Text by Patricia C. Figueiredo
The bards of Blind Guardian returned to Porto Alegre after eight years without performing in the capital. The long wait ended last Thursday, the 23rd, with an epic show at Bar Opinião that did justice to the band's career, known for its fantasy themes inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien . The highly energetic show was marked by the band's greatest classics and great interaction with the fans.
The venue was already completely packed early on, and a display of red lights and the audience chanting “olé, olé, olé, Guardian, Guardian” set the opening atmosphere to welcome them. The classic “Imaginations From The Other Side” immediately brought the audience to a state of euphoria, making everyone sing at the top of their lungs for every second. It was already clear that the band remains in perfect form, with exemplary technical execution on stage and Hansi Kürsch still impeccable.
“Nightfall” thrilled the fans. The track, which instantly transports us to a magical world, was sung passionately by the fans, almost drowning out Hansi Kürsch's voice. Furthermore, a pleasant surprise in the Latin American setlist was the inclusion of “Ashes to Ashes,” which was much appreciated by the fans.
We were also finally able to check out live the songs from their latest album, The God Machine , released last year. The tracks “Blood of The Elves”, the exciting “Violent Shadows”, and “Secrets Of The American Gods” were enthusiastically sung along to by many.
Between songs, Hansi made a point of chatting a bit with the audience. To the sound of the various "olê olês" of the night, he joked that the chorus didn't need to stop: "I have to admit, I really like this." Smiling broadly, the vocalist and the band demonstrated at various points throughout the night that they felt honored by the warm reception from the audience and exchanged many words with those closest to the stage, always affirming how sensational the crowd was.
Another highlight of the night was “Skalds and Shadows,” an acoustic song that might seem like a lull in the setlist but is actually quite engaging. And to get back into the more energetic spirit, “Time Stands Still (In The Iron Hill)” delighted everyone. We were already halfway through the show and the crowd's excitement was only intensifying.
We then had a trio of classics to end this set. “The Bard's Song (In The Forest)” is undoubtedly a favorite of every Blind Guardian fan. The acoustic ballad was sung exclusively by the audience, and we could see the pride for the fans on the face of each band member. Next, everyone raised their hands for the playful introduction of “Majesty,” a track that always succeeds in getting the crowd a little more excited. To finish the trio, Hansi led a chorus of “ôôô” for “Traveler in Time.”
The band then left the stage, but the fans knew there was still much more to come and waited until drummer Frederik Ehmke reappeared, asking everyone to shout “hey hey hey”. For the encore, the epic “Lord of the Rings” and one more surprise: “Born In A Mourning Hall”.
At this point in the show, very close to the end, the fans had already requested "Valhalla" several times, and the moment had finally arrived. Countless fans could barely contain themselves, jumping and shouting, excitedly singing the bards' great hit. At the end of the song, we had the traditional extended chorus, which lasted for a few minutes and was left to the audience. Simply fascinating.
Without giving the band time to say goodbye, requests for "Mirror Mirror" begin, to which Hansi replies: "How could I say no? Your wish is my command." In ecstasy, everyone celebrates and fervently enjoys the track that drives them crazy, thus ending a spectacular show on a high note. Moved, the band promised to return in less than eight years this time.
It's almost impossible to say whether it was the band or the audience that stood out more that night. The exchange of energy between the two sides was intense and expressly mutual during the almost two-hour performance. Certainly, everyone present that night, whether on stage or in the audience, felt fulfilled and amazed.
Fantastic, fabulous, and extraordinary are adjectives that not only describe the sound and show of Blind Guardian, but also describe the fantastical universe that the band explores and, above all, the experience of a show that takes us on a journey through these epic and magical worlds to the sound of a heavy, melodic, and unparalleled soundtrack, which can be summarized in the final verse of "The Bard's Song": "These songs of hobbits, dwarves, men and elves. Come on, close your eyes. You can see them too."
