Page 50 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 108

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SKILLET / LIKE A STORM / EVA UNDER FIRE - LONDON O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, 15.04.23
A packed out O2 Forum is the second stop on Skillet’s ‘Day Of Destiny’ European Tour. Bringing with them two killer bands - Like A Storm and
Eva Under Fire - the mighty Skillet are clearly intent to make this a night to remember.
First up are Detroit rockers Eva Under Fire. It may be the quintet's first ever time playing in front of a London audience, but they waste no time in
winning people over. By the time the chorus hits on opener 'Comatose', they already have the crowd in the palms of their hands. Judging by the
reaction they are greeted with, it would be fair to say that, if the band - lead vocalist Amanda ‘Eva Marie’ Lyberg, guitarists Rob Lyberg and Chris
Slapnik, bass guitarist Ed Gawlik and drummer Dave Miller II - were able to stay on stage for longer than their six-song set, this audience wouldn’t
mind one bit. Eva Under Fire’s stage presence matches perfectly with the energetic rock anthems they deliver. The crowd do not need much prompting
to join in and enjoy themselves; fist pumping the air and bouncing up and down to songs performed from the album ‘Love, Drugs & Misery’, plus a
stellar cover of Journey’s ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)’. When Eva Marie sings ‘I was born, bred, made for this’, the opening line to the gritty battle
song, ‘Coming For Blood’, those inside the O2 Forum tonight are witness that these words are in fact true. Another belter in the form of ‘Unstoppable’
includes an interlude for a rendition of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’.
The hugely infectious anthem ‘Blow’ closes the set and seals the deal. Eva Under Fire leave the stage with another 2,250-plus people added to
their fanbase. This is hopefully not the last time we see this band on these shores, as they have huge potential over here. It may be an early call, but
the members of Eva Under Fire have the songs, the flair and the charisma to kick down the doors into UK arenas.
Up next, Like A Storm. No strangers to British audiences, the quartet have toured over here a number of times with the likes of Alter Bridge, Black
Veil Brides, Escape The Fate and Godsmack. Despite the fact that this is the first tour they have embarked on since 2019 (thanks to a certain pan-
demic), no rust has settled on the Like A Storm crew. From the moment they launch into ‘Chemical Infatuation’, a hard rocker lifted from their 2009
debut, ‘The End Of The Beginning’, it’s evident that the Brooks brothers: Chris (vocals/guitar/didgeridoo), Matt (vocals/lead guitar) and Kent (bass),
alongside Zach Wood (drums), are very happy to be back doing what they do best - playing live.
Matt takes over vocal duties for the heartbreaking ‘Just Save Me’. The tempo shifts again,
with the aggressive ‘Become The Enemy’; pumping fists in the air and singing along to each ‘Hey,
Hey’, the crowd are definitely being warmed up nicely, ready for the headliners. On the stage
there are two skeleton props, holding the didgeridoos Chris will play during the set. Who would
have thought rock music and the sound of the didgeridoo could work so great together?
Dipping into a selection of cuts from across their four albums means only one track from the
latest release, ‘Okura’, makes it into the set. That track is the melodic ‘Pull Me From The Edge’,
another hauntingly moving call for help. The pulverising ‘The Devil Inside’ is followed by a raucous
delivery of the AC/DC classic ‘TNT’, which sees Chris heading into the crowd. It’s no surprise
that the epic ‘Love The Way You Hate Me’ rounds off Like A Storm’s fantastic performance. Let’s
hope it’s not going to be another 3 years until they grace us with their presence again.
After the talent we have already seen and heard, the words “now for the main event” seem
wrong. Both Like A Storm and Eva Under Fire’s individual performances were so enjoyable, it
was like they were the main event; it’s not often you get that feeling. But now, it is time for the
tour hosts, Skillet, to finish the show. Aah, Skillet - they really are in a league of their own when
it comes to putting on a live show. Let’s talk about the energy, the passion, the hard rocking an-
thems. Skillet has it all in abundance and then even more. Getting straight down to business, the
powerful ‘Feel Invincible’, is a phenomenal set opener; it does its job of getting the audience fired
up and singing along. Unleashing feelgood anthem after feelgood anthem; it's something that
Skillet are extremely good at doing. The lyrical content may reach to dark places, but you will al-
ways find undeniable positivity sprinkled within. Wrapped in hard-hitting melodies that are often
super infectious, the songs are built for arenas; they sound just as sublime in venues such as the
O2 Forum though; they certainly pack a big punch.
Frontman/bassist John Cooper is equipped with CO2 cannons. Attached to his arms, he
waves them around, blasting plumes of cryogenic ‘smoke’ above the crowd, before continuing to
launch into ‘Surviving The Game’. More smoke effects blast upwards from the line of CO2 jets
situated at the front of the stage, as John leaps around the stage. Guitarist Korey Cooper is also
not one for keeping still, not even for a second. We are convinced ‘stamina’ must be Korey’s mid-
dle name, because she has lots of it! As well as rocking out on their own side of the stage, occa-
sionally, Korey and lead guitarist Seth Morrison criss-cross each other, exchanging sides for a
brief moment or two.
During ‘Legendary’, much to the delight of those on the front row, John jumps down off the
stage and onto the barrier, shaking hands and getting those upfront to sing into the microphone.
Keyboards and cello provide the haunting intro to ‘Awake and Alive’. Drummer Jen Ledger stands
at the front of the stage to sing the prelude alongside John. Once back behind the drum kit, the
song bursts into life, with Jen sounding immense, pounding on the drums and providing backing
vocals.
Alongside 'Awake and Alive', there are certain other (quite a few actually) Skillet songs that
are fan favourites, which can be categorised as staples of the setlist. 'Hero', 'Whispers In The
Dark', 'Comatose', 'Monster' and 'Rebirthing'. These songs all worked their magic this evening,
with the latter closing the main part of the show. However, the list has now grown; the latest of-
fering, 'Psycho In My Head', from the current album 'Dominion: Day Of Destiny', is a chaotic ball
of explosive energy that slots in comfortably with any era of Skillet. It's a definite keeper, or at
least it should be.

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