WORLDS COLLIDE IN LEEDS

Back in 2019 I first heard news which I thought would be very exciting. Two of my favourite bands, Within Temptation and Evanescence announced a joint tour called Worlds Collide.

They were to play shows across Europe in April 2020. The Coronavirus Pandemic put those plans on hold and it was then announced the tour would happen in September 2021 and again it was postponed to April 2022. The tour was then put back for a third time and rescheduled for November 2022.

After three long years of planning and disappointment two of the foremost bands in modern symphonic metal played to eager crowd of very relieved fans.

The show at the First Direct Arena in Leeds was the last show in the UK and I was able to go. I had been looking forward to this for a very long time. Doors at the Arena were open from 5:30 PM and the crowd outside seemed to be in very good spirits.

At 7 PM the opening act Veridia took the stage. I will confess that I had never heard of the Alt Rock Band from Tennessee before that and they were very good. Their set was very loud and well received by the crowd, particularly their song titled I’ll Never Be Ready, a song which their singer Deena Jakoub announced to the crowd that she had written after losing her father to illness. For this song she was accompanied by Evanescence singer Amy Lee on the piano. I hope the band go from strength to strength and people will show them the support they clearly deserve.

Evanescence were the next band to tale the stage and the crowd were not disappointed. Beginning with Artifact/The Turn the American band took us on a ride mostly focusing on their newer material taken from their latest album called The Bitter Truth the band still played songs from their earlier albums. Lacrymosa has been absent from their live concerts since 2018 and was very well received as were songs such as Your Star and Going Under. However, they saved the most familiar songs for their two closers. My Immortal was a masterpiece as it always is. Poignant and emotional, Amy Lee’s wonderful voice makes this one of many people’s favourite of all of Evanescence’s songs. This was followed by Bring Me To Life which was utterly fantastic.

After this the third band of the night took to the stage. Within Temptation are my favourite band in the whole world right now and I did see them live back in 2018. As any of their fans will testify, they do not disappoint as a live act. From older songs of their such as See Who I Am, Stand My Ground and Angels, via other songs such as Faster and What Have You Done, Sharon den Adel’s powerful vocals shine through. Before playing the song Raise Your Banner Sharon gave her support to the people of Ukraine and sang the song whilst carrying a huge Ukrainian Flag.

The whole show, from start to finish, was a complete triumph and wonderfully received by the sell our crowd in Leeds. I would certainly recommend any fan of modern metal music takes the chance to explore the wonderful music of each band and I would not hesitate to go to see any of them again.

Verdia Set List

1- Blood Diamond

2- Feed The Animal

3- Poppies

4- Still Breathing

5- I’ll Never Be Ready (with Amy Lee)

6- At The End Of The World

7- I Won’t Stay Down

Evanescence Set List

1- Artifact/The Turn

2- Broken Pieces Shrine

3- Made Of Stone

4- Take Cover

5- Going Under

6- Lacrymosa

7- Lose Control/Part Of Me/Never Go Back

8- Far From Heaven

9- Your Star

10- End Of The Dream

11- Better Without You

12- Call Me When You’re Sober

13- Imaginary

14- Use My Voice

15- Blind Belief

16- My Immortal

17- Bring Me To Life

Within Temptation Set List

1- See Who I Am

2- Faster

3- Paradise (What About Us?)

4- Angels

5- Stand My Ground

6- Raise Your Banner

7- In The Middle Of The Night

8- All I Need

9- The Reckoning

10- Supernova

11- What Have You Done

12- Don’t Pray For Me

13- Ice Queen

14- Mother Earth