Rage are back on tour and one more time they will play in Andernacht at JuZ. This time they brought the Czech band Seven with them and invited German-Swedish outfit Jaded Heart to be join them on tour.
Even if there are many Czech bands, outside Czech Republic they aren't known well. So the foursome were nobodies to almost everybody. Their latest album is called Seven Deadly Sins and so they played some songs off this one. Singer Lukáš Písařík informed everybody "We are Seven from Czech Republic! The next song is Following You!" It was the 3rd song they played and off their 2007 release Light Of Soul. Unfortunately I don't know their songs, so I can't tell you much about Seven. Partly they reminded me of Iced Earth, but with less thrash elements... Songs like Ira and Suburbia from Seven Deadly Sins were well received. It was obvious that the guys enjoyed being on stage and I think they made some new friends tonight.
Jaded Heart got back on tour! Last year they were supposed to tour with Primal Fear and Brainstorm through Europe, but after a few days they were off that tour. Jaded Heart kicked off with Love Is A Killer. Singer Johan Fahlberg and his mates enjoyed playing and headed right into Fly Away. "How are you?" asked Johan Fahlberg, and with Justice Is Deserved they played a song of Sinister Mind, but as they were out to promote last years release Perfect Insanity. After Rising keyboarder Henning Wanner spoke up and thanked the great audience and Rage for being on tour with them. And he didn't forget to thank Seven for opening the evening. Going Under was next and the response from the audience floored them - "Wow, thank you!" was all Wanner could say. And Fahlberg added "It's just a pleasure to be here!" Between the songs Johan talked to the people and after mentioning only having water on stage, someone handed him a beer. The guys delivered a tight set and it was real fun to see them on stage, to hear the songs live. As it was bassist Michael 'Mülli' Müller's b-day, Fahlberg asked the audience to join in when they sang Happy Birthday for him. At the end someone from the crew came on stage and a cake was smashed into Mülli's face. The closer was Freedom Call and too soon it was over. Band and fans were happy, let's hope they will soon play some more shows!
During the change over many not just grabbed a drink, some also used the chance to leave the club for some fresh air. It was already pretty hot inside. Then the place went dark and Rage entered the stage. The opener was The Edge Of Darkness which was also the opener of the current album Strings To A Web. Next in line on the album is Hunter & Pray and they decided to do these two to kick off. "Good to be back in Andernach!" Peavy said, "Even if it feels like being in a Finnish sauna! We have a new album called Strings To A Web and after playing a best-of set for awhile, we will now play a lot new songs. Hope you like it!" And they stick to the album's track list - Into The Light. Obviously the majority of the people knew the new Rage album, coz people were singing along already. And Strings To A Web is a true Rage album, but also shows new elements. The Beggar's Last Dime has a Mötley Crüe vibe and was introduced by Peavy as 'chicken pick', coz that's how they call this one. After Drop Dead it was time for something epic... "Thank you! Now it's time for some art! Sometimes I tend to exaggerate... We recorded the following with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra! Please Mr. Bandmaster kick off Empty Hollow!" And drummer André Hilgers led them into the first 'suite'. During Empty Hollow Peavy and Victor abandoned their instruments for a moment, Peavy got a floor tom and Victor - at least I think - a snare drum to support André. Then picking up their instruments again. After the Empty Hollow part guitarist Victor Smolski talked to their fans and announced that they will do some shows with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra the coming year. And that they were nervous, coz they have so many new songs on the set list and that the reactions for the new songs are killer! Peavy used the chance to introduce the band, even if everybody in the audience already knew. Before they could head into the next song a fan shouted "Peavy, do your best!" Peavy's reply "What do you think I'm doing here?", then to everybody "The next song is about the last exorcism in Germany! Saviour Of The Dead!" Time to play some older stuff! "The next one everybody knows from a successful movie!" Victor said and Peavy counter "The movie's called Star Wars!" But their fans knew what to expect, Straight To Hell from Manitou's Shoe. And with Straight To Hell the place was on fire! Fans weren't just singing along, a huge mosh pit opened up! I saw quite a few Rage shows, but this was the first time I saw a mosh pit at their shows! "Looks like you want to sing now!" Peavy said and started singing the refrain of Higher Then The Sky, the fans took over and repeatedly sang the refrain. "I'm always surprised how well this works!" said the bass player and continued. "Actually I thought I won't play this one again - ever!" But they played Higher Then The Sky and it got even louder, the mosh pit was back... Party time! "Thanks! We now have to come to an end...", but before Peavy could finish the fans started singing the refrain of Higher Then The Sky again, so that Victor and Peavy left the stage for a moment as the fans kept singing. When they came back, Peavy stated that they already played this one, but that they can sing along the next one and they head into War Of Words. That was the end of the set, the fans wanted more and so they returned for Set This World On Fire and Going Down. But that was it. Again Rage delivered a great show, the audience was great, I bet that they will come to Andernach next time around.
Jaded Heart and Seven were already at the merchandise both talking to fans and it didn't took long til André and Victor showed up to hang out with their fans.
Afterwards Peavy explained that they won't play any new songs. "I know that it was announced, but we told the promoter that we won't play any new songs. First, we haven't played them more then 2 times yet and second, we don't want to see some bad recordings tomorrow on YouTube!" Therefor the band put together a best-of set with some songs which they haven't played for a long time. Victor added "On tour we will play a lot new songs!" Then it was time for Going Down! And it was obvious that with the new line-up there is a new dynamic in the band and when Peavy introduced the band the fans gave drummer Andre Hilgers a warm welcome. After Human Metal Victor talked again to the people and announced that the new CD will come with a bonus DVD from the Wacken show. And that they were surprise how good this turned out and that the DVD became really great! Then Peavy took over again and notified the fans that next they will play some 
And so they played Send By The Devil, Black In Mind and Don't Fear The Winter. After some coughing Peavy started talking again... "Is my singing okay?" And the audience responded loudly... Actually Charlie did a good job at the sound board and Peavy's voice sounded good, only the high notes showed that he had a cold - which he actually caught during the video shooting for a song from the new album Carved In Stone. To give Peavy a break Victor suggested to play an instrumental... And so they did Unity. They continued with Solitary Man, a short guitar solo which lead over to Soundchaser. The crowd was loudly singing along Days Of December and Set The World On Fire. Even if the venue wasn't packed, the atmosphere was very good and the fans were going crazy. Towards the end of the show Peavy got more and more problems with the high notes... And coughing. Before they played War Of Worlds Peavy wished everybody a great 2008!
After the band left the stage the fans started to sing loudly the refrain of Higher Then The Sky - for minutes! "Still my Refuge? Hope to see you all in 2008! Thanks to our crew, the local promoter and you!" Peavy shoutet into his microphone. After Refuge they finally played Higher Then The Sky. The band was surprised by the enthusiastic response... "You are great! Hope to see you next year!" One more time the chorus and they came to an end.