The last day of Prog Power IV. Part of me wanted it to hurry up so I could see Rage but the other part of me didn’t want time to go by at all because after Rage it means its officially over. The usual late morning / afternoon routine, me and Ed went back to Subway for some sandwiches. Despite going to the same place twice I didn’t complain cos A. I love Subway sandwiches and B. I’d rather eat something that would give me energy instead of load me down with grease and make me have to crap in the middle of a band. While we were eating we met another two kids and I swear to god they couldn’t have been older than eighteen and they had VIP passes on. I asked em where they got em from and Ed told me that they won em off Ebay. They then proceeded to regale us with tales of Wacken, Sweden Rock, Tuska, and the Blind Guardian Open Air. I was glad for em and it must be nice to have the funds to do that especially at that age. Back to the hotel to chill out and get ready for the night. Seeing as I already had done my purchases I didn’t feel rushed to get to the venue as early as I did the day before so I tried unsuccessfully to sleep a bit more and that foray just degenerated into me listening to all the metal goodness I recently bought. With Pagan’s Mind hitting the stage at 5.30, at about 4.45 I went to the Room 236 Guys’ place and we ended up getting lucky and hitching a ride from the hotels shuttle to the venue. This might seem lazy since the venue’s about a block and a half away but hey, when you have about eight blisters on your feet, four of which that popped, any ride is a blessing. We split up and I get up to the front for Pagan’s Mind. As an opening band they were what the crowd needed. A group to get the blood flowing that’s accessible enough for the Power Metal fans but yet still had that degree of technicality that Progger’s could get into as well. They were having a lot of fun that much was evident because they didn’t stop smiling the entire time they played. Their set-list (which I don’t have, sorry about that) consisted of seven songs, six of which were off of Celestial Entrance. Pagan’s Mind really gave it their all and the crowd loved them for it.

One of the bands that I had been really waiting to see live was next, all the way from Italy, Secret Sphere!!! I love their newest disc, Scent of Human Desire and went all googly eyed over A Time Never Come as well so as you can see my expectations were very high for them. Did I walk away disappointed? NOT AT ALL. Some people gave these guys a hard time for their stage apparel. WTF? I could understand if they came out in baggy pants going, “Jump! Jump! Jump muthafucka!!!”, but they didn’t. If anything their stage outfits reminded me of a mix between hard rock bands and Rhapsody. Leaning heavily on the Scent of Human Desire album they played a great setlist that I could not complain about. Two perfect openers started the set with Still Here and one of my favorite Secret Sphere songs, 1000 Eyes Show. Aldo looked around the stage and kept looking a bit nervous up there but when he saw me and a few other guys cheering like madmen he smiled and loosened up a bit. After talking to us a bit Roberto introduced the next song… Rain! Much clapping ensued and I began to headbang fervently and before I knew it this awesome song was over. It was a trip back to the A Time Never Come album with the killer Under the Flag of Mary Read. I did notice especially on this particular song where after the keyboard strings the thrashy riff comes up that the guitars were kind of low in the mix but it wasn’t anything too terribly distracting. The last three songs were all killers, the cool ballad More Than Simple Emotions, the rocky Runaway Train and the epic Lady of Silence closed their set. Despite being the definite underdogs of the show I was proud of the Secret Sphere guys, they definitely pleased me, a fan, and I think that’s all they needed to do.

Secret Sphere set-list: Still Here, 1000 Eyes Show, Rain, Under the Flag of Mary Read (\m/ this song absolutely slayed), More Than Simple Emotions, Runaway Train, Lady of Silence

Before I caught Circle II Circle I needed to get some cash so I went to the lobby of the venue and much to my dismay the ATM machine was out of order. So I found out that there was a bank about two blocks away so I hauled my ass over there hoping I’d get to it in time. After getting some funds and nourishment from the gas station across the street from the bank I’m feeling good and I arrive back after missing only the first two songs by Circle II Circle. Zak Stevens was a fucking awesome frontman, he had the crowd eating out of his hand it was amazing to see. A couple of songs in my bladder was starting to scream in agony so as soon as they played my two favorite songs Watching in Silence and Into the Wind I rushed to the bathroom to take one long, massive leak. As I was heading back into the venue I run into Mike (the Massachusetts guy) and he shows me his friend Lucho from the band Magistral (demo review coming soon). Lucho gives me a press packet of his bands demo cd and I talk with him for a bit before I head back into the show. Apparently more time passed than I thought cos as soon as I walk in they’re wrapping it up with Mr. Jon Oliva on stage doing a duet of Gutter Ballet. Damn. Gotta give props though to Zak’s Trooper t-shirt, that was pretty cool.

Circle II Circle set-list: Out of Reach, Lies, The Circle, Forgiven, Watching in Silence, Face to Face, Into the Wind, Follow Me, Walls, Turn To Me, Sea of White, Taunting Cobras, Edge of Thorns, Gutter Ballet

One of the big bands that the Prog fans were waiting for was next, the almighty Evergrey. Once again, for me this was a case of having their albums but never really listening to em that much. I gained a new respect for this band that night, especially as live performers. They were thrashing around like crazy, really into the music. I looked over to my right and saw that a bunch of the dudes from Mercenary were going crazy as well. I ducked out halfway through though to get a breather and after a few minutes outside getting some air I grabbed a quick bite to eat at the bar and ate a hasty dinner while talking to Luca from Secret Sphere. That was pretty cool so as I was about to head in I bumped into Jakob from Mercenary and we ended up having a really long discussion about the band, the hardships of forming, I got some advice first hand on what to look for in future bandmates, and how to balance studies (he’s studying philosophy if I can recall) and a musician at the same time. He was really cool and couldn't believe the tremendous response he and the guys got and before I knew it however as we parted ways, (briefly though, I could never shake these guys off after meeting them haha!) everyone came streaming out from the concert area, Evergrey had finished. While I was a bit saddened that I didn’t see all of their set what I did see was some great stuff and like Symphony X as soon as I got home I dug out my Evergrey cd’s to get myself reacquainted with.

Evergrey set-list: Blinded, End of Your Days, Rulers of the Mind, State of Paralysis, Encounter, Recreation Day, Fragments, Darkest Hour, Blackened Dawn, Mark of the Triangle, Trilogy of the Damned, I’m Sorry, Nosferatu, The Great Deceiver, Solitude Within, The Masterplan

The final band of the night was the godly Rage and as I looked over the area I noticed that it was only half full. I kept thinking to myself, “Surely more people will show up. It’s RAGE for fuck’s sakes!” Apparently not, cos when they came out the place was as empty as it would have been for Metallica. Despite this I found myself right up front for this religious experience and who am I to complain? Rage blew every single band out of the water with their performance. They had the most energetic, powerful, and frantic show of the night, there was never a dull moment at all. Hell, the fact that they opened with Don’t Fear the Winter sent waves of metallic joy through me and really, with the exception of the drum solo and guitar solo the pace never let up. Even though there were some lengthy drum / guitar solos they were at least very entertaining and Mike Terrana is an animal plain and simple. Me and Matt Johnson were standing next to each other with fists in the air and horns flying and we kept screaming our lungs out for Refuge, please play REFUGE!!! Even though they didn’t play it they did do Firestorm which was almost as good… but damn, Refuge would have sent me over the edge. My mind was seriously in such a metal frenzied state I can only recall a few moments, when they played a new song War of Words (which killed), when Peavy said ,”We’re going back to Unity with this one,” and as I screamed DOOOWWWWWN he said ,”Yes that’s right this is.. DOWN!!” and at the end where there was an extended singalong for Higher Than the Sky. In my opinion Rage came and owned everyone and if you didn’t catch em you missed one hell of a show.

Rage set-list: Don't Fear the Winter, Paint the Devil on the Wall, Sent By the Devil (partial), Firestorm, Down, Set the World on Fire,War of the Worlds, Black in Mind (partial), Solitary Man (partial), Guitar Solo, Unity, Drum Solo, Dies Irae, Cradle to the Grave, All I Want -Encore- Higher than the Sky

So now that the last band has finished the fun’s over right? Hahaha far from it. It was approaching 2 AM and me and Ed were gonna go to the airport around six so fuck it, I stayed up and partied with the guys in 236. After chilling in their hotel room a bit one of em left and came back with Andy Kuntz from Vanden Plas! Alas there was no more beer but we just migrated over to the patio area and hung out with everyone there for a bit. That was when me and Deron (guy from 236 not to be confused with the other Darrin) started on a quest for autographs cos he didn’t get many earlier in the day. Well to make a long story short we ended up going into Secret Sphere’s hotel room for a while then Mercenary’s and getting several guys from Pagan’s Mind. I think we interrupted Mikkel from Mercenary while he was with a chick cos when we got to the fourth floor he was wayyyyyy off in the corner with her but didn’t mind when my intrusive ass asked for an autograph. Same thing happened with Nils from Pagan’s Mind too and he was also cool with us, haha. The dreaded hour approached and so I had to bid my goodbyes to everyone, the dudes from 236, and everyone else out on the patio. So me and Ed then made a journey over to the airport where we went our separate ways, him to Ohio and me back to Midland.

I would have to say that this years Prog Power in terms of overall coolness was just a bit better than last years. Meeting all the bands, hanging out with them and getting cool stuff signed (and pics if the camera wasn’t a big piece of shit would have been nice as well) was simply incredible. Already I miss talking to Ed, Darrin, the 236 guys, those cool kids that I met at lunch and went to the store with (one of em got Mike Terrana's drumstick too) because stuff like that doesn't happen to me here where I live. That would have to take the prize for most depressing moment about Prog Power, especially on the flight home. Everything about the festival is perfect from the staff to the bands to everything being run like clockwork. I will be a Prog Power attendee for life and I highly recommend any melodic metal fans that live in the US to check this out. Trust me you’ll have the time of your life, I know I did. METALLL!!!!!

My “awards”
Best band that I went as crazy as a school girl for: Nightwish
Band that surprised the hell outta everyone : Mercenary
Worst band : none
Worst part of the festival : My shitty camera
Biggest asshole that receives the Rupaul "Thumbs Up" Award: Guy who ripped my Nightwish shirt
Best stalker: Aaron, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
Coolest band member: This is hard, it’s a tie between Roberto from Secret Sphere and Jakob from Mercenary
Band that I never found at all whatsoever: Symphony X (where were these guys?)
Hottest chick: Tarja of course, but that bartender comes close
Most metal moment: The guy rocking out to Brainstorm

My autographs:
Nightwish
Angels Fall First - Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen
Oceanborn - Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen Emppu Vourinen
Wishmaster - Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen
From Wishes to Eternity - Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen
Over the Hills and Far Away - Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen
Century Child - Tarja Turunen , Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen, Marco Hietela
Bless the Child - Tarja Turunen , Tuomas Holopainen, Jukka Nevelainen, Emppu Vourinen, Marco Hietela

Sinergy
To Hell and Back - Marco Hietela
Suicide By My Side - Marco Hietela

Altaria
Invitation - Emppu Vourinen

Circle II Circle
Watching in Silence - Zak Stevens, Matt La Porte, Kevin Rothney

Vanden Plas
Far Off Grace - Stephan Lil, Torsten Reichert, Gunter Werno, Andreas Lil
Spirit of Live - Stephan Lil, Torsten Reichert, Gunter Werno, Andreas Lil
Beyond Daylight - Stephan Lil, Torsten Reichert, Gunter Werno, Andreas Lil

Redemption
Redemption - Bernie Versailles

Secret Sphere
A Time Never Come - Ramon (Roberto Messina), Aldo Lonobile, “Paco” Gianotti
Scent of Human Desire - Ramon (Roberto Messina), Aldo Lonobile, “Paco” Gianotti, Andrea Buratto, Luca Cartasegna

Mercenary
Everblack - Mikkel, Jakob, Kral, Morten, Rasmus

Pagan’s Mind Infinity Divine - Nils Rue, Thorstein Aaby, Jorn Lofstad, Steiner Krokmo, Stian Kristofferson, Ronny Tegner
Celestial Entrance - Nils Rue, Thorstein Aaby, Jorn Lofstad, Steiner Krokmo, Stian Kristofferson, Ronny Tegner

and finally
Pharaoh
After the Fire - Matt Johnsen