EPICA and POWERWOLF – Hanover (29-01-2017)
POWERWOLF and EPICA join forces for a co-headliner tour through Europe. It’s quite an interesting mix: what do the symphonic metal masters from the Netherlands, who have an obviously progressive play have in common with power metal guys that just want to have fun on stage and don’t take themselves too seriously? Well, let’s see what happens and if the concept works!
It’s Sunday evening, 18:30. Everything should be calm, the party mood of Saturday is over and people prepare themselves for the next working days. Well, get out of there! EPICA and POWERWOLF are in town! The queue in front of the Capitol is veery long. Masses of folks want to get in, to party the night with three unique bands.
But first, there is BEYOND THE BLACK. Although the band was founded just three years ago, they have already supported SAXON and the SCORPIONS on tour and were able to gain a lot of stage experience. So the stage performance of Jennifer Haben and the guys around her is professional and adept. The catchy songs go fast into the ears of the audience and warm them up quickly. After 30 minutes and five songs, the people were prepared for the first headliner: EPICA is ready to enter the stage.
Setlist BEYOND THE BLACK (Support)
Lost In Forever
Hallelujah
Night Will Fade
Shine and Shade
Running to the Edge
After change over, a trip to the chock-full bar and a bombastic intro (‘Eidola’) the band enters the stage. The audience welcomes them loudly and euphorically. EPICA’s last release dropped just a few months ago, but the show is more than just advertising for “The Holographic Principle”. Almost every album of their 15-year-long band history is represented, so that every fan should find a favorite this evening. The excellent musicians are maybe not as near to the crowd as other bands. But you can feel the passion in every tone they play and they score with an authentic and straight stage presence. This appearance fits perfectly to their precise music style.
Wow, it’s already 9 o’clock. Time flies if there is good entertainment!
Setlist EPICA
Eidola
Edge of the Blade
A Phantasmic Parade
Universal Death Squad
The Essence of Silence
Ascension – Dream State Armageddon
Dancing in a Hurricane
Unchain Utopia
Cry for the Moon
Sancta Terra
Beyond the Matrix
Consign to Oblivion
But the night is still long and belongs to the wolves now. POWERWOLF wants to attack the crowd. Another beer, get in head banging position and let’s go! Full of energy the band storms the stage to start the one and only Heavy Metal Mass. You can say what you want about POWERWOLF (often called a goony kid’s birthday with cringe factor or a great metal party with lots of fun), they are professional musicians, who know what they are doing on stage. And so it doesn’t matter that the music repeats itself after 20 minutes and gets boring. The atmosphere is just awesome and if you’re willing to have a great time with party and power metal music, enjoy this band along with the audience. Just beware, your neck will hurt the next morning!
Setlist POWERWOLF
Lupus Daemonis (Intro)
Blessed & Possessed
Army of the Night
Amen & Attack
Coleus Sanctus
All You Can Bleed
Dead Boys Don’t Cry
Sacred & Wild
Armata Strigoi
Let There Be Night
Resurrection by Erection
Kreuzfeuer
Werewolves of Armenia
We Drink Your Blood
Lupus Dei
Encore:
Agnus Dei
Sanctified With Dynamite
In the Name of God (Deus Vult)
Did the combination of ambitious symphonic bombast and crazy Metal Mass work? I would say yes! Get warm with BEYOND THE BLACK, relish in EPICA‘s complex music and then have a party with POWERWOLF – sounds like a very good night after all!
What do you think? Have you ever seen one of them live? What band combination would you like to see on tour together? Just write in the comments and let us now!
Credits: All photos by Norbert Pfeifer.