ROMANO D'EZZELINO (VI), Villa Ca' Cornaro - 8/27/2023
We’re in Romano d’Ezzelino, in the province of Vicenza, just a few minutes from Bassano del Grappa, and in the stunning setting of Villa Ca’ Cornaro the first edition of the AMA Music Festival is taking place. This European-style music event spans six days, bringing a diverse lineup of Italian and international artists across multiple genres to a truly unique venue.
The opening night features Verdena, followed by Salmo on day two. Day three belongs to Cypress Hill, giants of American hip hop, joined by the legendary Italian group Colle der Fomento and Kaos & DJ Craim. In short, the festival’s ambitious lineup is anything but negligible, not even on the pop-punk day headlined by YUNGBLUD, alongside Bresh, Naska, and La Sad.
But let’s move to the grand finale—the day dedicated to metal. After five intense days, the festival needed a proper closing moment, one capable of putting an exclamation mark on the success of this new event… and that’s exactly what happened. Headlining the final day are none other than Megadeth, wrapping up their European tour right here at AMA Music, joined by Lacuna Coil and a solid pairing of Katatonia and Messa, delivering a dark, hypnotic, and mystical take on doom.
Despite harsh weather conditions hitting Bassano del Grappa and the surrounding areas, the event shapes up to be one of the standout metal shows of the summer. No one in attendance seems discouraged by the clouds, rain, or increasingly strong winds leading up to the start. Everyone is there to experience the concert in full, as shown by the massive crowd—pit included—steadily filling up.
MESSA
6:00 PM. The gates of Villa Ca’ Cornaro open. First comes the large parking area, then the concert grounds. The crowd is already sizeable and, under light rain, welcomes Messa. The Venetian band is the first to take the stage, though their set time is limited, given the lengthy nature of their songs. That doesn’t diminish their performance in the slightest—quite the opposite. From the very first minute, vocalist Sara Bianchin commands the stage, mesmerizing the audience with tracks from their latest album Close, the record that established them as one of the most exciting acts in the Italian metal scene. They open with If You Want Her to Be Taken, followed by the duo Dark Horse/Pilgrim, which together nearly reach the 20-minute mark, before closing with Rubedo, earning strong applause from the crowd. Had their set run longer than the scheduled half hour, we’d probably be talking about one of the best performances of the day. Still, Messa managed to win over everyone—even those unfamiliar with them—because a sound this unique and experimental simply doesn’t go unnoticed. Not by the audience, and certainly not by festival organizers like Brutal Assault, where they performed just two weeks earlier to great acclaim.
SETLIST MESSA:
If You Want Her to Be Taken
Leah
Dark Horse
Pilgrim
Rubedo
KATATONIA
After a break of nearly half an hour, Katatonia takes the stage. The rain returns—light but persistent—creating an atmosphere perfectly suited to their melancholic sound. The Swedish band Katatonia begins with Austerity and “Colossal Shade” from their recent album Sky Void of Stars. There are some technical issues with the sound at the start. While founding guitarist Anders Nyström is absent from this tour, Roger Öjersson handles lead guitar duties, supported by bassist Niklas Sandin and drummer Daniel Moilalen. Lead singer Jonas Renkse delivers an impeccable vocal performance. His performance shines especially on The Winter of Our Passing, Forsaker, and Opaline, earning warm applause from the audience. With limited time remaining, the band revisits earlier material from The Fall of Hearts and The Great Cold Distance, performing Old Heart Falls, My Twin, and closing with July. After nearly an hour of uninterrupted music, Katatonia leave the stage to appreciative cheers, making way for the next act.
SETLIST KATATONIA:
Austerity
Colossal Shade
Lethean
Birds
The Winter of Our Passing
Forsaker
Opaline
My Twin
Atrium
Old Heart Falls
July
LACUNA COIL
The rain stops, darkness falls, and after another break, Lacuna Coil performs for an even larger crowd.The band appears in a more casual, summer-style outfit—black shirts and shorts—while keeping their signature face paint. Their setlist focuses largely on more recent material, especially from Black Anima and the anniversary release of Comalies, as well as the new single Never Dawn, which stands out as a highlight. The show runs smoothly thanks to the chemistry between frontpeople Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro, who constantly engage with the audience. Whether longtime fans or first-time listeners, the crowd responds enthusiastically with headbanging, applause, and raised hands. More emotional moments emerge during darker, gothic-leaning tracks like Now or Never and Veneficium, the latter elevated by Cristina’s vocal performance and Diego Cavallotti’s excellent guitar solo. The band also delivers their staple cover of Enjoy the Silence, as well as a new version of Swamped. They close with Nothing Stands in Our Way, introduced by a motivational speech from Cristina encouraging fans not to give up in the face of life’s challenges. Lacuna Coil exited the stage after delivering a powerful, visually engaging performance.
MEGADETH
Finally, the most anticipated moment of the day arrives. At 10:15 PM sharp, Megadeth takes the stage, ready to leave a lasting impression. The backdrop visuals, featuring various depictions of Vic Rattlehead, enhance the immersive experience from the intro onward. The band kicks off with Hangar 18, instantly igniting the crowd from front to bacK. Megadeth’s performance features a setlist of their classic American thrash metal tracks, including Wake Up Dead, In My Darkest Hour, and Sweating Bullets, played with technical precision. The chemistry among Dave Mustaine (vocals, guitar), Kiko Loureiro (guitar), Dirk Verbeuren (drums), and James LoMenzo (bass) adds to the powerful delivery. The audience responds in kind—singing along, engaging, and reacting enthusiastically whenever Mustaine addresses them. Despite past health issues, he appears in great shape, both vocally and in his interaction with the crowd. At one point, he reveals he has bought a house in Italy, joking about being recognized by his orange hair, and spends about 15 minutes chatting with the audience, even wishing a happy birthday to a fan in the pit. The show resumes with Trust and A Tout Le Monde, featuring a duet with Cristina Scabbia—predictable, perhaps, but undeniably effective. Following Tornado of Souls and Symphony of Destruction, the set seems to close with Peace Sells, but after crowd chants, the band returns for an encore: Holy Wars… The Punishment Due, performed flawlessly. Megadeth leaves the stage to thunderous applause after a truly outstanding performance.
WRAPPING UP
There couldn’t have been a better ending to the AMA Music Festival. The crowd leaves satisfied, still singing the choruses of the songs they’ve heard throughout the evening. Minor technical issues aside, Messa, Katatonia, Lacuna Coil, and Megadeth delivered an exciting and entertaining show, culminating in an undeniable crescendo of quality. The festival’s first edition proved successful, showcasing excellent organization and setting high expectations for future editions. One final note goes to the impressive turnout—the festival’s largest—featuring not only longtime fans but also many younger attendees, including minors. A promising sign for the future of metal music.
