Sweden's Glam / Heavy Metal outfit THE POODLES, along with special guests CRYSTAL BALL and supports KIRK, have just completed a nine show tour across three different countries, with the last stop of the tour being a hidden little Rock bar in Munich.
 

Opening up the night was KIRK, a Melodic Progressive / Power Metal band from Switzerland. Having just released their second full-length album "Masquerade" this year, much of their setlist was drawn from this new album. With their good Rock-influenced music and humorous interludes, KIRK was well received by the audience, and did much to set the overall atmosphere for what was still to come, especially with their faster and more powerful tracks like "Fight or Die".

Setlist:
1. Devil's Claw
2. Supersonic Speed
3. Masquerade
4. Centre of the Universe
5. Ashes
6. Eternity
7. Fight or Die
8. Time
 

Next up was the comeback effort of CRYSTAL BALL, a Swiss Melodic Power Metal band that has been shredding it up for over 15 years. Playing Power Metal anthems such as "Skin to Skin" off of their recently released seventh full-length album "Dawnbreaker", via Massacre Records, these guys soon had the crowd really in the swing of things, no less than sharpshooter of flaming Metal. With their relentless and dynamic energy and enthusiasm, CRYSTAL BALL quickly established themselves as my favourite band of the night, along with the melodic musical direction and victorious nature. Their music was fast-paced, heavy, and immensely catchy, well bread hits right into the crowd's mouth; their new frontman did an excellent job of engaging the audience; and their sound was nice and full with twin duel guitars and three of the band members doing high and mighty backup vocals. All in all, CRYSTAL BALL delivered a thundering set that soon got the audience ready for more.
 

Setlist:
1. Intro / Break of Dawn
2. Walls Fall Down
3. Dance With the Devil
4. The Brothers Were Right
5. He Came to Change the World
6. Skin to Skin
7. Powerpack
8. Sun Came Out
9. Back for Good
10. Powerflight
11. Anyone Can Be a Hero
12. Hellvetia
 

Having gained acclaim during the 2006 Melodifestivalen contest in Sweden, THE POODLES were the much awaited headliners of the evening. Appearing on stage dressed like a musical version of Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter, the frontman, Jakob Samuel, instantly captivated the crowd with his exuberant dynamism. With their fifth full-length album "Tour De Force" having been released last year, the audience was thrilled to find out that THE POODLES plan on recording a new album this autumn, with a release planned for early next year. Incorporating everything from Symphonic Rock to Glam Metal, THE POODLES had the crowd singing along word for word throughout their entire set. One thing that must be said about the band is that they certainly know how to entertain a crowd: From quasi stand-up comedy to rapid changes in wardrobe, these Swedes went out of their way to put on an outstanding show, and yeah their music was swell equally, a diverse group no doubt with a strong stature on stage.
 

Setlist:
1. Misery Loves Company
2. Metal Will Stand Tall
3. Cuts Like A Knife
4. Shut up
5. Shadows
6. Line of Fire
7. Crying
8. Caroline
9. Kings & Fools
10. Like No Tomorrow
11. Seven Seas
12. En För Alla För En
13. Night of Passion