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A rainy and stormy Friday night... Nobody knew what to expect from tonight's show, coz Iron Savior had the free tickets for this and 2 other shows in the first edition of their last album Condition Red. Initially the shows were scheduled for September, then had to be canceled because drummer Thomas Nack has a hand injury.
When I arrived at the venue I found out that Duke will open up for the Hanseatic. A nice surprise, coz whenever I saw the band they did a pretty good live show. After the soundcheck I had a few moments to talk to the guys. Even Iron Savior mainman Piet was curious who many people would show up. "If there are 10 or 1,000, we will have a good time!" The shows are called "Mega Metal Parties" and that was also the motto for the shows.
When Duke entered the stage about 50 fans were there. For a band who isn't signed and has no demo released they did a good job. The fans seemed to like songs like Black & White and Destination Unknown. I guess that some already saw them at the Westfalen-Festival about a month ago or last year at the show with Edguy or the one with Squealer. Due to the fact that Duke had the possibility to play 60 minutes drummer Anja Assmuth had the chance to do a drum solo. Usually a risk, but singer Leo had asked the fans, if they want a drum solo and so the reaction on that solo was quite good. The only known song was White Horse which was released on the Rock Hard sampler Unerhört which gives unsigned bands a chance to get noticed. The quartet finished after about 45 minutes with Friend. Perhaps they get their chance to release an album soon...
After a break the Nordic quintet started with Protector full speed ahead. The band sound more powerful with 3 guitars, but without the rhythm section of drummer Thomas Nack and bassist Jan S. Eckart it wouldn't work. From the first song the fans - now about 150 people - sang along and made this a party. With songs like Coming Home, Condition Red, Walls Of Fire and Mind Feeder the band heat up the atmosphere. Piet announced Eye To Eye and got corrected by the band, coz Mind Over Matter was the next on the setlist, Piet didn't care. He announced Eye To Eye and so they played this first and then Mind Over Matter. No big deal for the sympathetic singer and guitarist who has no problem to say that he made a mistake. Probably this honesty is what makes the band different. Rebellion guitarist Uwe Lulis fits into the line-up very well and it seems like they play together for years. The fans went crazy when the band started a medley of Iron Savior and Watcher In The Sky. Unfortunately this was the end of the regular set, but before leaving the stage Piet told the fans that if they want more they have to make some noise and they will be back for more. Some procedure as on every show. And the fans shouted loudly for more... Like there were more then just 150 fans. Returning with I've Been To Hell the five-piece started the final round. After Predator the last song of the night was Atlantis Falling.
It was fun to watch the energetic show and it was obvious that the guys enjoyed being on stage. It's a pity that we now have to wait for a long time until they will return to the German stages when this little tour is over. Early next year Piet Sielck and Iron Savior will play some shows in France, Spain and Italy as they told me. Everybody has his projects like bassist Jan who is part of Masterplan - the new band of ex-Helloween Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch which will tour early 2003, so don't miss them - while Piet will produce some bands in his studio. Uwe Lulis and his band Rebellion will work on their new album, the songs are almost written and soon the pre-production will start. Also Piesel and Thomas will be busy. And so it seems like we have to wait for more then one year before we will hear again from the Hamburg-based band. Perhaps more metal fans would have come to see them, if they would have known that this will be the last chance for quite a while... Anyway, if you can't go to see them in Hamburg, Ludwigsburg or Pratteln (Switzerland), then it's too late now. Or you do a holiday trip to France, Spain or Italy... For the fans in these countries, don't miss them when they are in your area! It's fun to see them!
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