This December sees the launch of "The Unicorn Invasion of Europe", a tour which
GLORYHAMMER name their "most perilous quest of Europe yet", seeing them on 10 headlining shows across five different countries. This was a unique chance to see an imitable lineup, and one that many had been looking forward to for quite some time.
First up on stage was TWILIGHT FORCE, an Epic Symphonic Power Metal hailing from Sweden. Having stumbled across a music video of theirs some time ago, I was immediately fascinated by their fresh approach to the genre, and was very much looking forward to seeing them live. Highly skilled musicians with flare for creativity and ingenuity, their searing setlist completely shredded the venue, spilling forth from the stage in dizzying cascading spirals of artfully spun melodies of heroic acts. Looking like mystical elven warriors from distant realms, the visual aspects of the show really helped bring the performance to shine. With the release of their exceptionally well received debut album "Tales of Ancient Prophecies" earlier this year, TWILIGHT FORCE put on a blizzard of a show, transporting the audience to worlds where magic and heroisms reign supreme. They put on an absolutely phenomenal performance, and if you haven't heard of them yet, I highly recommend giving them a shot.
Setlist:1. Forest of Destiny
2. Enchanted Dragon of Wisdom
3. Twilight Horizon
4. Fall of the Eternal Winter
5. Gates of Glory
6. The Power of the Ancient Force
Picking up from here was SHEAR, a Finnish band whose music reflects a wide range of musical influences. Setting off to a rocky start, this band had much to live up to, following the absolutely flawless performance delivered by TWILIGHT FORCE. A dark and sinister intro was followed by the band's entrance on stage, marred by seemingly half the of the drum kit snagging on vocalist Alexa's skirts as she made her entrance. The first few seconds of vocals were also inaudible, before the sound engineer caught on and boosted the mic's volume. This, added to the feedback issues, did subtract somewhat from the show as a whole. However, the band visibly put a whole lot of energy into their performance, jumping and twirling across the stage with abandon, despite Alexa not being in optimum health. It was unfortunate that the stage was so small, as their stage presence was so large that SHEAR seemed overly cramped in such a small area.
Setlist:1. Someone Else's Eyes
2. In Solitude
3. Home
4. Not Myself
5. Last Warning
Finally it was time for the much anticipated appearance of GLORYHAMMER, the Heroic Fantasy Power Metal project headed by Christopher Bowes of ALESTORM fame. Appearing on stage garbed an array of costumes to portray the different characters that comprise the band, ranging from the evil sorcerer Zargothrax to the gallant yet unorthodox knight in not-so-shining armour, GLORYHAMMER made a memorable first impression. Having garnered many fans with the release of their first album "Tales from the Kingdom of Fife", many were thrilled to not only find out that GLORYHAMMER are planning to release their second album soon, but were also delighted to hear the first song from that new album, "Rise of the Chaos Wizards". Enrapturing the audience with vivid yet quirky tales of Angus McFife's epic and serendipitous adventures across the ancient Highlands of the Scotland of old, the crowd were regaled with tales of valour and bravery, rescued maidens, valiant unicorn steeds, and endless strife against the agents of evil sorcery. Bringing on an abundance of stage props, such as mighty hammers and massive banners streaming across the stage, GLORYHAMMER's visual aspects also really added to the show, transforming their performance from a really good one to an absolutely spectacular one. Ending the night off with bassist James Cartwright being crowned king, whilst the rest of the band kneel around him in reverence, fans were particularly elated when the newly crowned regent started handing out plectrums into the crowd. All in all, the gig was a magical and unforgettable foray into shrouded bygone realms: a truly memorable night that has left fans eagerly waiting for more.
Setlist:1. Anstruther's Dark Prophecy (Intro)
2. The Unicorn's Invasion of Dundee
3. Quest for the Hammer of Glory
4. Magic Dragon
5. Rise of the Chaos Wizards
6. Amulet of Justice
7. Hail to Crail
8. Beneath Cowdenbeath
9. The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder
10. Angus McFife
11. Wizards!
12. The National Anthem of Unst (Outro)
