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When this gig was first advertised the
metal-heads of the UK were clambering to get tickets for what was going to
be THE Metal event of the year for most, so much so that the venue was
changed and the door times also were changed.
This is where the
problems for this reviewer began, we booked our trains and hotels well in
advance of the show so when the venue was changed from The Forum to
Shepherds Bush Empire, that was ok for those living in and around London,
but this coupled with the hour earlier door opening time, meant that the train
we'd already booked and paid wasn't actually due to arrive into Kings Cross until
5.45 pm and by the time we checked into our hotel, time was seriously getting on.
So after a lightening quick turnaround then a lengthy journey on the tube,
all resulted in using completely missing the entire Axxis set, for which I
really apologise to the band because I really wanted to check them out
after hearing their 'Doom Of Destiny' album, but from what I heard around
the venue that they really rocked, which made me even more disappointed at
missing them! Next time for definite!
After the disappointment of missing Axxis,
Gamma Ray would really have to pull out all the stops to lift my mood but
believe me they certainly did just that. As Kai Hansen and the rest of the band
hit the stage they received a welcome that normally would be worthy of a
headline band.
Opening up the set in tremendous style
with ‘Welcome’ it was straight into the metal with ‘Garden Of The Sinner’
and instantly the crowd were right behind the band, who were really up for
the show as they gave 110% as they continued their metal assault with ‘New
World Order’ and the equally superb ‘Fight’, with Daniel Zimmerman pounding
out the back beat with effortless ease as Kai and Henjo Richter just spew
out the monstrous metal riffs.
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The pounding metal just keeps on coming
much to the crowds delight with ‘From The Ashes’ before slowing things
down just a touch with ‘Empress’. They then brought things right back up
with the speed assault of ‘Valley Of The Kings’ ... oh yes things were getting very
Wild and Hairy in the Bush tonight as the headbangers really let loose their
locks on this one.
This very impressive set continued with
the old school metal of ‘Rebellion In Dreamland’, then as we all entered
into the spirit of things with a little sing-a-long the band invited us
all into the ‘Heavy Metal Universe’. Of course tonight we were already there and
had been from the off as Kai invited those seated upstairs in the balcony
to
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stand up and join the rest of us rockin' the night away. |
The band brought a little culture into
the proceedings with a little classical before ripping into something from
Kai’s Helloween days ‘Ride The Sky’, before rounding things off with
‘Somewhere Out In Space’ and the sublime encore of ‘Send Me A Sign’, which
ended a quite superb set from a band that could have easily headlined the
night as the crowd were behind them 100%. I for one would not hesitate
to see them again so let's hope this is the catalyst for a headline tour for the
band with maybe a few shows in the UK included for good measure.
Now for the main event, the last time I
could Helloween was at the now defunked Bradford Rio in 2006 and they
truly blew
me away that night. So I and the 2,000 metalheads around me were certainly
hoping for something similar.
After the bands usual intro of 'For Those
About To Rock' it was time to really get down to it after the album intro
‘Crack The Riddle’, which was provided by Biff Byford. The band surprised me
by opening up with the classic ‘Halloween’, which obviously went down a
storm with frontman Deris in superb form, together with rest of the band
who looked well up
for the show and at the most relaxed on stage I’ve seen them before. I don't know any band
who could get away with opening up a set with a 13 minute song, only Helloween!
They continued to pull no punches as they
carried on with ‘Sole Survivor’ and ‘March Of Time’, before venturing into the first of
the songs from the bands new album ‘Gambling With The Devil’ starting with the first
single off the album ‘As Long As I Fall’, which also like every song
played tonight, went
down a storm with the partisan crowd.
The band showed that they're not all about
the speed metal as they slowed things down just a little with ‘A Tale That
Wasn’t Right’, before the most bizarre drum solo I have ever seen as Dani
Loble got things under way a puppet show prevailed with Deris, Gerstner,
and Grosskopf dressed like ZZ Tops and giving their rendition of 'Smoke on
the Water', in what can only be described as an Alvin and the Chipmunks
version, which was looked upon with disgust by Michael Weikath who put and
end to the proceedings by disposing of them with a sub machine gun before Loble continued with the solo, BIZARRE. (By
the way you can currently find this on you-tube if you know where to look!).
After this comic interlude it was back to
the serious metal with ‘King For 1000 Years’, with Sascha pulling out all
the stops in a twin necked guitar and Deris giving his all once again as
he did on the wonderful ‘Eagle Fly Free’, which sounded magnificent.
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It was back to the new album for ‘The
Bells Of The 7 Hells’, one of my favourite tracks off said album which also
gave the crowd another chance to sing-along, but the fans didn’t need an
excuse as most sang along with every word to every song anyway.
Things were slowed down once more with
‘If I Could Fly’ before rounding off the set with the classic ‘Dr Stein’.
As the band left the stage the cries of "Happy Happy Helloween!!!" soon went
out and it wasn’t long before the band once again hit the stage this time
for a medley with Deris donned in a sparkling red jacket and top hat as
part of his ‘Perfect Gentleman’. |
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Those of us in the know knew that when
the band left the stage again they would soon be returning for something
special and they didn’t disappoint as they were joined on stage by Kai
Hansen and Henjo Richter of Gamma Ray for a couple of crowd pleasers.
Firstly ‘Future World’ with a few inflatable pumpkins thrown into the
crowd, then what Helloween show wouldn’t be complete without ‘I Want Out’,
with Kai assisting on vocals for this show stopper.
All of which rounded off a
quite superb night of true metal. My only disappointment was the fact the
band only played one show in the UK and that they didn't do a couple more off the
new album, but these are my only qualms on a splendid night. |
