Who:	Opeth Dark Tranquillity The Devin Towsend Band
What:	Swedish Death Metal
Where:	Recher Theater Towson, Maryland

Like the Black Label Society concert, I was unfamiliar with the music of Opeth, a death metal band haling from Sweden. To the Recher, Opeth also brought opening bands,  The Devin Townsend Band and Dark Tranquillity (also from Sweden).

The Devin Townsend Band was up first. Front man, Devin (creator and lead guy for Strapping Young Lads), brings a unique personality to the stage: a mild mannered red head dressed in a hippie's winter ensemble. Though his outfit was weird for a metal band, his sound was nothing short of rockin'. He's the kind of guy you have a lot fun watching and an even greater time listening to.


Even though I'm not a huge fan of death metal, I loved listening to Dark Tranquillity. They have a very clean sound instrumentally and vocally. But what I most remember about Dark Tranquillity was the drummer, Andres Jivarp, starting a conversation with me after concert about hour he loved Iced Earth and was friend with Jon Schaffer (my top metal hero).

Opeth. Take Sweden's funniest man, put a guitar in his hands and mic in his face, and there you have front man Mikael Åkerfeldt. Between the jestering, linguistics lesson, and a metal sound, Opeth makes on of the most entertaining bands to see in concert. And to make the night complete, Opeth invited PRS designer and devout fan on stage to propose to his girlfriend. Congrats you two.

---

Band Links: