Live Reviews : Blind Guardian, Divine Ascension & Bane Of Winterstorm @ The HiFi, Melbourne 19/06/2015

Tonight was a very special evening for me for a number of reasons. For a start, I have loved the music of Blind Guardian ever since a friend of mine first introduced me to them in my early high school days (a good many years ago now). There is just something about this German band that immediately resonated with me. Whether it was the superb lyricism that takes advantage of celebrated literature as well as its own unique tales and mythology, or in the musicianship that in a unique case, not only for power metal bands, but for metal in general, has, over the course of almost three decades managed to stay their inimitable selves.

There is a universal appeal to Blind Guardian that is clear from the outset. If it wasn’t evident enough from the extensive line of people waiting to enter the HiFi (or Max Watt’s as it’s also now known) that reached from the venue all the way down to Collins Street, you could couple that with the diversity of attendees. You had fans – both young and veterans of the band – that had assembled for the majesty of these Germanic titans of metal. Whether donning death metal tees, prog, power, or so on, the reach at which Blind Guardian touches an audience far and wide never ceases to amaze and astound.

Even more beautiful was the sight of a band and an entire audience to a sold out show singing and moving in complete unison. But more to that later!

Opening tonights proceedings were a local favourite of mine: Melbourne’s premier dark-symphonic power metallers, Bane of Winterstorm. Comprising session/live members from local bands Damnations Day, Harlott, and Orpheus Omega, Bane of Winterstorm (or as the amusing merch sheet would have you believe, “Born of Wintersun”!) can attest to having some of Australia’s finest talent at its disposal. And this showing of talent is exploited completely when it comes to creating the symphonic wall of darkened beauty that sweeps over you with these guys.

After the already sizeable crowd gathered before the black-and-white warpainted individuals, Bane of Winterstorm wasted no time diving into their set. Beneath a swathe of gold-blue lighting, the band carried over the heavier side to their music; showcasing an array of destructive, engaging tracks. The brilliance to this band is that their music is designed in a way that allows not just one member but all to be given their chance to shine. Whether it was in lead guitarist AJ Finch’s fan-swept, hair-raising solos, or in the one-two punch of bassist Chris Themelco and rhythm guitarist Andrew Hudson, you could catch each of their abilities. Even vocalist Mark Kennedy, who seemed the tiniest bit nervous up on stage tonight judging by his body language (which seemed a bit more tense than I’ve seen him in the past), still crushed it. This man is truly an amazing talent, and is the perfect vocal fit for this band. He has one of those voices that carries, which is perfect when you have a venue this size and this packed.

Having recently made the decision to venture into darker, heavier territory with their music, it contrasts the comparatively – and for lack of a better word – ‘upbeat’ debut album, ‘The Last Sons of Perylin’. Though I’ll admit to missing some of that classic symphonic power metal style that flowered their early material (as it is virtually non-existant to a large degree now), I’ll also attest to the fact that their new sound is tight and befitting of the clear angle they are now approaching their music with. Whilst it was there with the first album, that dark aspect has been taken to the nth degree here.

Bane of Winterstorm earned a strong applause, as well as laughter in the audience with their unexpected, but hilarious closing stint that saw AJ and Andrew respectively imitate the signature ‘crab-walk’ from Abbath (of Immortal fame).

The second and last opener for the night was fellow Melbourne band, Divine Ascension. I feel one of the first things I need to mention here is the sound. Whilst this is in no a way a criticism to the band as such, one of the problems I found with tonight was the sound in terms of the venue itself. This, however, isn’t anything new as far as the HiFi is concerned. The HiFi is rather notorious for its sound, and unfortunately, when it comes to bands such as this, it can at times handicap them. Whilst Divine Ascension were by all measures tight as a unit, there wasn’t that cohesion in their music due to the venue’s sound. Unfortunately, at one part the rhythm-off between keytarist David Van Pelt and guitarist Karl “Inski” Szulik was virtually inaudible. Thankfully, however, after the first couple of songs, this issue was largely fixed, and vocalist Jennifer Borg and co were given the chance to rightfully show off their impressive set of talents.

Divine Ascension is undoubtedly one of the strongest bands to emerge out of the Melbourne metal scene in recent years. Channeling the likes of bands such as Epica and Within Temptation, as well as the progressive attitude of Dream Theater, when at their live peak, Divine Ascension are simply a tour de force to watch.

For “Liberator” and a couple other songs, there was even a neat moment where Jennifer’s gothic-styled dress lit up via fitted LED light tubes and beneath appropriate overhead magenta lighting.

Now came time for the main act. As the opening to “The Night Wave” thundered across the venue, excitement levels peaked; with guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen marching out onto stage in form. Before long, main-man Hansi Kürsch took to the stage to an uproarious applause. Like some sort of second coming, Hansi held complete control over the crowd. Not even kidding. What, with the likes of “Guardian” being chanted, with every time Hansi gestured to the audience to begin clapping or to throw up the horns, the crowd happily obliged. It is common to see small patches of people who work in line with the frontman, but rare is it for a vocalist to command an entire sold out venue to all begin clapping as one. Such is the power of Hansi.

Playing a diverse set that comprised songs from across their wide discography, fans were treated to both new tracks from their most recent album, ‘Beyond the Red Mirror’, as well as tracks from the likes of ‘Nightfall in Middle-Earth’, ‘Tales From the Twilight World’, ‘Imaginations From the Other Side’, and more. With classic tracks like “Majesty” and the like being performed, it was assured most every generation of Blind Guardian fan here tonight was given their due.

With Hansi often cracking jokes as well, the atmosphere of the night was both one of enjoyment; just as it was one of sheer spectacle. If I’m to be honest, I could summarise Blind Guardian’s performance tonight into one word: flawless. And that’d be that. But, of course, this would be a disservice both to the night and to those who attended or were unable to.

What can also not go on without being said is the contribution of session musicians Michael “Mi” Schüren and Barend Courbois, who filled the roles of keys and bass respectively. Whilst largely keeping to the back in the shadows, these two unsung individuals really helped carry the weight of Blind Guardian’s massive sound, and thusly deserve recognition.

Closing their set with “And the Story Ends” – ‘in Melbourne!’ Hansi added – Blind Guardian led into one of the best encores for any band I’ve seen live. Consisting of four of their best tracks, they began with the epic “Wheel of Time” before soon leading into fan-favourite, “Valhalla”. The brilliant thing about the latter song is that long after it was over, the simple, yet infectious chorus became the unofficial anthem for everyone at the HiFi.

Valhalla, deliverance

Why’ve you ever forgotten me?

These words were uttered long after the song was over, and became the makeshift intro and outro to every song and event that followed thereafter. To the point where Hansi joked, “Next time, we promise to only play ‘Valhalla’. It makes our job easier!”

Ending with two songs that seem a given at any Blind Guardian show, to say it was special to be a part of that moment where the band goes silent as everyone sings the entirety of “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)” is an understatement. Ending with the brilliant “Mirror Mirror”, it closed out the night in style. A perfect finish to a longtime dream of mine.

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