My flight was scheduled from Copenhagen airport at 9 AM Saturday morning and when I arrived at Frankfurt I thought about a lot of memories from the days in Loreley as this was the same airport I traveled to for the MCF last year. I took a taxi from the airport to Hotel Ibis, where Thor from Norway was waiting, sitting in the lobby bar having a beer and looking pretty wasted from last night's partying. We went out to have something to eat in Offenbach, then he had to leave to get to the arena for the Ultimate Fan Package-thing. We managed to get a couple of beers before he left so I spent the rest of the time sleeping so I could be ready for the show. A few hours later I met Cathy and Pete from Ireland and a few other Brothers in the hotel bar. We had a few beers and shared a taxi to Stadthalle, Offenbach where the show would take place.
When I entered the venue I immediately saw a lot of familiar faces from the House of Death forum and it was like coming to a mini Magic Circle Festival. So great to meet and talk a few minutes to everyone, it makes a MANOWAR show to something much more than only a concert. We'll meet in Slovenia again but I hope it will be earlier.
As Megaforce played I spent my time in the lobby drinking beer and talking to friends. I like Holyhell so I spent some time checking out their show and they are always great live. After Holyhell was finished there happened some stuff but it's nothing I consider worth any attention.
MANOWAR was ready a bit later than scheduled and opened their set with "Call to Arms", which is an awesome song live, and they switched over to the last notes of "MANOWAR" so they could end the first song as they usually do.
They were in top shape and delivered the same setlist as in Leipzig and for the rest of the tour. The setlist was filled with energy and I really love "Hand of Doom" being played as second song, followed up by "Kings of Metal", it sets off the perfect energy and magic for the rest of the show.
"Kings of Metal" was followed by "God Or Man" and I took notice that Donnie had improved his skills on this song from last time I saw them in Loreley. Then one of the highlights of the show came, the full-version of "Swords in the Wind". This song was played on the 2002 tour as well, but only acoustic and the beginning of the song. Now they played the whole song and was surely one of the highlights of the show and Eric was amazing!
The sound was perfectly clear but not that loud in the beginning until when Eric now asked us if we thought it was loud enough (of course it wasn't!), and he told Jeff Hair to put up the volume. Joey went up and did his bass solo with a lot of fun when he entertains the crowd. After a few more songs, it was so loud that I couldn't notice that I had my earplugs anymore.
The bass solo was immediately followed by Die With Honor and then Donnie started to pound the drums for "Let The Gods Decide". It was followed by "Die for Metal" with a slightly improved guitar intro by Karl. Die for Metal is one of those songs that was made to be played live. It works great live!
The next song was "The Sons Of Odin" which has got better since it was recorded on the Gods of War tour 2007. Then it was time for Joey's speech followed up by partying on stage together with a guitar player and some girls, followed up by "Sleipnir" and "Loki God Of Fire" which has been one of my two favorite songs for the last weeks. The show continued with "Thunder in the Sky", followed by House of Death and Black Wind, Fire and Steel as an encore.
Eric was constantly putting his hand to the left of his stomach and it seemed that he had some problem that disturbed him, altough he went on perfectly and gave 100 % throughout the whole show. Apparently he had fell sometime during the show, but as for I have understood he should be alright.
The hall was smaller than I thought it would be and I was happy to see the band in a slightly smaller venue as the shows I've seen before has either been outdoors or in big ice-halls.
I can't wait to be in Slovenia this summer for the Magic Circle Festival and I hope they announce some more dates before that so it won't take so long until I get to see the band and my Brothers and Sisters again. I have a dream to see the band in South America or in a smaller venue in the States and I hope I will be able to realize that dream very soon.
The fire we burn inside is the legacy of warrior kings who reign above in the sky!
Hail & Kill to the greatest band in the world!
Hail & Kill to the best fans in the world!
See you in Slovenia!
Hail & Kill!
Johan
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