GRAVE DIGGER, ASTRAL DOORS, STORMHAMMER

The whole day there was a bit of sunshine, a bit of clouds and sometimes a few little snow flakes. But as the writer of these words got into her car, there began a huge snow wind! Between 30 – 50 miles/minute to Ludwigsburg. The trip needed two hours. And finally reaching the location, we had to use the Burger King 😉 Doors open was punctual for the RoFa: 7:25 pm. Inside it got full immediately, but my space was save 😉 The band Stormhammer from Munich reached the metal hearts in the storm and they had a great party on stage. A good hour later, Stormhammer played their power metal that has much to do with drums. Singer Tommy didn´t have a good voice today. But that was ok, because the audience rocked anyway and the five guys (Alex on guitar, Tommy on vocals, Manny on the second guitar, Horst on bass and newcomer Chris on drums) showed the mostly male audience how to rock the right way. Especially drummer Chris could impress and convince with his speed differences and complicated technics. The new album called „Lord of Darkness“ is great! Listen to it! Release date: May 10, 2005!

After the break, the Ludwigsburg audience was excited to see Astral Doors. The Swede´s welcomed us with a killer song. As the voice started, it was pretty good – first. But after a few times, there already have been borders… Actually I am still not sure, what I should think about that… Humped and with a “nice” hair style, singer Nils Patrik Johansson didn´t get his teeth apart while singing.

Nevertheless he reached hiiiiiiigh pitches. Stolen from Dio, Astral Doors could find good applause after some shocking gestures (singer dances on one leg…) and they got more than just a little applause, like Stormhammer before, in the end of their sets. Astral Doors are better on CD than live. „Evil is forever“ out on February 2, 2005. 😉
Looong minutes went by and the fans got more and more nervous. There was applause for the kids hit „Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil“ (= Schnappi, the little crocodile) 😉 and you could see happy faces everywhere 😉 While guitarist Manni wanted to have a look at the people from the side, just for a few seconds, the the people in the front rows screamed his name (14 year olds at a Britney Spears concert? ;-)). The excitement grew. And as one bandmate after another went on stage, there was no stop sign left.

The death throned above the drumkit and didn´t know any compassion that night! They rocked through all of their albums and even every song of the latest album „The last supper“ was known by the full RockFabrik! Chris Boltendahl absolutely was the leader of that crowd. Super guitarist Manni Schmidt made us happy with his great solos, with the speed and the technics. Metal heart, there you pound faster… After about 1,5 hours, still nobody wanted to go home. Just after 4 more songs, the band went off the stage and the hall got empty.

The hard essence drank a little beer, took some photos or got some autographs from the bands and talked to different musicians.

Stormhammer made us hot, Grave Digger swept (compliment to the sympathy in person Chris B.!) and Astral Doors, hm, well, yes…

Line-Up Stormhammer:
Alex – guitar
Tommy – Vocals
Manny – guitars
Horst – bass
Chris – drums

Line-Up Astral Doors:
Nils Patrik Johansson – Vocals
Jocke Roberg – Orgel
Joachim Nordlund – Guitar
Martin Haglund – Guitar
Johan Lindtstedt – Drums

Line-Up Grave Digger:
Stefan – Drums
Manni – Guitars
Jens – Bass
Chris – Vocals
HP – Keyboards

www.stormhammer.de
www.astraldoors.com
www.grave-digger.de

Photos taken during the show check at Metal Centre's LIVE Gallery.