As embarrassing as it is for a metal fan to say, my first experience with Doro Pesch came mere weeks ago when I received a copy of the Warrior Soul DVD. I had heard of her, or course, but for some reason I had never listened to a Doro or Warlock album. What I found in that concert is a charismatic frontwoman with a fantastic voice performing catchy heavy metal, so when I had the chance to catch her live, I jumped at the opportunity, and I was not disappointed. The night was filled with some excellent music, and I recommend that if you get the chance, you take it.

The show started with a local act called Left in Ruins. I had heard of them, but this was my first shot at seeing them live. They played a mix of death and extreme metal, featuring a veritable wall of guitar that surged their music forward. They have three guitar players, each offering something different to the whole, making the music better in the end. First, they have the crushing riff guy, he delivers the bass rhythms that get you to bang your head, pump your fist, and get the energy going. Next to him was the vocalist/guitarist, who delivered some nice speedy technical sounding solos, while the third guitarist was the feel guy, he had solos that were high on technique, but also had a lot of feeling to them.

Three distinct guitar sounds building the wall of noise that seems to be the bands trademark, and they were quite impressive. The rhythm section was solid, keeping everything going. Vocals were raw growls that did not really stand out from other death/extreme acts, but did not disappoint. Overall, with a few minor timing issues, these guys were very good and I would definitely be interested in further performances from them.

Changing speeds, the second band stepped away from the extreme and moved into the progressive metal sounds. Lost Legacy is a name that seems to be gaining some momentum, based on conversation with a few others at the show. They took the stage with a look that was a cross between Coheed & Cambria and Dream Theater, and a sound that was reminiscent of Dream Theater and Symphony X. They brought a strong technical sound to the stage with some blazing guitar and keyboard solos, and powerful singing. They definitely put on an electrifying set, with a ton of technical prowess while retaining a strong emotional base.