I got to the Oriental Theatre about an hour before the doors opened on a cold windy evening. There were people in line and Delain’s meet and greet was going on inside. Of course the conversations were about tonight's show and people were talking about the last time they had seen the bands perform this evening. Always fun to hear stories that fans have experienced. I was looking at the flyers of bands that are coming to the oriental over the next few weeks. I turned just in time to see Margarita Monet of Edge of Paradise round the corner and she saw me and put the things she was caring down and I got a big hug and we talked for a bit. I cover the band's shows when they come to Denver and we have become friends.
The doors opened and we all moved inside and got warm and talked with some of the staff there that I know. I have covered a number of shows here and they have a great staff. As always, I head down to the pit and say hi to the security guys and stash my gear, then hang out with friends. The lights came down and rousing cheer came from the crowd as one by one, the members of Edge of Paradise came onto the stage. They started their set with “Prophecy Unbound” from their new album, Prophecy which was released just a few days ago on Napalm records. The band states “that the album is their most powerful yet and explores themes of the human subconscious and the impact of artificial intelligence”. The power coming from the band filled the venue with high energy and the crowd soaked it all up. The stage at the Oriental is larger than the previous stages I covered the band on and they had a lot of room to move around and they used it up. As Margarita moved about, her powerful voice rang throughout the venue backed by superb musicianship.
Throughout their set and watching the band interacting with each other and the crowd while pouring out intense energy with their music was electrifying. Most of their set of songs was from the new album but they stepped back in time with “Hologram” from their 2023 album of the same name and “Digital Paradise” from their 2021 album, The Unknown. Edge of Paradise closed out their set with “Falling Light” off their new album. A cheer roared from the crowd for a great set as the band said goodnight.
Edge of Paradise members:
Margarita Monet – vocals (2011–present)
Dave Bates – lead guitar (2011–present)
David Ruiz – rhythm guitar (2017–present)
Jamie Moreno – drums (2020–present)
Kenny Lockwood – bass (2023–present)
Setlist:
Prophecy Unbound
The Other Side of Fear
Hologram
Death Note n
Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)
Digital Paradise
Falling Light
After a short break the stage was set and the crowd was ready for Xandria. This would be my third time covering Xandria and I was as excited as I was the first time to see them again. As each member took the stage waving to the crowd they started their first song and Ambre timed her entrance to the explosive song, “You Will Never Be Our God” from their 2023 album, The Wonders Still Awaiting. The power of this song is amazing, especially hearing it live. The crowd in the venue were going crazy and it didn’t stop there as Xandria moved right onto “Reborn” from the same album.
The power these amazing musicians were pouring out into the crowd is something you will want to hear live! With their stage presence and lighting that danced across the stage, this photographer was in heaven as well as the crowd. Watching each of them stage interacting with each, or displaying their skills for the crowd brought cheers from everyone. Their high energy set continued with “200 Years” and “Two Worlds” and the venue rocked, hands in the air and head banging and cheering after each song. Finishing their set, Xandria stepped back in time to 2014 and from the Sacrificium album poured out, “Nightfall” and their fans roared with appreciation of a great finish for a great show!
Xandria members:
Marco Heubaum – rhythm guitar (1994–present), keyboards (1997–present), vocals (1994–2001)
Ambre Vourvahis – vocals (2022–present)
Rob Klawonn – lead guitar (2022–present)
Tim Schwarz – bass (2022–present)
Dimitrios Gatsios – drums (2022–present)
Setlist:
You Will Never Be Our God
Reborn
Universal
200 Years
Two Worlds
Live the Tale
Nightfall 2014 Sacrificium
The stage was set and the fog was heavy across the stage and into the crowd. With cheering from their fans, each member made their way onto the stage through the fog. The opening of “The Cold” from their 2023 album, Dark Waters started as Delain took to the stage and Diana made her way out to the cheering crowd and another powerful energizing set of music exploded throughout the venue to their roaring fans. Diana’s vocals poured out over the crowd and all eyes were on her as she moved about.
Moving right into 2016’s “Suckerpunch” had Delain fans jumping and singing along with the song. This would be only the beginning of moving back and forth through two decades of great music. As the lights danced on stage and Delain took to moving about interacting with each other and their fans. Many songs brought out memories for their fans, such as 2020's “Burning Bridges”, 2014’s “Stardust”, from their newest album, “Dance With The Devil” from the album of the same name. Each song was as powerful as ever and their fans were going crazy for every one of them. Towards the end of their set, another song that lit up the hearts of the crowd was 2012’s “April Rain”.
Another powerful set of music was about to come to an end, but it would end with a song that everyone knows and most likely can sing it without any help, “We Are The Other’s” from the 2012 album of the same name. Delain said goodnight to a cheering crowd. It wasn’t a packed house this evening but you would have thought it was by the volume of the crowd that was there. On another note, Martijn Westerholt was not at tonight's show, he had to return home for family matters and we all hope all is well with his family. He said would be back for their show on the 16th at the Forge in Joliet, IL.
Delain members:
Martijn Westerholt – keyboards (2002, 2005–present)
Sander Zoer – drums (2006–2014, 2021–present)
Ronald Landa – guitars, backing vocals, harsh vocals (2006–2009, 2021–present)
Ludovico Cioffi – bass, backing vocals, harsh vocals (2022–present)
Diana Leah – lead vocals (2022–present)
Setlist:
The Cold
Suckerpunch
The Reaping
Dance With the Devil
Burning Bridges
Creatures
The Quest and the Curse
Stardust
Get the Devil Out of Me
Your Body Is a Battleground
Queen of Shadow
The Gathering
Don't Let Go
Moth to a Flame
April Rain Not Enough
We Are the Others
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