View Gallery
Armageddon, on the eve of Valentine's Day, ah the synergy! The biting, frosty temperatures, the coldest in two decades, only added to the fitting metaphor. Former Arch Enemy guitarist Chris Amott was re-launching his band Armageddon, in what was once his adopted hometown (having since moved on to NYC). Had seen big brother Michael (Spiritual Beggars/Arch Enemy) a few weeks earlier, on the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise, more yin/yang completeness. On a Friday the 13th, the tiny Dobbs stage, on South Street, was the place in question. On the new Captivity & Devourment CD, the music is a mix of his old outfit, Dimmu Borgir's gremlin throated melodies and early Savatage, where fanciful guitar solos suddenly appear from nowhere, a temporarily oasis in a sea of heaviness. Live, they are even more tuneful.
This night, they pretty much played the new album, in its entirety (apart from "Background Radiation"), including the first five, in the same order as they appear on the record. I give Chris a lot of credit, slogging it out in clubs, again. Revered as something of a guitar god in places around the globe (especially Japan), at Dobbs he was playing the smaller, upstairs stage. There were ten bands in the building, with The Jim Beam girls (giving away swag & a few free shots) and more commercialized, American metal sounds garnering much of the attention, downstairs. Armageddon and the rest toiled away to a couple dozen patrons, standing alongside other band's equipment, a couple of tables and a bar. In the lone men's' room, the sink had been ripped off the wall, weeks ago, laying dormant and covered in dust. Being a rock star is a glorious lifestyle, right?
With bullet belt around his middle, Amott and company strolled onstage without fanfare. Many in the crowd, there to see family/friend's band, had no idea about Armageddon. The title track kicked things off, plenty of guitar histrionics, as ex-Nightrage singer Antony Hämäläinen, his well tattooed arms visible beneath a sleeveless Bathory t-shirt, was a whirlwind as he screamed out the lyrics. The mainman had good interaction with bassist Sara Claudius. During "Locked In", open -mouthed Amott held the axe vertically and on "Rendition" he offered backing vocals. Throughout the course of the evening, the spiky haired guitarist tried to remain in the background (impossible on a stage with no depth), although he did pull plenty of faces and showed a couple of trick moves. Video track "Fugitive Dust" was an exception. From the start, Amott took control, playing close to the crowd, atop the wedge monitor, but never being overbearing, despite this being his ballgame.
"Conquer" is much the same, headbanging and plenty of hammer-ons from Mr. Amott. Hämäläinen dedicates the ethereal begun "Giants" to all the bands who've played tonight. He remains absent (no place to hide onstage, so perhaps he was utilizing the sink-less bathroom?) during the twin lead instrumental (and only non-album track aired) "Forbidden Zone", second guitar courtesy of Joey Concepcion. Following "Thanatron", green lights shone from the minimalist lighting rig, for the staccato delivered "Equilizer", Amott again on backing vocals. "The Watcher" finale had a nearly a cappella section, as well a multiple voices ending. Overall, an enjoyable evening that touched on all aspects of metal, from the fiery death metal vocal delivery, sophisticated guitar break musicianship and a heavy, albeit tuneful approach to songwriting. Win-win, all around. Check 'em out if they get nearby.
