It’s been a week since I returned from the seventh annual installment of Prog Power USA and I’m still digesting all that went down. Even though I have been an attendee since 2002 with Prog Power III, because I missed last year from being on the road with Lilitu I almost forgot how much fun this festival is. Hard to believe I know. I’ve always said that the enjoyment that comes with going to Prog Power isn’t necessarily the music but the full experience. By that I mean hanging out with everybody, spending time with friends, having some drinks in the lobby or bar areas, talking to all the artists, and just generally enjoying yourself to the fullest for the weekend. Prog Power is a very intimate event. Every year around thirteen hundred ticket holders make the journey to Atlanta, Georgia and commence the rocking. The venue, Center Stage, is the perfect place with the right accomodations to hold a festival of this size. I remember when I first came down for Prog Power III and being amazed by all the musicians milling about in the venue. They go out of their way to make themselves accessible to the fans because most of them know that the chance to be a rock star in the US like this is something to take advantage of. Unlike other fests where you have to have wristbands up to your elbow for all the various backstage areas you’ll run into someone in a band every five minutes without trying. Throw on top the dedicated regulars who come every year and you have a very family like atmosphere with a lot of friendly folks that make the entire event a great time to be had by all.

This year was a special year for me because a very good band (understatement of the year) was opening, Pyramaze. While the rest of the lineup for this years festival was solid with the likes of Zero Hour, Thunderstone, Epica, and Evergrey amongst others, I was stoked to finally see these teutonic craftsmen live for the first time. Instead of arriving in the ATL on Thursday night for the pre party I flew down Monday afternoon to spend the week at Jonah, Laura, and Noah’s apartment where the Danish contingent of Pyramaze was staying at. I hadn’t seen them for a year now since last year’s IEMF tour had ended so I was excited to meet up with my friends and catch up with everyone. It was also a very good experience to chill with the Europeans and their management team of Claus and Rene from Intromental before the big show too. Along with the regular shenanigans of watching a lot of movies at the apartment, eating some good food, and relaxing I got to sit in on a couple of their rehearsals and have some cool music related discussions.

Wednesday night there was a “pre-pre-party” at The Vinyl, the restaurant inside Center Stage. This consisted of a lot of beer and a big metal karaoke party for early arrivals. I showed up around ten at night because I went with Jonah to his Blood Promise rehearsal (the new band comprised of Lilitu members Jason, Derek, Noah, and Jonah with new drummer Clayton Barker) and when we arrived the party was in full swing. When I walked in I was immediately surrounded by familiar faces and was busy saying hello’s and chatting for the whole night. After checking on the Pyradudes I sat down with Yan (Avian) and Matt (Dark Empire) to listen to the karaoke singers. Being inspired by the cat that did his version of Journey’s Separate Ways, I signed myself up to do some Don Henley but after a couple of hours went by and I didn’t get called I headed out to IHOP with Pyramaze and Noah. It was a cool get together for the hardcore fans and a very fun time, a great start to the festivities to come.

The following night was the official pre party and the organizer of this shindig, Shane DuBose, really outdid himself this year. For starters the lineup for the pre party was spectacular. Theocracy, Circus Maximus, Leatherwolf, and Circle II Circle were scheduled to play which is a huge leap up in terms of star power from past pre party events. The second improvement over past year’s pre parties was that the band were all performing now on the main Prog Power stage inside the venue for the first time. With the added seating Shane sold around eight hundred tickets to the event if I’m not mistaken. We all moved from the apartment to the hotel that day which was something everyone was excited about because beds and pillows rule. I checked into my room that longtime Prog Power buddy Ed let me share with him while the rest of the guys were two doors down the hall. After dropping off my luggage we booked it to the show and I came in halfway through Theocracy’s set. Since the album was released in 2003 founder Matt Smith has established a complete band unit and I was anxious to see the material performed live. They went over well with the crowd, Matt is a fine singer and guitarist live and his band nailed each of the songs. My only minor complaint about their show was that there was little movement onstage, most everybody was static throughout the performance. That nitpick aside it was a great show and awesome to hear the song Theocracy even if it was an abbreviated version.

Setlist: Prelude, Icthcus, Mountain, The Serpent’s Kiss, The Writing In The Sand (new song), New Jerusalem, Twist Of Fate / Theocracy.

Circus Maximus were up next and they were the band I was most looking forward to seeing at the pre party. I missed them last year and I was glad I had the opportunity to have this second chance to witness them. Their set was peppered with new songs from their forthcoming album, maybe a bit too much as I noticed the crowd was a bit subdued during the new material. What they played sounded terrific however I remember one of the new songs sounding a lot like Pretty Maids styled hard rock with a touch of Power Metal thrown in the mix. So yeah, the new songs were right up my alley. Off of their domestically released The 1st Chapter we were treated to Sin, Why Am I Here?, The Prophecy, Glory Of The Empire, Imperial Destruction, and Alive. Vocalist Mike Eriksen was spot on in his delivery and really impressed me. Overall I was satisfied with how they played. Now I just need to see Pink Cream 69 from last year to rectify my absence. Leatherwolf were redamndiculous. Spirited traditional heavy metal, they brought the head banging back to the Center Stage. Sticking out like a sore thumb from the rest of the bands at the pre-party these guys were rooted in the old school of “long hair and leather foot on monitor metal” and I think surprised most of who caught their set. New singer Wade Black did a good job with the older material giving the classic tracks justice.

Sorry Circle II Circle fans, I didn’t see them this year. I liked Watching In Silence but their sophomore release The Middle Of Nowhere didn’t do much for me and I went outside to talk to Dean from Leatherwolf for a few minutes before Ed and I went back to the hotel for some much needed sleep in a soft warm bed. This year’s pre party was basically a third day of the main event with bands of this quality. Shane has now set the bar for his part of the festival extremely high and I hope he can keep up the fantastic work in the future.

Circle II Circle setlist: Lies, Circle, Open Season, Hollow, All That Remains, Watching In Silence, Edge Of Thorns, Handful Of Rain, Evermore, Revelations, Heal You, Burden Of Truth, Live As One, Sarajevo / This Is The Time