Blind Guardian have been one of the most significant influences in power metal for the past thirty years, possessing one of Germany’s most dedicated fan bases. Many should recall the band’s stunning performances at Wacken Open Air, where thousands of fans enthusiastically sang along to classics such as “Valhalla,” “The Bard’s Song,” and “Mirror-Mirror.” Living in Germany, I promptly attended their sold-out show at the E-Werk in Cologne on October 3rd. The venue for this grand occasion was a former power plant constructed in the Historicism style, situated in the city’s industrial zone. This location has witnessed remarkable performances by renowned acts like Def Leppard, Iggy Pop, and Europe, to name a few. The doors opened at 6 p.m., and the crowd rapidly packed the auditorium, grabbing various goods and beers in anticipation of an incredible night. The evening’s festivities were set to kick off with Scardust, the accompanying band on this European leg of Blind Guardian’s The God Machine Tour.
Photo By Miguel Rozo
Photo By Miguel Rozo
Photo By Miguel Rozo
Scardust:
Photo By Miguel Rozo
Scardust, the Progressive/Symphonic quintet from Israel, was selected to warm up the ever-expanding and demanding Blind Guardian crowd. Their vibrant and infectious performance prompted the audience to sing, jump, and scream at various moments. Their lively fan base generated as much noise as possible to express their support. The lead singer, Noa Gruman, possesses a powerful vocal range matched only by her wild side when tackling the grunting lyrics in some of their songs. I was particularly impressed by their new guitarist, Gal Gabriel Israel, who reminded me of Michael Romeo (Symphony X). The band performed seven songs, including the live premiere of their new song ‘Game Of Now.’ Personally, Arrowhead and Addicted left a strong impression on me and seemed to be well-received by the fans. Some fans described Scardust as a fun and down-to-earth band, perfect for Blind Guardian.
Photo By Miguel Rozo
Blind Guardian:
After approximately twenty minutes, the fan mob shouted, “Guardian!!! Guardian!!! Guardian!!!” The Krefeld band soon emerged into the spotlight as the lights dimmed within the auditorium, and the big curtain fell from the ceiling before the stage. Commencing the show with ‘Imaginations From The Other Side,’ ‘Blood Of The Elves,’ and ‘Nightfall’ was the ideal way to begin. Although I had seen Blind Guardian before, it was my first time seeing them in Germany that night. The excitement and connection between fans and the band were unrivaled. Their devotion, faithfulness, and passion surpassed anything I’ve ever seen in a German crowd.
Blind Guardian continued their impressive show with ‘The Script For My Requiem,’ ‘Violent Shadows,’ and ‘Skalds and Shadows.’ It was here when I realized that people were singing every single lyric with force, and their fists clenched up in the air. It was impressive and made me realize that this breaks the stereotype of the arms-crossed, unaffected European metal fan we hear about in America. While my understanding of German is limited, I could tell by the reaction of Hansi, Andre & Marcus that they were beyond pleased with the Cologne crowd that had gathered in E-werk for this show.
The enthusiasm with which these supporters sang ‘The Bard’s Song and Majesty’ in unison was breathtaking. I’ve heard crowds sing these songs at previous Blind Guardian gigs in the United States and the Czech Republic, but never as passionately or in unison as the Germans did that night. I was especially impressed by the diversity of the audience and the number of young and small admirers among the attendees. I recall a young couple singing practically every word without skipping a beat behind me.
The encore brought us to ‘Sacred Words’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ which sparked a furious yet small moshpit in the center of the venue. ‘Valhalla’ was chanted in unison as they closed with the classic ‘Mirror Mirror,’ delivering the final blow to a tired yet pleased fan base. I was impressed by bass player Johan Van Stratum (Stream of Passion, Ayreon), as this was the second time I had seen him with Blind Guardian. However, it was the first time I had the chance to hear him, as last year their sound wasn’t that great at a Czech festival I attended—an incredible performance from a top-league bass player.
In short, if you are a fan of power metal and a fan of Blind Guardian, please don’t miss out on this tour (especially if you have the chance to see them in Germany—you will be in for a treat). Their setlist is golden, and their performance is at its peak.
Blind Guardian/Scardust
Photo By Miguel Rozo
