I was totally impressed with the Tiamat - The Church of Tiamat DVD.
Fred Akesson made a great guitar work on it and the set list was on fire is one of the best show I ever saw on a DVD.
This is a review made for someone else:
This 15-song performance, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, was from a show recorded at Krzemionki TV Studio in Krakw, Poland. The setlist includes all Tiamat's "greatest hits" including The Sleeping Beauty, Gaia, Whatever That Hurts, Brighter Than The Sun, as well as highlights of their last studio album (Cain, Wings of Heaven & Clovenhoof).
The bonus video section features all promo videoclips, rare and previously unreleased live bootlegs (incl. Where The Serpents Ever Dwell from the first Tiamat show back in 1990) and a special feature - a fan's animated clip to Do You Dream Of Me?
A year ago I was ecstatic when Tiamat announced that they will be releasing a DVD of one of their gigs. I was glad for the opportunity to see a performance of the band that I love. By the release date I became somewhat hesitant but knew I shouldn't be. I like almost every Tiamat album, with "Wildhoney" being favourite. Somehow I still had my doubts ordering the DVD, I don't know why.
However, I did order it and I don't regret it. More than 15 years of playing ever changing music has definitely helped them produce an enjoyable show with style and dignity without being flashy or cheesy. Maybe it's the glam image and cheesiness of some Gothic Metal bands that made me hesitant before buying. Ahh, stereotypes... It is known that many don't appreciate Tiamat for what it has become. It sure is a long way from krieg and kvlt Death/Black Metal to Gothic Rock. However, it's the stage performance that truly shows what the band is really worth, no matter what music they play.
Tiamat's gig is a mature performance. It's a combination of calm joy and great music. There's no mindless jumping around on the stage and there's no passionate headbanging. So what? It isn't necessary. But that doesn't mean the band is static. Tiamat is a perfect image of their music. Contentment, joy, and peace are what comes to mind while watching Tiamat on stage. The band is perfectly happy with their music and so is the Polish audience. They sing along with the songs from the latest albums, they cheer very happily over older songs. And even though the general pace of the show is dictated by songs from the latest albums, it is a selection from "Clouds" and "Wildhoney" that demonstrates the might and power of Tiamat.
I was pleasantly surprised by the arrangements of some of the songs. To be honest, I didn't really remember some songs having outstanding instrumental spots. But
Fredrik Åkesson did his best to play great flowing guitar solos that went well with the atmosphere. On the other hand, I'm still having a bit of a hard time accepting Johan Edlund's deep clean singing on tracks originating from older albums. He still does his peculiar raspy voice on those but it's far less than I remember from the albums. However, his genuine passionate efforts on "In a Dream" are impressive and clearly seen on his face. Honest expressions are a sign of a good performance for me.
I don't really understand why Poland's been such an attractive place to record live shows over the years but I can surely say they know how to film a good gig there. Tiamat's performance at Krzemionki TV Studio in Cracow is yet another proof of that. Excellent camera work, great shots, good alteration of shooting angles and superb sound is what Polish production is about. Executed in a dynamic and visually compelling way, a bright and colourful show of enjoyable music will take you on a trip to the world of Tiamat.
As I said, I had my doubts at first, but they vanished with the first song. The only regret that I have is that the gig is a bit short, just above 75 minutes. It could have been longer. But then again, would it have been as good? This performance seems exact to the minute and more could have been excessive. I'm not saying this DVD is the best I have. However, the content feeling I'm left with after watching it makes it a dear item to me, personally.
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Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:12 am
but I like very much that type of melodic metal like Queensr˙che!
damn, I already posted my new DVD on a wrong thread 
