music and nothing for songs posted on YouTube by other people. For a lot of bands, the merch table is how they make money and can stay on the road. So please, if you can, buy an item from the bands at the shows, it helps them and we can continue to see live music.
Unleash The Archers
The headliner of tonight concert was Unleash The Archers. They are a power metal band from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In the past they have always been the leadup band, but tonight and this tour they really got to show their true potential by performing a full set of their songs. The band consists of drummer Scott Buchanan, guitarists Andrew Kingsley and Grant Truesdell and lead singer and front person Brittney Slayes. For this tour they have added bass player and true wild man, Nick Miller.
Unleash The Archers has been around since 2007 and produced their debut album, Behold The Devastation in 2009. At first their sound was a little underwhelming as Brittney was gaining her metal voice (she was originally a singer in a choir). But over the years, Brittney has developed her voice so now she is one of the premier power metal singers. Their last 2 albums really show how far she and the band have come. Abyss was released in 2020 and is one of my favorite albums. For tonight’s show they performed 8 of the 10 songs from that album.
About half way into the show, Brittney asked the audience to please sing along with “The Matriarch” from Apex. It was something to see her, the band and the audience perform the song together. During another song, Brittney picked up a lightsaber and had a fun time sparing with a young girl in the front that also had a lightsaber. The young girl and her father were trilled.
Unleash The Archers are truly a force to be reckoned with. Give the strong lyrics, amazing guitar work, Scott’s precision drumming and Brittney’s growth into becoming a tremendous metal singer, this band has no limits on what they can achieve.
It would be an understatement to say that this is a band you must see. I have mentioned them to a number of friends and all of them have been impressed by just the band’s albums. But the band truly shine when they are on stage. Brittney definitely commands the stage and both Andrew and Grant always seem to have fun playing off each other. Not if, but when they come to your area, you should go and please take a friend. I am sure you will all enjoy the show and will become a fan.
As a side note, the band has embraced Twitch. Initially Twitch was setup as a gamer’s site, but some groups and people in the music industry have also embraced it. You can follow the band on their Facebook and Twitch links below.
Website: https://unleashthearchers.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/UnleashTheArchers
Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/unleashthearchers
Brittney’s Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/BrittneySlayes
Andrew’s Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/andrewkingsleyuta
Grant’s Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/granttruesdelluta
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Unleash The Archers Setlist: (Album)
Intro (Waking Dream)
Abyss (Abyss)
Through Stars (Abyss)
Legacy (Abyss)
Soulbound (Abyss)
Faster Than Light (Abyss)
The Matriarch (Apex)
Cleanse the Bloodlines (Apex)
Tonight We Ride (Time Stands Still)
Awakening (Apex)
Apex (Apex)
The Wind that Shapes the Land (Abyss)
Afterlife (Abyss)
Encore:
Carry the Flame (Abyss)
Æther Realm
Æther Realm is an American heavy metal band from Greenville, North Carolina. They are fronted by lead singer and bass player Vincent “Jake” Jones, with dual guitarists Heinrich Yoshio and Donny Burbage. Tyler Gresham is their normal drummer, but for this tour they were joined by drummer Jon Teachy.
I saw Æther Realm for the first time in June of 2019. At the time I thought that they were extremely good. Since then, they have released a new album, Redneck Vikings From Hell. The majority of the songs at tonight’s show were from this new album. I listened to the album prior to the show and really liked it. The one song that was different from the normal growling metal tone of the album and their show was “Guardian”. It is more like a ballad then a hardcore metal song. But I think it is the best song on the album.
You can check Æther Realm out on their Facebook page and see some of their live performances on YouTube.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AetherRealm
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Æther Realm Setlist: (Album)
Slave to the Riff (Redneck Vikings From Hell)
The Tower (Tarot)
TMHC (Redneck Vikings From Hell)
Cycle (Redneck Vikings From Hell)
Swampwitch (One Chosen by the Gods)
She’s Back (Redneck Vikings From Hell)
Guardian (Redneck Vikings From Hell)
The Magician (Tarot)
The Sun the Moon the Star (Tarot)
Seven Kingdoms
Seven Kingdoms is an American power metal band from DeLand, Florida that was formed in 2007. Founding member and guitarist Camden Cruz is currently joined by fellow guitarist Kevin Byrd, drummer Keith Byrd, Aaron Sluss on bass guitar and lead singer Sabrina Valentine.
As with most power metal groups, the dual guitars of Camden and Kevin provide the driving sound for the music. Keith on drums provides the headbanging pulse and Aaron on bass provided the deep pulsating bass line. Sabrina brings everything together
The majority of the songs were from their latest self-released album, Empty Eyes which was released in 2019. You can see and hear a number of their songs on YouTube to get a better idea of how good they sound. I really like Sabrina’s voice and the guitar play of Camden. I personally really like the song, “Empty Eyes” which really showed the talent of the band. If you get a chance to see Seven Kingdoms when they come to your area, I would recommend it.
Website: https://sevenkingdoms.bigcartel.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SevenKingdomsOfficial
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Seven Kingdoms Setlist: (Album/Cover)
After The Fall (The Fire Is Mine)
Empty Eyes (Empty Eyes)
Monster (Empty Eyes)
The Water Dance (Empty Eyes)
Valonqar (Empty Eyes)
Stargazer (Decennium)
Boys Of Summer (Don Henley cover)
In The Walls (Decennium)
Adavänt
It has been almost 2 years since I have seen Adavänt perform. The lineup of the band has changed a little since that last time. The new lineup consists of both Nathan “The Ravenous” and Charlotte “The Alluring” providing vocals, guitarist Justin “The Fierce”, Andy “The Cunning” on keyboards, Corey “The Vigorous” as bass player, drummer Javad “The Fearless” and the new comer, Ryan “The Bardic” providing additional folk instruments. Adavänt is a mixture of metal music and folk music.
It was really nice to see Adavänt again. I really like their music and enjoy seeing them perform. When they are on stage, they give it their all and the audience really enjoys it. Between the guttural roars of Nathan and the soprano voice of Charlotte, Adavänt brings the music alive. Throw in the outrageous antics of Andy (Andy should be called, Andy “The Non-Stop Motion Dude”) on keyboards and the audience get quite the show. With the inclusion of Ryan, they have added an additional flavor to their folk, medieval sound.
Adavänt plays all over Arizona. So, if you get a change to see them, I highly recommend it. Hopefully one of these days I will be able to photograph them in either a very well-lit stage or outside during a daylight concert.
Bandcamp Page: https://adavant.bandcamp.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AdavantOfficial
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Adavänt Setlist: (Album)
Voyage of the Vagrant Heart (Tale Untold)
Miss Maddie’s Forge
Feast of Fiends
Fairhaven (The Unyielding)
Lunar Cutlass
Of Gnomes and War
