Unfortunately due to horrific traffic and a parking situation I’d prefer not to re-live…ever, I only made it inside for the last song from Sydney’s Besomora. A stirring rendition of Kiss classic I was made for loving you. A shame I wasn’t able to catch more.
Hailing from Brisbane Valhalore have been lighting up stages across Australia and the world for almost a decade. Immediately warming up the crowd with Abba, Valhalore really set the mood for an already full Metro Theatre. As soon as Valhalore hit the stage the crowd lit up bouncing and circle pitting to Valhalore’s brilliant symphonic metal. As with many others in the crowd this was the first time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Valhalore, but they welcomed us all into the family with a unifying “Aussie Aussie Aussie” chant. They also used this to persuade Blind Guardian not to wait nine years to return to our shores before kicking into a brand new track. From their newest track they ended on their oldest and boy did they get the crowd dancing. With fast energetic sections, which then slowed down and the crowd bathed Valhalore in lights. Valhalore made a massive impact and I’m sure a slew of new fans.
As previously stated it has been nine long years (oh, how time flies) since the last time Blind Guardian have graced our shores. Touring the latest in a long line of epic power metal releases The God Machine, Blind Guardian are a relentless machine of metal. Kicking off tonight with the immense Imaginations from the Other Side. Hansi and his band are in incredible form, as usual. Casually joking with the crowd and calling Sydney the “Heavy Metal capital of the world…” The Blood Of The Elves really stirred up the mosh pit. Nightfall brings a huge cheer and sing-along from the crowd, with Hansi ensuring the crowd that they won’t wait this long before coming back and hopefully there will be two new Blind Guardian albums by then, which he admits is ambitious. The Script for My Requiem blasts off with yet another massive crowd response. Violent Shadows once again whips the crowd into a frenzy, Blind Guardian have not dropped in speed at all, with André Olbrich, Marcus Siepen and Frederik Ehmke tearing it up with blindingly fast riffs and drums played with ease. Yet another monster reaction for Time Stands Still (At Iron the Hill) with fans hanging off every word and riff. Hansi truly has a unique sense of humour and stage banter and the fans love it as the band launch into Born In a Mourning Hall. It’s a long standing tradition at Blind Guardian shows that The Bards Song – In The Forest is a special moment, with the crowd taking command of the room with a deafening sing-along with each person knowing every word by heart always such an amazing experience. Blind Guardian repay us for a world class rendition with killer music in the form of Majesty. Ending the main set with yet another masterpiece of speed power metal Traveller In Time once again has the crowd enraptured. The audience does not stop clapping and cheering until Blind Guardian retake the stage to the sounds of War Of Wrath. With the crowd roaring the chant of “Guardian” Into The Storm is the next offering. Are we ready for Vallhalla? You’re damn right we are. Another live staple and classic Blind Guardian sing-along that every single person in the crowd loves and even continues singing after the band had long stopped. Closing the show Mirror Mirror gets a huge pop, another sing-along and any energy that the pit had left was left in the circle. To witness Blind Guardian is a special thing, they are one of the most beloved bands in the world and while they somehow play more intimate venues and not massive stadiums, Sydney showed tonight that they deserve to be visited more often by their heroes. Then, as a treat, they played one extra song of Welcome to Middle Earth. What a great show.
Review by Jonathan Hurley & Photos by Michael Lueders
Blind Guardian:
Valhalore:
Besomora:
