Into The Storm

Once more, the german bards find their way to Greece. It's no mystery considering the response they get. Ydrogeios club was packed full with an enthusiastic crowd. Looking at the age distribution, I'd say the new fans are few, but the old ones were all there. Well, so was I!
Typical for Ydrogeios club, the sound was average at best but I must say I am so used to it by now that it hardly bothers me. This must be how all greeks feel about the inadequacy of every other aspect of this state. Anyway! Blind Guardian stormed into stage with "Into The Storm" after a minor delay. Watch the video for details! They take a while before getting into new material but noone seems to mind! "Born In A Mourning Hall", "Nightfall" and "The Script For My Requiem" are an immense pleasure before we get to "Fly".

Hansi (vocals) is nervous about the new material, saying "whether you like it or not, we have to play it". He's exaggerating; their last two albums were very well-received considering that metal audiences do not react well to change. The problem is that most of the new songs have trouble to work on stage, even though they are great on the cd. Luckily, the bards know to balance their set and give the fans what they want. "Vallhala" brings deliverance with its amazing chorus, "Mordred's Song" was probably my favorite part of the concert, "Majesty" was, well, majestic! There was more..."Welcome To Dying", "Time Stands Still", "Skalds And Shadows", "This Will Never End" and the 14-min epic "And Then There Was Silence" (another amazing song that is sadly poor on stage) closed the first part of the concert.
After the obligatory "we want more" buisness, the bards returned for three songs that never get old : "Imaginations From The Other Side", "The Bard's Song In The Forest" (pure magic) and "Mirror, Mirror". I'm sure everyone left the club with a huge smile on their faces. Yep, it's been over 20 years of Blind Guardian...and it never gets old.

Anneke FTW!

The Gathering is one very special band. It's been a long time since they first popularized the concept of woman-fronted metal band, and it's now quite a common phenomenon. But that's not why they're special. It is because ever since Anneke Van Giersbergen joined the band in 1995, they make their own unique way in music. Sometimes dark, sometimes happy, sometimes heavy and sometimes mellow, but always making you sing. I had seen them live in 1998, so it was definitely time for refreshing my memory. It would be a shame to miss this concert.
Maybe my preconception that concert attraction has dropped is mistaken, but Ydrogeios Club was fully packed. It would be nicer to have more space to move, but that's where my complaints end. The band's sound was great, and I found that many new songs sound a lot better live. Anneke is the kind of frontwoman who tries to keep a low profile but fails utterly. She's not the most beautiful woman out there, true, but it's hard not to be adored by the fans when her expressions and her movements are so cute, and her smile so enchanting. What's more amazing is her crystal-clear voice that is at the same level it was 12 years ago (if not better). The woman simply delivered the goods and made the cd recordings sound poor.

As for the setlist, and I know I speak for the majority of the greek fans, it couldn't be better. "Shortest Day", "Waking Hour", "Monsters", "Liberty Bell", "Leaves", "Probably Built In The 50s" (awesome!), "Even The Spirits Are Afraid", "Saturnine", "Great Ocean Road"...I sure am forgetting some, but the encore was unforgettable : "Eleanor", "In Motion #1" and "Strange Machines" (I'm sure they knew they couldn't get out of there without playing it!).

In the video, a song from the concert (thanx to RoughSilk!). Enjoy!