EVERGREY + KLOGR + VIRTUAL SYMMETRY at the RCA in Lisbon - 2024

In an event organized by Free Music Events that took place on November 11 and 12 in Lisbon (RCA) and Porto (Hardclub), the Swedes from Evergrey returned to Portugal for a double date to present their new album Theories of Emptiness. They brought along the bands KLOGR and Virtual Symemetry to accompany them on this mission, and we were at the RCA on the 11th to see everything that happened there.

VIRTUAL SYMMETRY

At 8pm, the Swiss-Italian band Virtual Symmetry took to the stage at the RCA at the same time as the crowd began to arrive, as it was the middle of Monday.

Formed in 2009 and with four albums under their belt, the most recent being “Veils of Illumination” released this year, the band immediately showed all their dedication, energy and extremely high charisma, especially frontman Marco Pastorino, who in addition to his great stage presence delivers impressive vocals.

We already know that Italy is an incredible breeding ground for prog metal, bands like Noveria and DGM have already proved this to us in the past, and Virtual Symmetry is confirmation of this reality. Presenting a sound based on modern prog metal and full of identity, we have here a cohesive and mature work ready to take bigger flights. Guitarist Valerio Æsir Villa is another well of charisma and absurd technique, presenting an infinite box of extremely well-crafted riffs and solos.

Those who attended Virtual Symmetry's concert were certainly left with a feeling of wanting more, given how little time the band had and how well they made the most of it. It's clear that they deserve to return to Portugal for a show with more time, and we also deserve to get to know one of the most interesting bands in the prog-metal scene today, so keep that name Virtual Symmetry.

KLOGR

A few minutes before 9 p.m., the Italian-American band KLOGR took to the stage at an already packed RCA, eager to find out more about what was to follow.

Presenting a very well done and interesting blend of progressive metal and alternative metal, led by vocalist and guitarist Gabriele “Rusty” Rustichelli, another charismatic man who said during the concert that the Portuguese and Italians were very similar people, and got his tongue a little wrong when he thanked them in Spanish with a “Muchas Gracias”, drawing some smiles from the audience. The fact is that KLOGR blew the crowd away with their energy and intensity combined with the band's weight.

Undoubtedly another band that pleased the crowd that was already filling the RCA at this time, and that we'll be hearing about in the future, perhaps when they return to Portugal.

EVERGREY

At 10:10 p.m., the Swedish quintet took to the stage of a well-stocked RCA with an atmosphere full of anticipation to see Evergrey, who released their fourteenth studio album “Theories Of Emptiness” on June 7 via Napalm Records.

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With the Emptiness Over Europe Tour 2024 tour, Evergrey invested well in the new work, playing a total of five tracks from the album, which I think is very valid, especially when The opening of the show was “Falling From the Sun”, a song that opens the band’s most recent work and which already drove everyone present crazy, such is the density and sound cohesion that the band manages to deliver, followed by another incredible new song “ Say” that in a recent interview the band said ? Say is one of those songs that we immediately knew would be an incredible single when we wrote the chorus?, ?We are sure it will be a simply devastating song live” and they hit the nail on the head!

Between the charisma of the quintet led by the enormous Tom S. Englund, lead singer and guitarist and the only founding member still present today, and the exchange of jokes and rapport between the other musicians, it was clear to see the band's unity and fun on stage. When the first chords of the beautiful ‘Distance’ began, the game had already been won for a long time by the Swedes, from then on it was a shower of classics that thrilled the audience, ‘Eternal Nocturnal’, ‘Call Out the Dark’ combined with the images of the screens that the band brought impressed, and another new one ‘One Heart’ made it clear the acceptance and acclaim of the band's most recent work, which is undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2024.

Gothenburg progressive metal icons Evergrey have finally returned to Portugal after a long absence, and they will certainly think twice before prolonging it. With more than 30 years of existence, the band led by vocalist, guitarist and founder Tom S. Englund is far from over, with plenty of wood to burn!

Artists: Evergrey, Klogr, Virtual Symmetry