Labyrinth Rocks Your Face Off
We opened for this Italian metal band called Labyrinth last night -- one of those classic Euro Power Metal type outfits, apparently quite famous in Europe and second in Italy only to Rhapsody. Even though I admit that I did play Dungeons and Dragons rather enthusiastically in junior high I can't say I'm alawys keen on the way swords-and-sorcery finds its way into this particular genre of Metal, and I'd be happy not to see another video or album cover featuring the band members in capes weilding broadswords. In the case of Labyrinth, the musicianship at least is impeccable even if I'm not always keen on the composition. As they have far bigger hair than we do, more bulgy muscles, more chest hair, longer continuous stretches of double-bass rolls and faster solos and a singer who can sing much higher than ours they're clearly the superior band. Plus they had songs with titles like "The Prophet," which is so Heavy Fuckin' Metal, don't you know. Anyway, they sure did rock my face off, and they're easily the best Italian Power Metal band I've seen perform in any roller rink. And their singer honored all present by refering to us between songs as "all you beautiful people" and said that coming to Beijing was "a very beeg proud for us." Opening for such a band was also a very beeg proud for us!