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. Making it 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, keep that name Virtual Symetry.

KLOGR

With just a few minutes to go until 9pm, the Italian-American band KLOGR stepped onto the stage of an already packed RCA, eager to get to know what was coming next.

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 the language 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 really pleased the audience 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

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

With the Emptiness Over Europe Tour 2024 Evergrey took a big gamble on their new work, playing a total of five tracks from the album, which I think is very worthwhile, especially when they opened the show with "Falling From the Sun", a song that opens the band's latest work and that has already driven everyone crazy with the density and cohesion of the sound that the band manages to deliver, then another new song, the incredible "Say", which in a recent interview the band said "Say is one of those songs that we knew immediately would be an incredible single when we wrote the chorus", "We're sure it's going to be a simply demolishing live song" and they hit the nail on the head!

Between the charisma of the quintet led by the enormous Tom S. Englund, vocalist and guitarist and the only founding member still present today, and the exchange of jokes and rapport of 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" and the images of the screens that the band brought were impressive, and the new "One Heart" made clear the acceptance and acclaim for the band's latest work, which is undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2024.

Gothenburg's progressive metal icons, Evergrey, have finally returned to Portugal after a long absence, and they will certainly think twice before prolonging it. With over 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!