Blind Guardian / Astral Doors
26 September 2006
Koko, London
An enormous queue snaked around the corner from the Koko, which appeared to have upped its already stringent security checks following shootings at a couple of other London venues in the past week - obviously not metal related. As a result it was a rather sparse venue that greeted the arrival of openers Astral Doors. The band make no secret of their admiration of Dio and that`s probably the best approach, given they sound exactly the same. What Astral Doors do manage however, is to write better material than Dio has released on his more recent albums.
As the crowd grew, the performance also warmed up. Whilst admittedly not given much stage space the band come over very static, leaving frontman Patrik Johansson as the focal point. Whilst he may sound like Dio, the haunched shouldered Johansson is the opposite in terms of height. As the set progressed he was successful in getting an increasing percentage of the crowd to clap along and with a great sound the ten song set of classic rock was very well received.
Interestingly the final four songs of the set were all plucked from the band`s debut album and you cheekily have to hope the band aren`t purposefully seeking to mimic Dio`s own career of a classic debut, with some lesser releases on the horizon. In truth the set pacing worked in saving the best material for the bigger crowd.
Astral Doors set list:
Black Rain / Bride Of Christ / Tears From A Titan / Time To Rock / Evil Is Forever / London Caves / Of The Son & The Father / Hungry People / The Trojan Horse / Cloudbreaker
Thinking back to the huge queue tonight, it was surprising how much space there was at the back of the venue and particularly at the usually packed bar. That was however until you spot how packed the crowd down the front are. Blind Guardian fans are deeply devoted and were going to get as close to their heroes as they could.
When Hansi Kürsch asked whether the crowd were ready for a sing-along tonight the response was a definite yes, with Kürsch having to tell them to stop at one point when a rousing chorus of Valhalla between songs appeared like it was never going to end. The "Guardian" chant had started when Astral Doors played there last note and started up again after opening song Into The Storm.
Kürsch noted that Blind Guardian had finally made it to London and it had only taken 20 years! If the band doubted they had the following on these shores the crowd tonight proved they have.
The band was backed by ever changing projections, mostly made up of moving images of the album artwork. An excellent Script For My Requiem was backed by images of war, showing that it`s not all about fantasy with Blind Guardian. Fly meanwhile had arty images, including a multiplying walking man, which fitted well with the more modern sound of the song.
Koko isn`t always kind in terms of sound and whilst the dense nature of Blind Guardian sound meant it was not as clear as for Astral Doors, it wasn`t bad. The band has been playing this set across Europe and was tight and faithful to the recorded versions. New drummer Frederik Ehmke in particular seemed to be relishing his dream job, playing for one of his favourite bands. Kürsch took on the role of conductor of the audience. During the Bard`s Song he hardly had to sing a note.
Understanding, since it had only just come out, the band limited inclusions from new album A Twist In The Myth, it was still a little disappointing not to hear more from it. Of those new songs This Will Never End was particularly strong.
The fourteen minute epic And Then There Was Silence closed out the main set with the crowd once again helping out with backing vocals. But Blind Guardian had more in the tank with an encore climaxing with a powerful Mirror Mirror.
Blind Guardian set list:
War Of Wrath / Into The Storm / Born In A Mourning Hall / Nightfall / The Script For My Requiem / Fly / Valhalla / Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill) / Bright Eyes / This Will Never End / And Then There Was Silence / Welcome To Dying / Another Stranger Me / Imaginations Form The Other Side / Bard's Song (In The Forrest) / Mirror Mirror
LINKS:
Blind Guradian
Astral Doors
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