
A
[Visuals - A]
[Sound - A]
[Contents - A+]
Feature: 11 Tracks / Bonus: 16 Tracks + CD / Minutes: 140
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Harem Scarem said farewell to live performing with their third trip to the UK for Firefest IV in October 2007. A lot was made of their performance – this is after all, one of the more debated bands in the melodic music scene. This DVD collects that performance and adds a sway of extra bonus material, making this an essential purchase for long time Harem fans.
The farewell performance was perhaps not the best way the band could have said goodbye to some of their most dedicated fans. The set list is missing several iconic songs and is shorter than it should have been and the track selection was more in keeping with what the band wanted to play rather than what fans perhaps would like to have heard. But, that said…for die-hard Scarem fans, just about every song is a good track and this performance doesn't mimic the already available Live At the Gods 2002 DVD.
The inclusion of a couple of new songs (Human Nature, Caught Up In Your World); a couple of Overload songs (Dagger, Don't Come easy); and a couple of Voice Of Reason tracks (Paint Thins, Voice Of Reason) mixes things up nicely with the Mood Swings classics (No Justice, If There Was A Time).
Harry and Pete seem to be having their usual fun on stage, which some fans interpret as being a little disinterested in the whole process, but if you knew the guys, you would know this is entirely untrue. It's a good set that should have been longer, but quality wise is a fine picture and a nice clean audio mix.
The Bonus Features include a home-bootleg of a 1994 Mood Swings show. The handycam capture is very rough and strictly for die-hard fans and the audio is nothing better than an audience recording, but…it does bring back great memories.
The European 1997 live clips are also bootlegged footage, but slightly better in quality. Again, die-hards only, but it does add more value to the package.
What is perhaps of most value is the band's own handycam studio footage and general tomfoolery clips. It offers a small insight into the personalities of the guys back in the 'heyday' and is a nice slice of archival footage.
The bonus audio CD of the Firefest set is a nice addition, but the audio doesn't quite convey the energy of the show itself, which is more evident when watching it.
Still…a great little package to commemorate this great band. |