The charm of power metal – report of Vision Divine’s show

Out of all metal subgenres, power metal is definitely one of my favourites, alongside symphonic and progressive, so when Tom Hell’s Night organized the Tom Power Fest, I had to do everything in my power not to miss it. And for granting us the opportunity to report this wonderful night, I’d like to thank Massimo Mazzola for his kindness and professionalism! I arrive at the venue at about 7:20 PM with the first band to schedule their show just 20 minutes later than my arrival.

Lionsoul

Apparently, there is a delay with the soundcheck of the bands, so with 20 minutes of delay, the Tom Power Fest begins. Lionsoul is the first band playing, and while the audience isn’t yet warm, they manage to engage successfully quite a lot. Ivan’s vocals weren’t perfectly mixed, as I could hear him clearly only when he was belting out notes. However, their performance was very solid, and with two amazing guitarists, the power was assured! I had the chance to see them live for the second time in this stance, and their overall show was definitely better than the one I saw last November.

Setlist:

1. Heavenly Ride
2. Soldier Through Time
3. Next Genesis
4. Iron Whispers
5. Amber
6. Shadow

Stranger Vision

2 minutes of delay less than Lionsoul, and Stranger Vision takes control of the stage. Returning after their tour in the UK, the band is more in shape than ever, and the sound mix is very good in their set. Ivan is very expressive, and I’m enjoying so much the fusion between their prog and power side. It is a match made in heaven! Their lighting is significantly better and personalized to their performance; this is an added bonus because it gives dimension and atmosphere to the set. Just like for Lionsoul, it’s the second time that I’ve seen them live with a great improvement on their part. Kudos!

Setlist:

1. At The Gates
2. Wasteland
3. The Road
4. Handful of Dust
5. The Thunder
6. The Deep
7. Desolate Sea

From The Depth

We can say many things about power metal, but we cannot say that this subgenre lacks wonderful voices. And just like the two gentlemen from Lionsoul and Stranger Vision, From The Depth‘s vocalist has enchanted the whole audience of Mantua, now very numerous in the venue. I absolutely loved their rendition of Haddaway‘s “What Is Love?” where the whole audience sang along, even if it isn’t a proper metal song (like Raffaele announced). But who can resist a hit like this one? Nobody, trust me! And with each and every song, I am amazed at their brilliant entertainment and talent. Definitely, a band to check out! Before they finished their show, I ate dinner because I was up on my feet all day. The venue was offering either a vegan risotto with lentil curry or meatballs (other than French fries and other types of sandwiches), and I chose the risotto. It was delicious!

Setlist:

1. Immortal
2. Ten Years
3. What Is Love? (Haddaway cover)
4. Streets of Memory
5. Spread Your Fire
6. Catch The Fox (Den Harrow cover)
7. Drum solo
8. Painkiller (Judas Priest cover)
9. The Will To Be The Flame

Secret Sphere

I must admit, I only knew about Secret Sphere because they recorded a duet with my idol Anette Olzon, and now I had the chance to see them live. They met my expectations but didn’t exceed them, and for this, I was a bit let down. The mixing wasn’t yet optimal (Roberto could only be heard if he was belting, just like with Lionsoul’s Ivan), but my sentiment was soon. changed because they performed “Lie To Me“, which is the track that Anette is featured in. Even though Roberto performed it alone, I was so happy because that song has a special meaning to me! Another powerful moment was before “Against All Odds“, which Roberto said was written during the lockdown by Alessandro Del Vecchio, and I think everyone in the room shared the same feeling of uncertainty that the lockdown brought.

Setlist:

1. Lifeblood
2. Welcome To The Circus
3. Against All Odds
4. Rain
5. Lie To Me
6. Alive
7. Dance With The Devil
8. Legend
9. Lady Of Silence

Vision Divine

Midnight strikes, and the headliner of the Tom Power Fest is now ready to thrill the audience: Vision Divine is a legendary group, and I cannot wait to see them in front of my eyes. I would like to apologize to all the bands that I’ve seen up until now, but Vision Divine beats almost everyone. I literally spent the whole hour of their performance with my jaw dropped. Olaf Thorsen, who was in brilliant shape, was nailing every single one of the notes he was playing with such artistry, talent, technique and passion that I was blown away. The whole group was very cohesive, and the audience sang along to many of their tracks. Notable is also the other guitarist Federico, who did an incredible job in supporting Olaf with melodies and accompaniment. When the band is having fun on stage, the audience can feel it and can enjoy the show even more, and this is definitely what happened with Vision Divine. Oh yes, I had a vision, and it was absolutely divine. It was majestic, empowering, remarkable and angelic.

Setlist:

1. Insurgent
2. The 26th Machine
3. Beyond The Sun And Far Away
4. God Is Dead
5. Angel Of Revenge
6. Violet Loneliness
7. 3 Men Walk On The Moon
8. The Perfect Machine
9. The Secret Of Life
10. The Miracle
11. Send Me An Angel
12. La Vita Fugge

Photos: Mauro Parozzi.