Obsidian Tide live at ProgPower Europe 2023

The beautiful thing about festivals like ProgPower is the chance to discover new bands. This edition featured many bands I didn't know, so I explored their albums beforehand to see if they would interest me. The organization managed to find some hidden gems, including Obsidian Tide. Streaming their first album, “Pillars Of Creation,” and their upcoming album, “The Grand Crescendo,” I found both amazing, especially the latter.

On Sunday, they were the second band to play. Despite being a trio, their live performance was enhanced with backing tracks, which worried me since the ProgPower audience can be critical about that. However, the band did not disappoint. Even amidst the difficult situation in their home country of Israel, they were energetic and clearly enjoying themselves. Drums, bass, and guitar were the only live instruments, but the vocals added a significant depth. Oz Avneya's clear voice and guitar playing were impressive, closely matching the album sound. Shachar Bieber's growls were balanced and added value to their music, making it more intense. The show was a success, with the audience highly appreciating their performance. / Cees