How quickly time flies, I thought to myself as I headed to Luka Beograd, where the Blind Guardian concert was taking place. When I first entered the world of metal, the very first T-shirt I ever bought was theirs. Their debut performance in Belgrade, way back in 2006, remained etched in my memory as one of the best concerts I had ever attended. The very next year, 2007, I once again saw the German bards in my hometown – another unforgettable experience.
But after that period, my musical taste gradually shifted, leaning more and more towards extreme and darker metal. I simply couldn’t handle their then-current album “A Twist in the Myth”, even though metal magazines praised it everywhere. From that point on, the paths of me and Blind Guardian slowly began to diverge.
Years went by, and I followed their work less and less, missing out on their later shows in Belgrade. From time to time, out of curiosity, I would play a new song, quickly realize it wasn’t for me, and move on. I kept returning only to their older records, which for me remained forever special.
Nostalgia, however, pushed me not to miss this return of the Guardians to Belgrade. Perhaps the time has come to once again give a chance to the albums released after “A Night at the Opera”.
The opening act was Kryn, a modern metal band from Croatia. They have one album from 2014 behind them, and their name had caught my attention more than once over the years. In their half-hour set, they showcased their work with power and conviction, surely winning over some new fans. A great performance – we’ll see what their next steps are.
Then the stars of the evening appeared – my reunion with Blind Guardian after a full 18 years. They opened the show with “The Ninth Wave”, one of their “newer”(from my perspective) songs, and it immediately became clear: their newer works and I will probably never match. But the very next track, “Blood of the Elves”, restored the energy and reminded me of the power of the old days. The real peak arrived with the next one, “Nightfall” – a moment when all 3,000 people in attendance sang together, creating that special magic that makes concerts like this unforgettable.
The setlist was a mix of old and new songs, unfortunately(again, from my perspective) leaning more toward the newer material. But one thing must be said – the band sounded powerful. And Hansi – a man who never ceases to fascinate me. Just listen to how he sounded on “Battalions of Fear”, and how he sounds today. Incredible dedication and discipline have made him one of the greatest metal singers out there.
Around the middle of the concert came the true “punch in the face” – MAJESTY! I didn’t expect such a knockout. It threw me straight back to my youth, to the time when I was just discovering metal and spending nights exploring new bands and songs. That was the highlight of the evening.
The official part ended with one of the biggest metal classics – Mirror Mirror. Of course, the encore followed with three songs: And the Story Ends, Lord of the Rings, and the inevitable Valhalla.
And that’s where the story ends.
Will I see Blind Guardian again? Probably not – unless one day they decide to celebrate the anniversary of one of their old albums and play it in full. What can I do, I can’t go against myself.
Did they play a great concert? – Yes, without a doubt.
Were they satisfied with the audience? – Yes, I’m convinced they were – Serbia has long been “their” territory, where they are always warmly received.
Was it a shame to miss this concert? – Yes. Absolutely.
Did the fans go home happy? Certainly – all 3,000 of them. And in the end, that’s what matters most.
Photos by Ivan Veselinovic
