Monday 24 April 2017

Eclipse Live Report

Third time and still lucky with the almighty Eclipse! This time at the newly refurbished Borderline withe previous two being at the Underworld. To say that I've been looking forward to this gig would be the understatement of the year! The new album as expected, blows the roof off and I already know from previous experience that Erik and the boys are incendiary in the live setting. I arrived a touch late to the venue and missed the initial support act altogether. My ticket said doors 7pm but apparently it was 6 pm. They were called Franklin Zoo from Denmark. Listening to them now I can see they are a hard rock band but lack the melodic angle I need in my music. I always like to catch all the bands in a gig though even if I don't like them but it wasn't to be this time.

As I walked in, the venue was already pretty full and the house lights went down and the familiar strains of the opening cut from One Desire's new album started. Hurt is the amost amazing song you can imagine for an epic AOR lover and What a way to start the night off proper. That song has a melody to absolutely die for. A glorious start and a band sounding shit hot with a huge keyaboard sound and perfect vocals. What a way to greet my entrance! Thank you sirs!

The band continued with most of the songs from their debut album. Highlights were the super catchy Apologise, the pop hit Love Injection and the furious Martensson co-write Buried Alive. The floor was packed and I'd say the Borderline was close to sold out, about 300 maybe. A crowd much bigger than their previous visits to the Underworld. Anyway the crowd was lapping up One Desire's lush sound and enjoying their superbly crafted edgy AOR tunes. They perhaps can't quite match the album's crystal clear sheen but the energy is through the roof and the crowd loves it with a lot of smiles, cheers and horns.

At the early hour of 8.15pm the Eclipse boys burst onto the stage with of course a rampant version of opening cut Vertigo. That opening riff will wake the dead no doubt, as Magnus cuts the air with his thick riffs and Erik does his best impression of whirling dervish, Mexican jumping bean from Stockholm, Sweden that is! The energy picks up a notch from the more lush sounds of One Desire. The crowd is getting pumped and the band follows up Vertigo with the melodic anthem Never Look Back. Everyone is singing that chorus back at Erik whilst he goes through his full repertoire on stage! What an opening one two punch!

Suddenly as the song ends Erik says there's a fire alarm and everyone has to evacuate. Yeah right Erik pull the other one! Everyone is "right Erik mate, you're taking the piss lol"..but alas no.. a stage hand whispers in his ear and we really do have to leave. Everyone is a bit incredulous and looking round for smoke or burning smell but no sign. In all my years attending 100s of gigs I've never ever had to leave a venue for a fire alarm. It turns out it's the building next door with the alarm and as we huddle out we can hear the alarm outside. Good job it wasn't that cold outside. People are milling round outside and talking and plenty still have their beers in their hands. Finally about 20 or so minutes later, a couple of firemen who have been called out give the all clear and we shuffle slowly back in and ready for lift off again!

Well that was bizarre indeed but Erik makes light of it of course and it's better to be safe than sorry. "He won't forget this night in a hurry!" Erik says from the stage as the band quickly take their spots again within a few minutes and we continue as if nothing had happened. The band doesn't miss a beat indeed. Special mention for new drummer Phillip Crusner. That guy nails the beats down to perfection and gives the songs a solid as hell backbone. The set list was basically song after song of pure magic. Wake Me Up ramps up the testosterone with that meaty riff barrage whilst new songs like the awesomely melodic Killing Me and Jaded are just brilliant in the live setting. Erik's voice can be a little rougher live than on record but that suits the material very well and you need to sound a bit meaner when competing with the hammering instrumentals.

Two acoustic songs follow one another with Battlegrounds especially sounding majestic with just Erik on his acoustic guitar and Magnus on the electric lead break. The crowd participation on the wooahh wooah part is just fantastic too. Towards the end of the set we end with nothing but straight A songs like the fantastic heavy and epic newie Black Rain complete with Hangar 18 like solos from Magnus and then the massive hook filled Blood Enemies and finally the roaring Stand on Your Feet which gets everyone er..standing on their feet?? Great anyway! The main set ends with their anthemic and super catchy tune Runaways which they eneterd into the Eurovision song contest.

The roars from the crowd soon pick up and the band enters the fray yet again for an orgasmic two-song encore. The super melodic I Don't Wanna Say I'm Sorry is a pure sing along and the night finally comes to a close with the massively heavy and catchy anthem Bleed and Scream. An eventful night has finally come to a close as the band thanks us for coming etc and basks in the adulation of this very appreciative crowd. Eclipse are building themselves a nice little fan base here in the UK and with gigs like this you can easily see why. An Eclipse gig is never dull and you're guaranteed a spanking great time with tunes that will penetrate your brain to the encore. Don't miss them if they come your way..I never will!

Intro
Vertigo
Never Look Back
The Storm
Wake Me Up
Killing Me
Jaded
Hurt
Live Like I'm Dying
(Acoustic)
Battlegrounds
(Acoustic)
Downfall of Eden
O Fortuna
(Carl Orff song) (Classical piece played with live drums)
Black Rain
Blood Enemies
Stand On Your Feet
Runaways

Encore:
I Don't Wanna Say I'm Sorry
Bleed & Scream



  
































































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