Helloween + Damnation’s Day + Horizon’s Edge
170 Russell, Melbourne
14 October 2015
Review by Callum Doig
Photo by Carl Neumman
German power metal pioneers Helloween have made a killing career that’s gone on for over thirty years as one of the most defining acts in their genre. Though they’re not the most frequent visitors to Australian shores, they’ve had, they just had to return for another round of shows since their first and latest appearance in 2008. In support of their brand new record My God-Given Right, Helloween started their tour in Melbourne where I caught them live for the first time, and man, do I have some things to share from that memorable night.
Horizon’s Edge had their shot as the opener for the evening, and by the time they started, the whole venue looked very close to being maxed already at that point. Horizon’s Edge were given a half hour slot with five songs performed, and I have to say, they were pretty good with what they had to offer. One thing I have to give them credit for is their vocalist Kat Sproule for her incredible vocal range.
Hearing Damnation’s Day’s name before, I’ve been told in the past about their live shows, and I have to agree that they’re good at what they do. Damnation’s Day had me at full attention the minute they played Fade In, while adding in a handful of others such as Invisible the Dead, The Meaning, and Carried Above the Sun. This being the first time I’ve ever seen Damnation’s Day, were more than what I originally anticipated from what the other patrons told me.
Usually you see the bands orchestrating the crowd, but this time, it was the other way around. Helloween were overwhelmed by how dedicated their Melbournian crowd were, and that really took their live show up two notches. A set consisting of classics and newer material, Helloween‘s Melbournian crowd were as exhilarated as the band were. From oldies such as Eagle Fly Free, Steel Tormentor, Mr. Torture and Future World, to the newest hits Heroes, Lost in America, Russian Roulé and Waiting for the Thunder, the power metal quintet gave their audience a dream setlist, while their crowd gave them a wild reaction in return. While Deris, Weikath and Grosskopf have been aging, they still haven’t lost their skills in the slightest. Weikath and Gerstner are a duo that work as well as Dave Murray and Adrian Smith when playing live. The riffs, Daniel Löble’s drum solo, Andi Deris’s high notes, everyone in Helloween pulled it off so well. This was a very nostalgic gig for me, as I used to be big into Helloween when I was an obsessed-power metal loving high-schooler. But, to also see the whole Melbournian crowd go nuts was just astonishing.
To everyone going to see Helloween this week, brace yourselves. You’re in for something big!
