So what if, according to the weather forecast, yesterday was supposed to be the end of the world? I figured that if I were going to drown, I might as well do it after hearing Operation: Mindcrime in its entirety one last time. The announcement that Geoff would be performing this legendary album on a final tour didn’t go unnoticed, and Gagarin filled up early.
Zeus must have been on my side, because we made it to and from the venue without any mishaps. Credit where it’s due—the organizers opened the doors a bit earlier than scheduled as soon as the rain started to pick up.
Once inside, only the music mattered. Inner Vitriol kicked things off. The band from Bologna may have been around since 1997, but Semper Tacui is just their second album, arriving nearly 15 years after their debut, Into The Silence I Sink. They’re clearly skilled musicians, though their progressive sound leans toward the somber and introspective. That, combined with their relative obscurity among the Greek audience, led to a somewhat lukewarm response. Still, they’re definitely a band worth exploring.
The main attraction, of course, was Geoff—that’s why we were all there. He took the stage about fifteen minutes late. His lineup was the same as last time, with the addition of a third guitarist, the drummer from Inner Vitriol, and a female vocalist (whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch) who also handled keyboard duties when needed.
The set was split into two parts. The first featured Operation: Mindcrime performed in full. The second included selections like Empire, Jet City Woman, Walk In The Shadows, and Take Hold Of The Flame, while the encore brought us Silent Lucidity and Queen Of The Reich.
There’s not much left to say about these songs—they’ve long since carved out their place in history. The band delivered a solid performance, and Geoff was good, though perhaps a notch below the last time I saw him. The only real downside for me—though I admit I’m a bit particular—was the band’s overall appearance and stage aesthetic. Let me explain: when I attend a hard rock show, I don’t expect the band to look like Immortal, but I do expect something that matches the weight and atmosphere of what is arguably one of the most important concept albums ever made. The music we heard last night didn’t quite align with the visual presentation or the onstage theatrics.
Michael Ntalakos
