Delain with Xandria and Edge of Paradise Live at Gramercy Theater, NYC 3/23/25

After a long hiatus, this website is back covering metal and hard rock concerts! What a better show to start with than with all the great symphonic metal bands headlined by the awesome Delain that went on at Gramercy Theater on March 23, 2025! 

The first band to play were American hard rock/ meta/ symphonic metal band Edge of Paradise. While, I had heard some of their music before, this was my first time seeing them live, as well as getting a full feel for their music. They were great onstage, delivering music that added an almost industrial like driving sound to their take on symphonic metal. The result is unique, exciting, and really makes them standout. They have incredible musicianship and are fronted by signer Margarita Monet and her beautiful, soaring, and powerful vocals. When, it came to playing their single "Give to Me (Mind Assassin)", they were joined by Ludovico Technique, in full make-up costume. By the end of the their setlist, my fandom in them was definitely solidified. 

Edge of Paradise: Setlist

  Prophecy Unknown

The Other Side of Fear

Hologram

Death Note

Falling Light

Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)

(with Ludovico Technique)

The Unknown

German symphonic metal band Xandria were next. This was my first time hearing any of their music, but holy shit was I ever blown away! Their music is powerful and sweeping headed by their amazing vocalist with an operatic voice, Ambre Vourvahis, can really hit those high notes! The musicianship is amazing, and they have such an amazing presence onstage! Extra points for mentioning that their absolutely awesome song and single "Universal" stands for the rights of everyone, and they proudly fight for that. They held up the rainbow flag, and well, they definitely won a new fan in me!

Xandria: Setlist

  You Will Never Be Our God

Reborn

Universal

Two Worlds

200 Years

Live the Tale

Nightfall

It was then time for the headliners: Dutch symphonic metal band Delain! I've been a fan of theirs for a couple of years now, but had never seen them live. Now, that I have am an even bigger fan! They were so fun live, the musicianship on display from them is amazing! Their current signer Diana Leah has a gorgeous and powerful voice. She is incredible to experience live, giving a lively, enigmatic, and powerful performance. But, above all the name of the game is fun, as I had an absolute blast watching them perform!

Delain: Setlist

Cold

Suckerpunch

The Reaping

       Dance With the Devil

      Burning Bridges

        Creatures    

         Queen of Shadow

             The Gathering

             Lucidity Medley

          Not Enough

            We Are the Others

After the show, I got to meet Margarita Monet of Edge of Paradise. I told her that this was my first time seeing them live, and how much I loved their performance. She was very sweet and humble, and this the perfect way to end a great night of kick ass music.

Were any of you guys at this show or some other from this tour? Are you a fan of any these bands? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Within Temptation Launch Exciting New Comic Book Series!

PRE-ORDER NEW WITHIN TEMPTATION COMIC BOOK

WITHIN TEMPTATION BRING THEIR SWEEPING STORYTELLING TO COMICS WITH A NEW SERIES Acclaimed symphonic metal band tackle the rise of AI with Opus Comics Symphonic metal band Within Temptation are bringing their unique vision of the future to comic audiences with a brand new series from Opus Comics based on their 2019 album Resist and 2021 virtual concert Aftermath. Set in the distant future, an endless battle rages between two species — an advanced but inherently humanoid species ruled by a techno-organic matriarch on one side, and a cruel race of alien artificial intelligences on the other. Multiple stories collide to paint a sweeping portrait of the matriarch's life and her struggle to balance what she was created to be with the impossible forces that shape her. In order to bring this story to the comic book page, the band have teamed up with acclaimed YA author Marieke Nijkamp and heavy metal artist Montos to flesh out their dystopian world. "The Purge cover star GENESIS has come to life on our stage and in different merchandise designs, and now she will be taking you on the biggest quest of her life — in both our next album as well as in our comic book series," says vocalist and co-founder Sharon den Adel, "Teaming up with Opus for this seemed like the logical decision, as they are a heavyweight in creating comic books and only work with the best designers and storytellers. We can't wait to show you the final result! We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do!" The first issue will be available in a limited-edition print run featuring an exclusive numbered foil cover by Agustin Alessio (Star Wars, Avengers, Thor: God of Thunder) direct from Incendium Online, with a newsstand edition in comic stores this May for wide retail release. "The symphonic splendour of Within Temptation has always transported listeners to other worlds, and experiencing those songs supported by the incredible set design of recent stage shows and virtual performances presented a wonderful opportunity to explore their futuristic vision with an all new narrative," adds Incendium and Opus Comics founder Llexi Leon. "Today, the battle against AI is suddenly a very real topic, particularly for artists and other creatives, which is reflected in the story of the matriarch and her struggle." Within Temptation #1 is the first in a three-part mini-series at 40 pages long, and is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' March PREVIEWS catalogue for May release at Opus Comics' signature $6.66 price point. Fans can also buy a numbered limited-edition version of the book with foil treatment directly here.

ABOUT WITHIN TEMPTATION: Legendary leaders of dark anthemic music, with a career spanning two decades and with seven studio albums under their belt — Enter [1997], Mother Earth [2000], The Silent Force [2004], The Heart of Everything [2007], The Unforgiving [2011], Hydra [2014], and RESIST [2019]: all accounting for more than four million record sales to their name —Within Temptation are a genuine force to be reckoned with. Simply, they are one of the world's most successful heavy rock groups. In 2020 and 2021, the band released "Entertain You," "The Purge," and "Shed My Skin," singles that all peaked in the Top 20 of the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator Charts and topped the official German charts. The band's work has received numerous international awards, including a World Music Award, MTV Europe Music Awards, a Metal Hammer Award, and many more.   ABOUT OPUS COMICS: Opus Comics was founded in 2021 by writer and creative director Llexi Leon, launching with over a dozen comic book titles based on some of the world's best-known music-related IP including Bill and Ted: Roll the Dice, Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer, and Evanescence: Echoes from the Void. Opus Comics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Incendium, a full-spectrum creative and production house with comics, merchandising, interactive, and animation divisions. ABOUT INCENDIUM: Founded in 2006, Incendium is a multi-faceted production company known for an array of animation, comic books, toys, and video games. Driven by our team's passion for Myths, Monsters, and Metal, the brand embraces '80s and '90s counterculture with a contemporary twist. On Facebook: @IncendiumOnline  On Twitter: @IncendiumOnline Instagram WITHIN TEMPTATION ONLINE:

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Anette Olzon Announces New Solo Album "STRONG" Coming September 10, 2021 Via Frontiers Music SRL

 ANETTE OLZON ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM "STRONG"

COMING SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 VIA FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL

FIRST SINGLE & VIDEO, 'PARASITE' OUT TODAY

Current The Dark Element (and ex-Nightwish) vocalist Anette Olzon is set to release her new solo album, "Strong" via Frontiers Music Srl on September 10, 2021. Today, fans can get their first listen to new music with the release of the single and video for the track 'Parasite'. Watch the video HERE: https://youtu.be/eEbQWMOPBO0

Pre-order/save "Strong" on CD/LP/Digital HERE: https://orcd.co/anettestrong

“'Parasite' is a song about those who create disaster in this world with their lies, their schemes, their greed and hate. Hiding their intentions behind a respectable facade,” says Anette Olzon of the albums' first single. “Living in a world of a bit of chaos with a pandemic, crazy politics, violence, social media behavior and people venting their opinions upon others all the time is the foundation behind the idea of the lyrics for the album. Musically, I wanted a much heavier album, yet with strong melodies and took my inspiration from bands I like such as Dimmu Borgir and In Flames,” she continues.

This will be Anette's second solo album, following 2014's "Shine," and offers a harder, faster musical offering compared to the debut. More importantly, "Strong" stakes a claim for Anette’s well-deserved standing as one of the world's top female metal vocalists.

 

The music for "Strong" was written and composed together with acclaimed Swedish guitarist and producer Magnus Karlsson. Together, Anette and Magnus managed to create an outstanding collection of songs which showcase Anette’s enormous vocal range alongside Karlsson’s incendiary riffs. The songs are heavy, but still quite melodic and contemporary in their approach to the genre style. Additionally, "Strong" is mixed by Jacob Hansen (Pretty Maids, Volbeat, The Dark Element, etc.).

 

All in all, “Strong” is an album that masters the borders between heaviness and hookiness, all while showing an artist who doesn't rest on her laurels, but heads boldly into the future.

Tracklist:

1.  Bye Bye Bye

2.  Sick Of You

3.  I Need To Stay

4.  Strong

5.  Parasite

6.  Sad Lullaby

7.  Fantastic Fanatic

8.  Who Can Save Them

9.  Catcher Of My Dreams

10. Hear Them Roar

11. Roll The Dice

 

LINE-UP:

Anette Olzon - Vocals

Magnus Karlsson - Guitars

Anders Köllerfors - Drums

Johan Husgafvel – Bass

ANETTE OLZON SOCIAL MEDIA:

‌  ‌ About Frontiers Music Srl: Originally founded in Naples, Italy in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and his father Fernando as a distribution company, Frontiers has developed into one of the premiere independent rock labels in the world. Synonymous with quality music from across a broad spectrum of rock genres, the label has worked with multiple genre heavyweights and fan favorites. Aside from providing a home for classic artists from the '70s and '80s, the label has also become home to a wealth of young, up and coming talent that, with a savvy and forward thinking A&R and marketing approach, will be developed into the future of rock and metal. With a deep commitment to and passion for THE MUSIC and the artists who create it and massive global distribution, sales, marketing, and publicity channels, Frontiers is the premiere home for established and emerging rock artists. Head Office: Naples, IT | U.S. Office: Philadelphia, PA

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