An epic trip through the 90s—and the kind of show that leaves you glowing.
If the Samael show in Berlin was my gift to Chris, then this was his gift to me. On 13.10.2022, Blind Guardian played Hamburg’s edel-optics.de-Arena as part of their Somewhere Far Beyond tour, and we made our third pilgrimage of the year to see them.
Quick side note: the McDonald’s near the arena was the worst I’ve ever experienced. I could write a separate article just dragging it. Seriously, don’t go there.
Anyway. The arena? A sports hall—decent size, solid acoustics, super well-organised. We arrived around 7:30 PM, beers in hand, and grabbed a spot about five rows from the front on the right side of the stage. It wasn’t first row, but that wasn’t the mission this time. This one was for the bards.
A Curtain, a Documentary, and a Lot of Boomer Banter Between Bangers
There was no support band—just a 10-minute cut of their 30 Years Somewhere Far Beyond documentary projected onto the curtain. Then, the set began.
They kicked off with Time What Is Time and played the entire Somewhere Far Beyond album front to back. Zero surprises, and zero complaints.
Unlike Samael’s tight, no-nonsense delivery, Hansi Kürsch loved to talk. Introductions, stories, jokes that occasionally wandered into Dieter Nuhr territory. Nothing awful—just a lot of that white man on stage who’s very aware everyone loves him energy. Sometimes charming. Sometimes painfully boomer.
There were a few moments where I caught myself thinking:
"Please, Hansi. I love you. But start the damn song already."
Still—the band’s overall vibe was great. Relaxed, positive, and clearly having a good time. And when they did play? Totally worth the patience.
Also: the sound was phenomenal. No muddiness. Vocals and instruments blended perfectly. Hansi’s voice still soars, and André Olbrich’s lead guitar work was flawless.
Special shoutout to Marcus Siepen, who might just be the most relaxed, wholesome rhythm guitarist in power metal. (Okay, maybe tied with Farin Urlaub.)
The Crowd Sings, the Bards Deliver
The crowd’s first peak? The Bard’s Song, of course. As tradition demands, most of it was sung by the audience—with Hansi just vibing along.
My personal moment, though? Lord of the Rings.
Back in 2001, when I was deep in my Tolkien phase, that song hit me hard. I bought Nightfall in Middle-Earth expecting to find it on there. Spoiler: it’s not. Cue disappointment, and that CD slid to the back of the rack.
Now I know better—Lord of the Rings lives on Tales from the Twilight World (1990). Hearing it live finally closed that 21-year nerd loop for me. And I loved every minute of it.
Nightfall, Banishments, and the Final Story
The encore leaned heavy into the ‘90s:
- Nightfall
- Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)
- Banish From Sanctuary
- And the Story Ends
Only one song from their 2022 album The God Machine made it in: Violent Shadows. This gig wasn’t about pushing new material. It was a celebration of legacy, and the crowd was so here for it. People knew every word. Hands were in the air. Spirits were high.
Then came the moment everyone waited for:
Valhalla.
Followed by Mirror Mirror and Majesty to finish the night. An absolutely perfect encore trifecta. If you weren’t screaming by the end of it, you were probably already in the afterlife.
Goodbye With Picks, Setlists, and Full Hearts
After the final notes, the band took their time to say goodbye—throwing picks and sticks, handing out setlists, and posing with the crowd. No rushing. Just warmth.
The lights came back on at 11 PM, and the crowd filed out smiling, calm, and maybe just a little enchanted.
That’s what Blind Guardian does.
They fill you up, lift you high, and send you home ready to slay your inbox the next day.
Metal with a serotonin boost.
Thank you, bards. Can’t wait for the next quest.