Blog Archives
2010 in review :D | Thank you, everyone!
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,600 times in 2010. That’s about 9 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 52 new posts, not bad for the first year!
The busiest day of the year was July 18th with 167 views. The most popular post that day was Panic Over North America Tour | Mutiny Within-July 14th, 2010.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, healthfitnesstherapy.com, obama-scandal-exposed.co.cc, mail.live.com, and mail.yahoo.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for eluveitie, kay brem, dark tranquillity, chrigel glanzmann, and heri terji.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Panic Over North America Tour | Mutiny Within-July 14th, 2010 July 2010
Heathenfest | Eluveitie-November 12, 2009 August 2010
About Gabriela Galeano May 2010
11 comments
Summer Slaughter Tour 2010 | Carnifex-July 30, 2010 August 2010
Summer Slaughter Tour 2010 | Veil of Maya-July 30, 2010 August 2010
2 comments
Loculus ‘Sinew’ EP Release | Loculus- November 20, 2010
Check out Loculus, a badass local band. They are relatively new, I would say, but they’ve gotten a great reception in the local scene, especially with their nifty merch and EP!! Everyone attending this show had the opportunity to get a free hard copy of their new EP titled Sinew. If you like bands along the lines of Cannibal Corpse, etc. then you should definitely check these guys out on their Facebook site, Myspace site, or their new (and cool) official site.
Thanks to Steve for letting me have fun “onstage” taking pictures. Mwahahaha. 
Loculus is:
Bill Calomiris – Vocals
Steve Miller – Guitar
Andrew Grevey – Bass
Albert Born – Drums
Hacked apart….-G.G. \m/
Loculus ‘Sinew’ EP Release | Apothys- November 20, 2010
Another round of Apothys! \m/ This time, they played alongside Loculus, another of my favorite local bands (and buddies.) You HAVE to check out their stuff; they have an EP out called Advent: Doom. I’ve been into them since 2007 (?)-whenever I saw them open up for Symphony X (a while ago!) Check them out on their official site, Myspace site, or Facebook site.
These pictures are a bit more…normal?…than previous ones of the band. The lighting was pretty nifty-whew! I’ve organized them into non-flash (the first 8), then the black and white (the following 7), and the rest are with flash. Enjoy!
Apothys is:
Carrion Misery – Vocals
Eddie Misery – Lead Guitar
Joe Fuller – Guitar
Jason – Bass
Mason Grimm – Drums
Districtia terra…..-G.G. \m/
Design Your Universe Tour | Epica- November 16, 2010
Epica!! This was my fourth time seeing them live at Jaxx, but it was the first time I took NICE pictures! I have an old batch that I will eventually post from the show on January 26th, but that’s a different story. I am a HUGE Epica fan ever since I heard the song “Cry for the Moon.” If you haven’t already, check them out on their official site, Myspace site, or Facebook site. They have a relatively new album out called (you guessed it…) Design Your Universe-it is amazing, but personally, I prefer Consign to Oblivion…check out all of their albums! This particular tour was the second leg of their American Design Your Universe Tour this year.
Regarding photography, this is what I consider the perfect concert lighting (though I would have preferred an alternative to the smoke machine)!! I am really happy with how these came out, though, and I hope you all enjoy!
Epica is:
Simone Simons – Vocals
Mark Jansen – Guitar, Harsh Vocals
Isaac Delahaye – Guitar
Yves Huts – Bass
Ariën Van Weesenbeek – Drums
Coen Jansen – Keyboards
We’re panic-stricken…-G.G. \m/
Design Your Universe Tour | Scar Symmetry- November 16, 2010
Scar Symmetry-check these guys out on their official website, Myspace, and Facebook. I started listening to them when they had one vocalist (notice that, indeed, there are now two-just in case you didn’t know!)
Due to technical difficulties, the band could not play their entire set, so I was only able to take a few pictures (17, to be exact.) Enjoy those, anyways!
Scar Symmetry is:
Roberth “Robban” Karlsson – Harsh Vocals
Lars Palmqvist – Clean Vocals
Jonas Kjellgren – Guitars, Keyboards
Per Nilsson – Guitars, Keyboards
Kenneth Seil – Bass
Henrik Ohlsson – Drums
Iconoclast!…-G.G. \m/
Design Your Universe Tour | Blackguard- November 16, 2010
Once again, I bring you more Blackguard pictures (and just a month apart!) If you haven’t already, please check them out on their Myspace page and their Facebook page. They were formerly with Nuclear Blast, but now have signed with Victory Records. If you’re about to see them live, pre-order their upcoming album for $15 or add a T-shirt for $26 (I did ) at their merch table.
Some of these shots are pretty funny-Étienne has a knack for making hilarious faces XD
A note about this tour: this is the second leg of the American Design Your Universe Tour, the first leg was in January/February. I do have shots for those as well (crappy ones because I did not have the Nikon monster.) I will post those eventually-yes, I’ll be going back in time!
Feel free to check out my previous batch of Blackguard shots here while they toured with Nevermore, Warbringer, and Hatesphere.
Blackguard is:
Paul Ablaze- Vocals
Justine Ethier- Drums
Étienne Mailloux- Bass
Kim Gosselin- Guitar
Terry ‘Roadcase’ Deschenes- Guitar
Also check out the last 3 shots where some of the guys and my buddies took pictures-they’re all awesome \m/
Next round is on me!…-G.G. \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy Tour | Nevermore- October 15, 2010
NEVERMORE!!! I love these guys-you all should definitely check out all of their albums! I had been waiting for a long time to see them live (I missed them last time they were at Jaxx.)
Warrel’s vocals were a bit shaky to say the least, but apparently he was recovering from something. I don’t think anyone cares about that though-it’s Nevermore. The lighting was awesome and I was right in front of…Attila *faints* YUM ^.^
Actually, Warrel and Jim looked SO high….just sayin’…it was a great show though!
Nevermore is:
Warrel Dane – Vocals
Jeff Loomis – Guitars
Jim Sheppard – Bass
Van Williams – Drums
Attila Vörös – Guitars
Taaaaake meee to the southern shoooooooore!!….-G.G \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy | Warbringer- October 15, 2010
WARBRINGER=THRASH EPICNESS!!!Check these guys our on their Myspace page. They’re absolutely brutal-my ribs got annihilated! XD
Thanks to Kohn Kevill for the photo permission
Regarding photography: great lighting! These are pretty decent, I would say. Enjoy!
Warbringer is:
John Kevill – Vocals
John Laux – Guitar
Adam Carroll – Guitar
Andy Laux – Bass
Nic Ritter – Drums
Waking into nightmares…-G.G. \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy Tour | Hatesphere-October 15, 2010
Check out these guys from Denmark on their official site or Myspace page! They were so nice to everyone afterwards, too. Regarding photography, they had very little light during their set, so these are not my best from that night-enjoy anyways! These guys make some really funny faces when they play…just sayin’ ^.^
Hatesphere is:
Esben “Esse” Elnegaard Kjaer Hansen – Vocals
Peter “Pepe” Lyse Hansen – Guitars
Jakob Nyholm – Guitars
Mike Park Nielsen – Drums
Hmmm…Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Black 
-G.G. \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy Tour | Apothys-October 15, 2010
APOTHYS!! These guys are one of the best local bands I know; they’re absolutely brutal. Check them out on their official site, Myspace, and Facebook. These guys play all over Northern Virginia and have several releases (buy their merch, too!) I’ve seen them several times since 2007 and they are some of the nicest guys around here. \m/
Regarding photography, these would have been less blurry and more epic if there wasn’t a mic stand in my way (you can see it in several shots.) :/
Apothys is:
Carrion Misery- Vocals
Eddie Misery- Guitars
Nihilus- Guitars
Mace- Drums
Pyr- Bass
Hmmm…I hear “cacophony rising” -G.G. \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy Tour | Cab Ride Home-October 15, 2010
Check out this local band on their Myspace page or their Facebook page! They play at Jaxx all the time, they’re well-received, and they’re pretty cool about pictures, etc. Great guys to talk to as well. \m/
Cab Ride Home is:
Dan: Vocals
Enock: Guitar
Bane: Guitar
Masten: Drums
Beefy: Bass
D.O.A!!….-G.G. \m/
The Obsidian Conspiracy Tour | Blackguard-October 15,2010
These Canadian guys are awesome! I’ve seen them several times and they never fail to deliver (and they’ll be back in May with Symphony X, Nevermore, and Powerglove!!) Oh yeah, and I’ll be checking them out again next week with Epica. Check out their work at their Myspace page (this is where I first heard of them a few years back.) Try to make it out to their energetic live shows; they tour all the time! Plus, they’re great to talk to before and after shows We talked to Paul for quite a bit (and then I spoke to Etienne in French! Yay to practice!)
By the way, they just signed with Victory Records, which is exciting, so we can expect them to be doing more shows and more music. \m/
I’d like to thank the guys for the photo permission, especially Paul Ablaze-thanks, man!
Regarding photos: the lighting was awesome, but as always, it’s crazy hard to get good shots of drummers, even badass ladies like Justine.
Blackguard is:
Paul Ablaze-Vocals
Terry-Rhythm Guitar
Etienne-Bass
Kim-Lead Guitar
Justine-Drums
Camera used: Nikon D3000
Arm yourself!!…-G.G. \m/
New Night Over North America Tour | Katatonia- October 7, 2010
Katatonia is a Swedish death/doom metal band-check them out on their website and their Myspace page. The show was amazing, though I wasn’t too familiar with Katatonia’s work before.
Notice that some pictures are a bit blurry-the crowd was intense during some songs, and especially when the guys from Orphaned Land and Swallow the Sun came onstage “dressed up” with an IKEA sign, silly string, toilet paper, and gay porn pictures (it was the last night of the tour.) It was HILARIOUS. So I apologize if those are blurry, but you can still make out details-it’s not a big deal. Otherwise, I’d say the shots are pretty good
Let me know what you think!
Katatonia is:
Jonas “Lord Seth” Renkse- Vocals, Programming
Anders “Blakkheim” Nyström – Guitar, Programming, Backing Vocals
Daniel Liljekvist – Drums, Percussion
Per “Sodomizer” Eriksson – Guitar
Niklas “Nille” Sandin – Bass
Camera used: Nikon D3000
Viva emptiness…-G.G. \m/
New Night Over North America Tour 2010 | Orphaned Land-October 7, 2010
I’d been waiting to see Orphaned Land for long time; they were the main reason I went to this show. I absolutely recommend that you check out their unique sound hailing from Israel on their website and their Myspace page. I’d say they play a mix of heavy metal and Middle Eastern traditional music. You might have heard one of their most popular songs, “Ocean Land,” but make sure to check out “Sapari,” my favorite. I love that they are bringing together the followers of the monotheistic religions whose governments are always in conflict. May there be peace soon, Inshallah.
I got to talk to Kobi before and after the show-he’s such a cool dude-and I took a picture with him (the last one.) Their show was amazing! I just wish they could have brought Shlomit Levi! Also, check out the pictures with the guys from Swallow the Sun coming onstage with “Middle Eastern garments” (if they could even be called that ^.^) This was the last night of the tour and so all the bands were messing with each other. Let me know what you think!
Orphaned Land is:
Kobi Farhi- Vocals, Chants, Growls, Narrations, Choirs, Backing Vocals
Yossi Sa’aron- Lead Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Saz, Bouzouki, Oud, Chumbush, Piano, Backing Vocals
Matti Svatizky- Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars
Uri Zelcha- Bass, Fretless Bass, Acoustic Bass
Matan Shmuely – Drums
Camera used: Nikon D3000
Merhaba, shalom & salam…-G.G. \m/
New Night Over North America Tour 2010 | Swallow the Sun-October 7, 2010
Swallow the Sun once again! Last time I saw them it was with Moonsorrow and Finntroll back in March (or was it February?) My friend Ethan and I were hanging out with the guys outside the venue before the show; they were telling us the crazy stuff of the tour (since it was the last day.) These guys are great to talk to-very funny (and I love Juha ^.^). That’s nothing to say about their music. Check out the Finnish doom metal awesomeness of this band on their website or on their Myspace page. Let me know what you think of the pictures (I got a LAST minute photo pass-hehe.)
Swallow the Sun is:
Mikko Kotomaki-Vocals
Juha Raivio- Guitar
Markus Jamsen- Guitar
Matti Honkonen- Bass
Aleksi Munter- Keyboards
Kai Hahto- Drums
Camera used: Nikon D3000
Suomi…-G.G. \m/
Vodka Revolution Tour | Týr-January 16, 2010
My friends(our clan!) got me into Týr in late 2009-right before this show. I am a HUGE fan of viking/Scandinavian metal, so Týr was right up my alley. I absolutely love the Faeroese language (yes, the hail from the Faeroe Islands!), so I highly recommend them if you liking viking and folk metal. Some songs are sung in Faroese (it looks beautiful in the written form as well) and some in English-my favorites are definitely “Turið Torkilsdóttir”, “Tróndur í Gøtu” (the show opener), “By the Sword in my Hand.” (Yes, all from the new album.)
The guys are also really cool to talk to. Since this show was before Jaxx required permission for photographs (and before I got my Nikon D3000) I didn’t get to talk to the band beforehand, but my friends are great friends with them, so we ended up chilling with all of the guys afterwards behind the venue. Heri was totally cool about taking pictures! Sadly, my friend Annie cut off Heri’s head in a picture she took of us (last one here) but you can see we’re both rockin’ the nose rings. I took one with him recently though, and it will certainly be posted once I get to that batch. For now, enjoy these and let me know what you think. DEFINITELY check out Týr on Myspace!
Týr is:
Heri Joensen – Vocals, Guitar
Terji Skibenæs – Guitar
Gunnar H. Thomsen – Bass
Kári Streymoy – Drums
Camera used: old Fujifilm S700
“we are bound to battle for eternity…” -G.G. \m/
Vodka Revolution Tour | Swashbuckle-January 16, 2010
I had heard of Swashbuckle several years ago through Myspace. I kind of forgot about them for a few years and then they played a few shows in Jaxx that I went to. Quite honestly, I’m not a huge fan of their music, gimmick, or style, but I know a lot of my friends do. So here’s to them:
-G.G \m/
Vodka Revolution Tour | White Wizzard-January 16, 2010
This was the first time I ever heard of White Wizzard. They were awesome!! (And the vocalist looks like Dio)
How would I describe them? Hmm….they’re heavy and they’re melodic. I think if you like metal/rock from the 80s, then you’d totally be into White Wizzard. Check them out of their Myspace site (they’re having some hacking issues on their official site at the moment…) I hope I can see these dudes again in the future…except I’ve heard they like to “round up” a lot of female fans,etc 0.o
White Wizzard is:
Michael Gremio- Vocals
Lewis Stephens- Lead Guitar
Chad Bryan- Rhythm Guitar
Jon Leon- Bass
Giovanni Durst- Drums
Camera used: my old Fujifilm S700
No worries…they’re not too “over the top” -G.G \m/
Evangelia Amerika Tour | Behemoth-January 8, 2010
Heck yes-Behemoth. As their name suggests, these guys are metal giants. I had been waiting to see them live for several months before January 2010 arrived, so when I saw them listed on the Jaxx Calendar, I was pumped! The tour included Septic Flesh (from Greece) and Lightning Swords of Death (from CA, I think-not too crazy about them.) To check out more of Behemoth’s work, check out their Myspace site; you will see that Behemoth has a distinct sound that no other band out there has. It doesn’t hurt that they’re sexy, either. Hehe. \m/
NEWS (I JUST found out 5 minutes ago): Behemoth was scheduled to come to Jaxx on November 30th again, but was forced to cancel as Adam Darski (ahem….Nergal) was taken to the hospital. Get well soon, Nergal!!
A note about the photos: The smoke machine was doing double time-almost all of the pictures look hazy and dark (often blurry) due to the smoke. Also, this was before I bought my Napoleon, so the quality is not that great to start with. BUT….they (especially Nergal) can make anything look amazing Also the first 11 pictures are of Lightning Swords of Death, the 7 pictures following that are of Septic Flesh.
OH, and it was UNBELIEVABLY cold that night……It was so cold, I teared up while waiting for doors to open…
Behemoth is:
Adam “Nergal” Darski – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming
Tomasz “Orion” Wróblewski – Bass, Backing Vocals
Zbigniew Robert “Inferno” Prominski – Drums, Percussion
*Patryk Dominik “Seth” Sztyber – Guitars, Backing Vocals (live performances)
Haha-try pronouncing their names out loud! 
Camera used: my old Fujifilm S700
“Shemhamforash”…-G.G \m/
Summer Slaughter Tour 2010 | Decapitated-July 30, 2010
Heck yes-Decapitated! Almost every metalhead I’ve met knows Decapitated, but if you don’t, check them out on their Myspace page or their official site (which are very sexy-I love the aesthetics.)
After some big lineup changes (RIP VITEK) these guys-hailing from Krosno, Poland-are still kicking ass. Let me know what you think of the photos!
I’d like to thank Nuclear Blast and (especially) Gosia from the Decapitated crew for hooking me up with the VIP photo pass. Thank you so much!
Decapitated is:
Rafal Piotrowski – Vocals
Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka – Guitar
Filip “Heinrich” Halucha – Bass
Kerim “Krimh” Lechner – Drums
Ah, yes….I feel the “winds of creation”…RIP Vitek -G.G \m/
