One of the world's most popular power metal bands, namely Blind Guardian, has returned to the UK at last following their last London appearance in 2010. Never a band to rush things, the Germans' come armed with newest album 'Beyond the Red Mirror', their first in half a decade and given the high quality of this album, tonight's show is not one melodic metal subscribers should miss.
Tonight's support is Israeli peace-keepers Orphaned Land and their Middle-Eastern adaptation of progressive folk metal. No strangers to these shores, the unique band has cultivated a good-sized following in London. Opening with 'All is One' from their latest full-length that lends the opener its name, this track is dominated by rich Arab-esque melodies and taped choral arrangements supported by muscular metal rhythms that are nothing short of luscious and epic. The crowd's reaction is initially muted but after the completion of a couple of tracks, the enthusiasm of the audience is stirred, with frontman Kobi Farhi effortlessly having the audience obey his suggestions to interact with the songs. Selections such as the growl-led 'The Kiss of Babylon (The Sins)', the moving 'Brother' and the infectiously catchy 'Sapari' are illustrative of the amount of potential that can emanate from non-Western metal, a breath of fresh air in a scene where many bands are creatively bankrupt. The final song is a combination of the staple 'Norra El Norra (Entering the Ark)' and the debut album's 'Ornaments of Gold', concluding a journey of metal that spits in the face of the mediocre or generic. The compelling audience reaction that follows is one Orphaned Land are undoubtedly proud of too.
The wait for Blind Guardian is almost agonising as seconds feel like minutes but soon the lights are darkened and the German power metallers take the stage as the attendees rattle the Forum's walls with their ovation. Proceedings initiate with the opener from 'Beyond the Red Mirror', 'The Ninth Wave'. The most striking feature of this nearly ten minute epic is the shocking sound near the front of the venue, entirely drowning out the guitars with the overwhelming drums. Unfortunately, this is an issue that lingers for the whole of the set but nonetheless, frontman Hansi Kürsch's rare vocal style is clear.
With a two hour set duration, Blind Guardian have plenty of time to appease their entire fanbase. A surprise is gifted to the fans of the band's earlier speed metal days with 'Banish from Sanctuary', what it lacks in melody made up in razor riffing and a faster tempo, illuminating the distinct evolutionary path the Germans took to avoid stagnation. Fan favourite 'Nightfall' sees a sizeable portion of the audience singing along to the unfolding drama word-for-word while the simplistic yet alternative style of 'Fly' once was an opinion-divider for fans when it was first released but now appears to be adored by all in attendance. The ballad 'A Past and Future Secret' is a touching intermission from the heavier tracks and is followed by the melancholic but still comparatively tough 'Bright Eyes'. New progressive songs 'Prophecies' and 'Miracle Machine' afford an opportunity for Blind Guardian fanbase to show off their loyalty as the number of people singing along to each word is staggering.
'Imaginations from the Other Side' is followed by the headliners leaving the stage only to return for the first of two encores. Two of the most popular tracks 'Into the Storm' and 'Valhalla' see Kürsch nearly drowned out by the clamour of voices singing along to some of power metal's strongest anthems. This affect is mirrored in the second encore where, as is customary, Kürsch lets the audience essentially sing all of 'The Bard's Song (Into the Forest)', quite possibly power metal's most well-known ballad. After the guitars are switched for electric ones again, the colourful ''Mirror, Mirror' evokes a tumultuous mosh pit through its flurry of progressive, symphonic and folk metal touches that force smiles on the faces of the punters and leave them with nothing but praise for the performance of these German bards after they bid the venue farewell.
In spite of the palpable sound issues, Blind Guardian have managed to pull off an engrossing show, keen to please all by including tracks of eight out of their ten albums. Why they only ever seem to play London rather than a slew of UK dates is a mystery but given how infrequently they play, hopefully they will at least land a spot at Bloodstock again this year.
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.