On February 23, German power metal titans Powerwolf brought their metal mass to North America for the time ever and began a string of seven dates, including six U.S. shows and one in Montreal, Canada. This would be the first time the band has ever toured through North America in their twenty-year career. The show was sold-out with no problems, even seeing resale tickets going for almost 200 dollars days before the show. With only six shows in total here in the states, fans trek to New York City from Virginia, and some come to the city from even as far north as Maine to finally get the opportunity to see Powerwolfs Metal Mass Live.
Personally, I myself am not all that familiar with Powerwolf’s music. However, I am familiar with the band’s reasoning behind never touring through North America during their 20-year career. The “extreme” melodic style metal definitely holds a solid fan base throughout Europe, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have that same strength here throughout the states. That said, one can only imagine that it could be a huge risk for these types of bands to come into North America for a full tour and play for smaller crowds than they would usually perform for overseas in Europe and possibly lose money in the long run. Considering that, it only made sense for Powerwolf to line up only a small set of dates here in North America, and it would only be fit that they would kick off these dates in non-other than New York City.
I arrived at the Palladium after the doors had already opened, but there was one IO who knew about die-hard fans and sold-out shows, and that is without a doubt that line was well around the corner onto Broadway for hours before the doors opened. Once inside, I felt a sold-out vibe of an arena-size crowd. It was packed wall to wall with fans everywhere to witness this historical Metal Mass go down. Like a hungry pack of “wolves,” fans frothing from their mouths eagerly awaited the 9 pm set time. As the clock struck nine and the lights went black, the members of Powerwolf began to take the stage one by one. Bowing to the crowd at the top of the stairs leading down from atop a second-level stage upriser, they were met by overwhelmingly loud and powerful cheers from the 2,100 fans that felt more like it was coming from a Sold Out arena of 21,000 fans grew louder as each member made their way out to the stage, it was when vocalist Attila Dorn, the last of the group to come out on stage that the pitch of the crowd’s cheers was at its peak and undoubtedly was and I’m unimaginable to the band. I myself was taken aback by the volume of the fans. I have been to many sold-out shows in large arenas and small concert halls, and I haven’t felt that energy in a long time.
The band’s theatrical performance was met with a fantastic stage set that was adorned by a gothic cathedral setting with what would appear to be stone lancet church windows with stained glass imagery of bloodthirsty werewolves depicting an anti-biblical storyline along with the band PW, their own version of the Catholic Churches XP (Chi – Rho) which is something we don’t need to get into fit the band’s corpse like clergy attire perfectly. Like the band, fans could adorn the corpse with makeup and church-like attire. I even saw a few fans donning werewolf masks in the pit. There was even one fan that had on sneakers with blinking souls, which she would show to everyone as she held one high in the air while everyone in attendance had their cellphone lights on for “Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone.” Returning to the show’s vibe, feeling like it was being held at an arena, it was amazing to see everyone with their phone lights on, chanting Powerwolf in-between songs, cheering and singing along to the choruses at peak levels was just mind-blowing. I wasn’t the only one that felt that way, as throughout the show, at different times, Attila would let the wolves know just how truly honored and appreciative the band was of the overwhelming response that was received from their fans. As I mentioned, I wasn’t too familiar with Powerwolf’s music, meaning I know of the band and their music. I’m just unfamiliar with the music as it one of the big fan favorites. One thing I do know that is for certain is that I don’t think there was one single soul at the show that didn’t walk away saying that they had wished they played this or wished they played that song. From what I saw and heard over two hours,
Powerwolf played their hearts out to 2,100 bloodthirsty wolves, and everyone in attendance felt it. At times I’m sure the chants of Powerwolf could be felt all the way upstairs and out onto the city streets as the band ripped through a blistering 18-song set that opened with “Faster Than the Flame” and would end with “Let There Be Light.” The band would then make their way off stage briefly as the chants of Powerwolf would begin to erupt. There were even chants of “three more sets” before the band would make their way back on to the stage for their encore, which was led by “Sanctified With Dynamite,” then “We Drink Your Blood” and ended with “Werewolves of Armenia.” As “Wolves Against The World” played over the house speakers, I would walk away in awe of this incredible performance known as the “Metal Mass” and just floored by the fan’s energy from that night.
Setlist:
Faster Than the Flame
Incense & Iron
Army of the Night
Amen & Attack
Dancing With the Dead
Armata Strigoi
Beast of Gévaudan
Stossgebet
Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend
Fire and Forgive
Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone
Sainted by the Storm
Resurrection by Erection
Blood for Blood (Faoladh)
Let There Be Night
Encore:
Sanctified With Dynamite
We Drink Your Blood
Werewolves of Armenia
Powerwolf
