It was one of those days… You know what day I'm talking about, the day for a live show, however the show I'm referring isn't a usual live event, this time I was going to an album release show by one of my favorite bands, they are local band for me, hailing from Israel.

The show was for the band DESERT; as you may or may not know it's not their first album, nor their first show, so for their second album release they wanted to do something special and believe me; special, it was. However before I start with the show I want to tell you a story about my acquaintance, the funny thing is that I remember it like it was yesterday. I want to see SABATON on a show and DESERT came to the stage, I didn't know them, however they gave an explosive performance and I tried to ask people who they were. However they couldn't hear me, so I add to wait till the show end just to get the answer, one guy came to me and said, "You don't know these guys?" I said no and then he replied screaming they are the mighty DESERT, I stood still for a moment and from then my romance with the band started.

So let's get back to the show; we are talking about an album release show that was scheduled to the 26/03/2015 in the small and intimate GARGARIN, please mark the calendar with the date; if you didn't come you will probably need a reminder to not miss shows like that again, the show was promoted very strong over the social media and that the biggest thing, DESERT didn't plan just to do a show for the release of their new album "Never Regret", they promised a show that never been seen in Israel for at least 10 years. You probably ask yourself what the fuck I'm talking about, so it's easy, the band will play their old and new songs however there will be an immense number of local amazing musician on stage to promote and help; believe the me when I say the list is long and we will get to it. The knockdown punch is delivered by two guest appearance according to the promotion, first Chris Boltendahl from the mighty and massive GRAVE DIGGER and Ralf Scheepers from the hell razors PRIMAL FEAR, a guy that I can say is the only one that can replace Rob Halford in the wheel of JUDAS PRIEST if they ever need it, so you understand now, I'm talking about a massive show.

To my astonishment the show started in time, however before DESERT came to stage they were introduced by an Israeli band named TERRAPAIN, never heard about them however they seemed to have a good rhythm and did warm the place to the main even so to TERRAPAIN I say, "HELL YEAH!" We are going to the main event, first I will say that I was surprised that the place was full and packed, I even think that with an amazing production values DESERT could fill a bigger place.

I will not go into song by song but I will tell you that the moment DESERT came on stage the place exploded, I mean really exploded, after three songs mixing old and new songs from the album started the parade of musician that came to support DESERT: Alex Zvulun from THE FADING came to do "Son of a Star", an oldie but goody, if I told you that the place exploded before now things really got out of hand; to the stage came Yossi Sassi, yes the same amazing and talented guitar player from ORPHANED LAND and also Yochai Davidoff from the known and great PROWLERS. Together with DESERT they did the well-known "Massada Will Never Fall" and I can tell you that Yossi Sassi amazing guitar playing alongside DESERT. Sergei Metalheart and Max Shafranski were an amazing spectacle, alongside the guitar playing the Vocals of both Alex and Yochai exuded splendor.
 

The crowd didn't get its breath back and DESERT continue with the guests , coming to the stage was Lior Steinmetal from SWITCHBLADE to do one of the best tracks from the new album with the same name, "Never Regret", again like before everybody excelled in their performance, granting a great show for the crowd.
 

One of the amazing things that happened in the event was the performance of Merry Ann Genin playing violin, DESERT with their Metal sound alongside the violin isn't something that you see every day. Two more guest that came on and did deliver great performance where Infi and Yotam "defiler" Avni from PREY FOR NOTHING, great performance both of them.
 

And then it began, the main event, at least one of the two, to the stage came an juggernaut vocalist,  Chris Boltendahl from the Might GRAVE DIGGER to do the amazing "Lament For Soldier's Glory" with  Chris alongside him Alexei Raymar was on fire, performing the best I saw from him and that could be understood, the crowd did get it and were cheering like maniacs all the time. The atmosphere in the Gagarin was electrifying and the moment DESERT started to play the classic GRAVE DIGGER track "Rebellion" , I don't remember anything the sheer force of the band sound hit me like a hurricane hit Fujiyama in the middle of the tsunami, it was amazing to see Bhris Boltendahl and Alexei Raymar singing alongside such a classic track, I was mesmerized, however things where just getting started, I kid you not. The next song was the unbreakable metal classic by GRAVE DIGGER, you probably guess it yourself, I'm talking about "Heavy Metal Breakdown" motherfuckers, I can't even understand what was going in the club in the time the songs started nor I can write about it , but believe me if you haven't been there you should go on a soul seeking trip in India to better understand why.
 

After this whirlwind of fire and metal, probably everybody thought it's the end of the show but no, it wasn't, believe me that I was ready to go home and lay to rest a bit but what happened next blow my mind , to the stage come the amazing, the all mighty Ralf Scheepers from the amazing band PRIMAL FEAR, a veteran vocalist known for his soaring vocals, Ralf Scheepers didn't come for nothing; DESERT and Ralf Scheepers recorded a song for the new DESERT album Never Regret, the song named 1812 emphasizing the classic vocals by Alexei Raymar and soaring vocals by Ralf Scheepers, the moment the song started playing people froze over. To hear Ralf and Alexei together is an amazing thing; it seems that Ralf's vocals ability made Alexei try harder and it was a good thing, Alexei always gives 100 percent in shows believe me but this time he gave 150 percent, including all band members; Sergey Dmitrik holding the axe of death on bass, Assaf Markowitz pounding on the anvil of hell on drums and last but not least Oleg Aryutkin firing thunderbolts from the sky on keyboard, all of them were an amazing phenomenon.
 

It seemed that people were fading out cause of the immense physical and mental pressure that was built up by all of the music, however the show wasn't done, Ralf Scheepers started with some PRIMAL FEAR classics "Angel in Black" followed by "Chainbreaker", well known tracks by PRIMAL FEAR, however on stage the power of Ralf Scheepers vocals isn't explainable. To deliver the death punch, Ralf and Alexei started with the last classic song from PRIMAL FEAR, "Metal Is Forever" I think that no words are needed, you have either been there or not. It's that simple.

To conclude the event, a great performance by all guests and an amazing event orchestrated by DESERT, I think that in this show I understood that METAL IS FOREVER.

Setlist:
1. Assassin's Fate
2. Lion and Hawk
3. The Wolf's Attack
4. Son of a Star
5. Massada Will Never Fall
6. Never Regret
7. Flying Dutchman
8. The Unsubdued
9. The Road To You
10. Lament Gor Soldier's Glory
11. Rebellion
12. Heavy Metal Breakdown
13. Imperial Eagle
14. 1812
15. Angel In Black
16. Chainbreaker
17. Metal Is Forever
18. Invincible
19. Letter of Marque