Papangu in the Netherlands - 22/08 Little Devil, Tilburg & 23/08 Complexity Fest Patronaat Haarlem

Papangu touring Europe and their second weekend holding two shows in The Netherlands. My three loyal readers might remember that I was lucky enough to catch their warm-up tour for this European tour in Rio last June. So I was aware of what party was coming our way and tried to get some people interested too, but more on that later. I offered any assistance they might need especially on places to sleep and this resulted in a reopening of our Heavy Metal B&B on the Saturday for a short night as Berlin is waiting today. Papangu are from Brazil and play music you can not box, which is always a good thing. Their blend is not for all, but with me it clicked since I heard their debut album Holoceno back in 2021. Second album Lampião Rei was different, but just as good and at the end of this tour, they shall record album #3 in Berlin. 

So Friday their Dutch debut was to be made in Tilburg. Little Devil I only frequented before with proper metal bands. Papangu hold some black and stoner in their blend, but are too avangardistic to call them a metal band. So I was curious if they would atract any people in Tilburg. Now Tilburg also hosts Roadburn Festival, which is just that a festival for the open minded ones. Still I went through my FB friend list and tagged people I know from ProgPower and Musicon of whom I thought they might appreciate the band. The result of that action was zero extra sold tickets in Little Devil as I saw noone I knew walking around, apart from the band. This probably also as Flotsam & Jetsam were playing nearby and if Papangu did not take up my weekend I might have been there too, Not knowing him yet, I did meet Arne a two week Papangu fan, to find out we both walked around Progpower over the past ten years, but never met before.

The evening opened by Norwegian band Sex Magick Wizards. This band played interesting music which would not work for me on CD at home, but was live nice. Enthusiatsitc drum and bass with a guitarist singing and soloing over it, with  a lady playing flutes and saxophone too. Nice warm-up but just that to me. Meanwhile Little Devil filled up OK-ish with around half the visitors being Brazilians. This only meant the caralho's would fly around throughout the set not to swear at the band, but supporting them. I placed myself in front of the stage left and it was good that the new Little Devil holds a bigger stage as the five man plus instruments would struggle to fit on the old stage. This also because of the wide variation of rubber pigs and turkey's that are played by Pedro. Rodolfo told me they would start earlier than the announced time on the FB event page in order to stretch their 55 minute set to 75 minutes. so at 21:45 he walked the room with his triangle, also to get people still at the bar in. And off we went.

Well what can I say about Papangu  live in order to describe well how they became one of my favourite live bands so fast. Maybe it is best to start with what you don't get. You will find no picture of a Papangu setlist as this does exist. They play along the evening and decide all the time what songs to play. You also won't hear any tapes to support the sound. What you see and hear is what you get. Clicktrack is not used as their mood shall determine the speed of the set. In order to pul this off you need good musicians and that is where Papangu has no issues. Vitor on drums and Marco on bass set the base which can go pretty heavy at times. Hector brings the black metal in the vocals and Rodolfo on keyboards adds some nice sounds, while Pedro does not only sing, play guitar and flutes in their music, but also adds the humor with his plastic pigs, turkeys and what not. The setlist this evening visited both albums as well as some new songs, still to be recorded. São Francisco (the Brazilian river, not the US city) was sung along by the crowd upon request and it was a great way to open the set after a new instrumental. Time flew by, I was having a blast and Papangu ruled over Little Devil picking up new fans in the process, even if most people in already knew them in advance. Such a great set ended for me in time to rush out to the station catching my train and knowing more was yet to come the following day.

Complexity Fest in Patronaat. For reasons I do not know they moved the festival from some very successful editions in February to August. Now competing with many outdoor festivals and this specific weekend even with festivals fishing in the very same pond of fans being Pelagic and Progdreams. Anyway in te end it was far from packed, but also not empty. Actually the small hall was at times a bit too tight when all went for a look of what was playing. The line-up this year was really all over the place with no band sounding like any other on the day. From what I saw I liked the show of Imperial Triumphant best (after Papangu) This because they gave us a show most looking like a metal show. At times tapes were added, but I liked what I saw and did recognize some of the bits of their latest Goldstar album. 

Papangu played early this day, as they opened the big stage at 15:45. I was curious how they would manage on a large stage, after seeing them twice in small venues. Well the obvious advantage was that there is space and they could show that Brazilians like to move around and dance or bang. The set was again an improvised one and started heavy with Boitatá. This time I was surrounded by people I knew and I was pleased to see they all liked Papangu too. I can not claim that I made them go and see Papangu at Complexity as I saw Jonathan, Alex, Tom, Franka, Frank, Stephan and Ton all at earlier editions of the festival too. But a 100% score of approval tells something of how well Papangu went down. No setlist it was, but also again no Acende a Luz, which meant the lights stayed off. São Francisco now closed the set, well almost. The final two minutes were a jam including the Focus Hocus Pocus yodelling bit. The evening before this tribute to Dutch Prog history was hidden in a guitar solo. Hard to say which of the two shows I preferred, but I was glad I attended them both. Now I wait for Papangu to make it back to Europe, as I know several festivals they would fit very well. 

And than at the start of the festval the highlight was done for me, but with many known people around it was a very fine day anyway. In the end it was 21:30 when we headed for home. Home is in The Hague so I had to propose a small detour to pass our government buildings and Peace Palace. Arriving home close to 23:00 Josie prepared some Pão de Queijos with the necessary addings and nuts. Hertog Jan beers were approved and it was off for a short night as they had to leave early for Berlin. I received a nice rice paper artwork print, which shall be framed and find a place in my music room. Anyone still having the chance to catch Papangu in Germany, Norway and Denmark this week, don't miss them as you shall have a laugh and enjoy some very good music.

Gypsy's Kiss - Impvreza - In the Woods...

 

Another diverse selection of albums you might want to check out.

Gypsy's Kiss - Piece by Piece

The top of the Iron Maiden family tree draws the necessary attention. This as over 50 years ago a certain Steve Harris was original member of the band. Nowadays the biggest overlap with Maiden is that co-founder vocalist/guitarist David Smith often posts messages on West Ham on FB. Musically Gypsy's Kiss do not play metal, but heavy rock. To me this is feel good music of the better kind. Great songs, melodies and vocals, while covering all kinds of topics in their lyrics. I discovered the band when they were announced for last year's Mearfest. I ordered the albums Heat Crazed Vole and 74 at the time and consider myself a fanboy ever since. This only increased after seeing them playing live where we were not only treated on a great set, but afterwards they turned out to be on of the most sympathetic bands you come across sharing beers and laughs. This new album is anoter hit with twelve songs covering close to one hour. No metal, but just plain good hard rock with three guitars  for the necesarry spicing up. Now all that misses is their Dutch debut show, but who knows them in the low lands? Ending with a critical comment. The lyrics in the booklet are printed so small, I realize I need stronger reading glasses, or do I?

Impvreza - Alcázares

Impvreza or is it Impureza? are from Orleans France. Yet they play  Hispanic metal, sing in Spanish and on this concept album tell us the story of christian muslim battles on the Iberian peninsula centuries ago. Hispanic metal is not a real term, but they mix flamenco in their death metal. As the moors do participate in the battles a few times this crying arabic singing blends through as well. Now I have very little with flamenco music and much less with arabic sounds I don't consider music. In comes Alcázares and   we get one of the most interesting, original and captivating death metal albums of the year. The flamenco bits do give you the necessary breathing space at times and even the moors sound ok when blended with death metal. Turns out this is their third album, but a new band to me. I might want to discover their past albums too. A nice option to upgrade your Spanish language skills too, but the colours used in the booklet again point me at stronger glasses.

In the Woods... - Otra

In the Woods... are among the many Norwegian bands who started of as a Black Metal band in the nineties and slowly morphed into something different. More doom gothic progressive sounding now. Actually the opening track The Things You Shuldn't Know sounds more Swallow the Sun to me than StS's last album did. Herefater the blend stays within the styles mentioned above. This is no summer music, but even now these dark moods work beautifully. Lyrically sad and slashing religion this is a work of art that got surprisingly little waves on pages I follow. For me one of the doom albums of 2025 so far (with In Mourning and Green Carnation coming soon to challenge them). In the Woods.. headline this year's Dutch Doom Day 1 November in Dordrecht. I better get my ticket fast.

Dark Angel - Nobel Leiden, 12 August 2025

Festival season means many bands are travelling through Europe. With most festivals taking place Thursday - Sunday the early weekdays are open for headline shows. Last year Nobel managed to get Exodus and this year they booked another thrash top act with Dark Angel. This Tuesday competition was fierce in The Netherlands with shows by Orbituary, Hatebreed, Trivium or Extreme to name but four. I wanted to see Dark Angel anyway and with Nobel being closest to home the choice was easy. When Koen proposed some warm-up drinks in nearby Lazarus an early departure it was. With the sun out and the drinks cold it was almost hard to leave on time to enter Nobel. There was a support band in Inherited, but I felt they were no good match for the older thrash audience. Young kids shouting motherfuckers all the time to people who actually are given their age, seemed strange to me. So back to the entrance it was where most of the people I knew were hanging out.

After a break it was time for Dark Angel. This tour they would play Darkness Descends in full. That would be the end of the show. First we got treated on some oldies and also some new songs. The latter as after 34 years a new album is coming. About the show I can only say we got treated on a totally awesome set. This band is in peak form. The evening was dedicated to Jim Durkin the man behind lots of Dark Angel's music who passed away in 2023. On guitars we now got Eric Meyer and Laura Christine and they took care of all the guitar duels and solos in fantastic style. On drums it is legendary Gene Hoglan and on bass  Mike Gonzalez Vocalist Ron Rinehart turned out to be very well on vocals and a great performer aiming at saying a personal hallo to most in the audience during the show. So during one of my favourites Black Prophecies he was singing from the balconies. To me Darkness Descends is their best album, so playing it in full was no punishment. When they were over and done and the band picture with audience was taken there was one consensus among all I spoke to. We just saw a very special show of topclass thrash metal. One of the highlights of the year and bring on that new album now. Next thrash appoinment in Nobel is at Metal Experience Fest in October. If it can be only half as good as Dark Angel was, we are in for a treat

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Cyclone & Strike Master - Musicon The Hague, 2 August 2025

Strike Master are a Mexican Thrash metal band. They played Headbangers Open Air the previous weekend. Coming from Mexico meant I totally missed them so far even if they released 6 albums already since 2006. Coming over from Mexico is no small feat and here Cyclone came to the rescue. These Belgian veterans took them under their wings taking them around for tourism and set up two shows with them enabling to gain some money to afford the flight over. Musicon was after Diest the second and last show so I decided to support our local venue and some Mexican thrash metal too. 

Upon arrival at Musicon it turned out to be filled with many known faces and an average age that justified Cyclone's early years. Strike Master would play first and on stage came the three Mexicans. This meant drums and two guitars with one of them taking care of vocals too. It did not take long to see and hear that all three master their instrument and the songs showed enough variation to keep us hooked throughout their set. In good (or not so good) Musicon fashion we watched from a distance and saw it was good. The band went through their career, but as all music was new to me that had no impact. Towards the end we were invited to visit Mexico city a magical place where we would simply disappear. Together with a promised on stage suicide if they would not sell all their merch on the event page showed enough sarcasm. Well I tried to do my part at the merch stand, but CD's did sell out before I looked for one. Hope they got a nice time in Europe and who knows come back one day. But in spite of the quote on their FB page when arriving in Holland: Era penal sim.

After a short stageswap Cyclone came on. These Belgians formed in '81 and thus go a long way. Yet they only released two albums in 86 and 90. Halfway the set an oldie was announced stating that several in the audience were not even born by then. Well same can be said of the band, as only vocalist Guido Gevels seems to be original band member. His presentation came over as very sympathetic with some undercooled humor blended in. This helped the show of a rather fine band even further. I do not own their albums, but this was very accesibble thrash metal and I loved to see five guys giving us a lot to enjoy. Their first time in The Hague, but with a previous passing at Metal Experience Fest they knew many of the people in the crowd. Talking about the crowd it was decent packed. Not as busy as the night before with some Belarussian Slam Death metal. Today Musicon completes the weekend of triple metal with an afternoon doom session. I probably won't make it there, but nothing is doomed yet.

Changeling - Cosmograf - Imminent Sonic Debris - Ophelion

 A prog extravaganza of four albums you must hear and I have only digital on my bandcamp app.

Changeling - Changeling

If I have to thank Obscura it is mainly for two reasons. During their live tours they tend to bring ecxcellent support acts (who outplay them mostly) and the number of offpsins that are awesome is evergrowing (Alkaloid, Obsidious). Changeling is a band formed by Tom Geldschläger and gives us a beautyiful mix of prog and death metal. The number of albums within this mix is growing fast in my collection. Why? because they won't stop to amaze me. This is another high anyone with a mild interest in prog or death metal should give a try. I bought this one online at bandcamp and now saw that Seasons of Mist holds CD copies still. Maybe one day I go after the physical CD still. Highlights? check for yourself from 1 minute instrumentals till a 17 minute epic closer they present a bit fro everyone.

Cosmograf - The Orphan Epoch

Cosmograf is the project of multi-instrumentalist Robin Armstrong. Together with Dec Burke, Frost* and Lee Abraham he represents to me the hope of British prog rock in the current century. This is album number 10 and I own 6 on CD. This one not (yet?), but what a beauty this is. Cosmograf loves to tell us stories with their music. Either being it full concept albums (The Man Left in Space: tip) or in epic songs. On this album there is no general concept nor a song over 10 minutes. Still there are plenty of stories and nostalgia best represented in the longest track We Are The Young. Kings and Lords holds a nice videoclip with images of a spaghetti western seeming to be shot for the purpose. Further there is lots to love for anyone into one of his previous albums. If by 9 albums you did not get the beauty, I doubt you suddenly change your mind.

Imminent Sonic Destruction - Floodgate

In 2022 I discovered Imminent Sonic Destruction through their album The Sun Will Always Set. That album ended very high on my end of year list. Now I got to listen to Floodgate many times, my conclusion is that they probably did it again. ISD play progmetal of the modern kind based around strong melodies. Opening song is part I of the title track. I challenge anyone not to sing along with the chorus after getting to know this gem. The good news is that ISD do not drop the ball throughout the eight songs and this album I am sure comes back frequently when I play from my bandcamp app. Next week ISD are part of the best progmetal festival line-up of 2025 (sorry PPE, but it's true) I so wish I could be there, but you can't win them all. Progmetal fan? get this album now.

Ophelion - The Jaunt

Newcastle bands make me think of NWOBHM immediately. Now they give us a progmetal band Ophelion. Formed in 2018, but releasing their debut only now. Only format so far is digital, and you can get it for a bargain at bandcamp. The Jaunt is based upon a story by Stephen King. I believe Redemption also had a long track on their debut based upon a story by Mr King. And surprisingly that debut album springs to mind at times. Ophelion have two vocalists one clean and one for the grunts. Well those afraid of grunts do not need to worry as most grunts blend in with the music while clean vocals are dominant. That voice reminds me of Mac the former Threshold vocalist. The album itself holds four long songs in the 10-14minute range with one short instrumental break halfway. Another must listen album for progmetal fans and as they are nearby I expect to see them perform this story next year in Baarlo at a certain festival.

A-Z - Dessiderium - Eight Lives Down - Hyena - Katagory V - Rivers of Nihl

Long time since I recommended CD's. With my two months under Brazilian sun I did get some music in still. Today some CD's I bought since April and next week I mention some albums I so far only have on my bandcamp app.

A-Z - A2Z2

A-Z or Apple Zebra turning into Alligator Zipper, while still being Alder Zonder. Anyone following my posts knows that these two can do little wrong to me when releasing music. Now to up the fun they even added the Redemption guitar duo of Nick van Dyk and Simone Mularoni. So it came as little surprise that compared with their debut this album moved a bit more to Redemption sounds. This comes out in a notch heavier songs. Ray Alder over the past years sings lower, but with so much feel and emotion that he alone makes this a must buy album. But let me not forget the band as everyone seems to be on fire. Now A-Z or late Redemption won't be the most surprising albums released, but for me definitely one I shall play among most of all albums I get ths year. So If you love Redemption, Fates Warning or the debut a must have album for you.

Dessiderium - Keys to the Palace

Countless are the great albums released over the past few years, where prog is combined with extreme metal. Clean vocals and grunts sharing duties and the songs tend to be long. An absolute favourite in that genre is released by Dessiderium. Released in March, but it never arrived before I left home end April. A welcome surprise upon return it was as what Alex Haddad is presenting here is definitely a highlight of the year. Now I missed the first four full lenghts released between 2013 and 2021. This one I luckily did get and what a blast it is. This mix of prog and death here seems to become my new favourite genre. Alex Haddad did not ring a bell for me, but I saw him last year with Atheist on stage (and this year again). Definitely worth checking out this one.

Eight Lives Down - Fates

Eight Lives Down are an international bunch who released with Fates their second album. A new band to me I bought this album based upon their videoclip for the opening track Void.I totally loved the fast song mixed with female vocals that reminded me of Azusa or Ram-Zet. Yes the more hysterical ones that don't go operatic on you. Aliki Katrou shines throughout the whole album with her vocal performance. The songs themselves might need some more spins as now the 12 songs don't stand out indvidually yet. Still a refreshing new sound and with band members coming from Rio or living in Leiden I hope to see this band one day in Garage Grindhouse, Nobel or Lazarus.

Hyena - About Rock and Roll

Hyena are an up and coming Heavy Metal band from Peru. Now my collection of Peruvian bands is not huge, so a first good reason to get thsi CD. Real reason was I saw them opening day two at Keep It True and they did so in great style. This is the fast heavy metal with the screams and the haunting guitars. A flashing live set made me run to the merch boot to get this album and the baseball Tee with the very blue sleeves. Great that this band got the chance to tour Europe and I hope they return afer their next album. I will be there.

Katagory V - Awaken a New Age of Chaos

Katagory V formed in 1999, yet this album sounds very much like 1986. US metal with prog touches is what we get and in wonderful style I can add. They released four albums between 2001-2007. Came back n 2015 and now again in 2025. I must check out these first five albums based upon what they present here. This album is filled with nods to what is possibly the best era in music, when during the mid to late eighties one after another classic US metal album was released. Ten songs to bring you back in time and if like me you love that style, put a huge smile on your face. Maybe old age made me nostalgic, but does a better sort of metal even exist? (no).

Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil are a growing band. I saw them some nine years ago opening a four band tech death party with Obscura headlining. March this year I saw them headlining such a four band tech death party over bands like Cynic and Beyond Creation. So they must be doing something right. This tour happened before the release of this fifth album, so we got some prereleased singles live. Now having the full album I can say that Rivers of Nihil steeped a bit less on the gas here. More calm intermezzos and clean vocals, but I do like the overall result. Live there were some tapes, but a live saxophne. On album you don't get distracted by these things and this album sounds very complete and full. Next month they are back in The Netherlands, but to me the DMF line-up does not justify the ticket price

 

 

 

Nahville Pussy & The Prince Albert & Drunktank - Musicon The Hague, 12 July 2025

Nashville Pussy I saw before I remember. Where and when I forgot, but it might have been Bospop when that festival still was build around metal and heavy rock. Anyway a tour passing Musicon, where I had not been since Festerfest meant I wanted to go and see them.

Niels and Ingrid were going too so I proposed to them the double line-up. As a result we let Drunktank open the evening for us at 18:00 hrs at Zeeheldenfestival. For over 40 years now one of The Hague's finets free festivals. Drunktank proved agin to be a nice live band now with six and the sun was out too, so a good start indeed.

At 20:00 we got our bicycles and moved on to Musicon. Well in time in to see a local band opening here. The Prince Albert played rock and roll. I had never heard of them before, but I guess we shall  see lots more of them on local festivals as they were good at what they are doing. While they sang about Rock & Royalty I wondered why they did not call themselves the Prince Andrew for bigger shock effect. Afer all they flirt with shock rock too.

Nashville Pussy are also good at what they doing. Play some mean and dirty Rock and Roll. This is music to see and feel live on stage as on record for me it is not all too exciting. Live there were no reasons to complain though and a packed Musicon loved what they saw here. I enjoyed seeing a show in Musicon again and with the early start we decided to leave not too late and by midnight I was home. This meant six hours well spent.