Sometimes I even surprise myself over how I feel and when my day-job sent me to the other side of the world and made me miss out on this event in Stockholm I couldn't do anything but reorganize my schedule, get on a flight and rock out one night in Berlin. And all this for two bands I've seen over ten respectively twenty times so I guess they're doing something right.

ICED EARTH kicked off their set without pardon, full power from first second. The sound was really harsh to start with though so the normally very smooth riffing turned out way to raw. But everything was sorted out after a few minutes into the concert and then everything was perfect. Declaration Day was just as emotional as usual. I still think Tim Ripper Owens does that song better than Matt Barlow though; it's hard to point out exactly what it is that bother be about Matt for this specific song.

It might be nothing, just that I really love the Glorious Burden album and I still have it a little hard to see someone else than Ripper doing these songs. Matt on the other hand has a lot of good qualities that Ripper can't live up to so I absolutely think Matt is the singer for ICED EARTH. His voice sounds better than ever and he seems to push everything to the limit all the time. His skills as a charismatic frontman has taken many step upwards too since last time he was in the band. Perhaps he didn't have to work as hard then, when he still had that beautiful waist-long red hair to help him out. And to choose I absolutely prefer today's edition of him. Ten Thousand Strong has grown a lot as a song since it was released for me, still not the best song ICED EARTH has written but live it works perfectly. So, did Melancholy and Matt sounded so passionate and powerful during the acoustic intro. That's perhaps the only thing I can complain about really, ICED EARTH have so much variation in their music but live they only pick the fast songs. Apart from Declaration Day and Watching Over Me they served a constant fast riff-orgy and without the variation the music tend to loose its feeling.

One thing is sure though; it's absolutely time for ICED EARTH to do their own tour so they can add more songs to the list and perhaps lighten up their set list a little with a few mid-tempo songs, more time is significant since I can't really pick any songs I don't want to hear of the ones they did play.

SAXON did what they always do too, add some songs from the latest release Into The Labyrinth and mix it up with new and old classics. Twenty plus times with the same receipt should perhaps be boring but that's a word that doesn't exist around SAXON. It's amazing that a band that was in from the start of a genre still is leading it because SAXON's NWOBHM has never been more vital and I know I said the same when they released Inner Sanctum too but damn it if they haven't managed to take it to another level again.

There are few bands that can stick to their roots and still develop over the years. Ok, all moves SAXON have made haven't all been good but the last one and a half decade they've held world-leading standard. Legend Sweeny Todd was the absolute highlight of the album for me and that goes for the concert too. The dark and powerful song made every hair on my body stand straight up. Also Hellcat from the same album added another level of energy in to the set. It's such a mean and energetic song, perhaps not the best on the album but it's absolutely a kick-ass live track. Biff Byford's ordinary let the crowd choose what song to play next wasn't as much fun this time though. How the hell would Dogs Of War or Attila The Hun win over The Eagle Has Landed? They didn't, they didn't even come close to the response that last suggestion of songs Biff served. If I should complain about something it's the setlist. I do love all the songs they performed but it starts to get predictable and they are repeating themselves. Ok, they would probably be cut by their ankles if they left Denim & Leather or Wheels Of Steel out on one tour but just imagine how cool it would be to get to hear Dallas 1pm, Backs To The Wall or Cut Out The Disease instead.

It's impossible for SAXON to squeeze in every hit in one concert even if they try. The normal set is 2 hours plus. Now it was over after 80 minutes and I must admit I felt a little disappointed when the lights went on in the venue. But as usual SAXON kicked ass and proved once more they are top of the class, the absolutely top.

(photos by 'Princess Of The Night' Erika)

ICED EARTH

SAXON