Blessed and Possessed: Powerwolf bring snarling symphonies to London
The German power metal veterans brought their ‘Wake Up the Wicked’ tour to London, in a climactic show at the iconic Wembley Arena.
Photo: Press
If there’s one thing you can count on a band like Powerwolf for, it’s a show that engulfs the senses. The smell of thousands of revved-up metalheads and live pyrotechnics, the sound of roaring, symphonic anthems and visuals of demonic werewolves, witch trials and priestesses seduced by lust.
Formed in 2004, Powerwolf have become one of the leading names in the power metal genre; their Iron Maiden-meets-Eurovision sound is known the world over, and their shows feature an array of increasingly outlandish set pieces. On the group’s latest tour, promoting their tenth LP Wake Up the Wicked, the keyboardist is tied to a stake and ‘burnt alive’, extras are strapped to burning metal wings and a church organ is wheeled out for the sake of five minutes.
But make no mistake, the fire and mock-up follies don’t do all the heavy lifting. Powerwolf shows are about the music first and foremost and, on their latest tour, things are no different. Any band with ten albums under their belt face an uphill battle compiling a setlist to delight fans at every level of devotion. But here, fresh cuts like set opener Bless ‘Em With the Blade and Heretic Hunters sat formidably beside live staples (Army of the Night, Resurrection by Erection) and early-years favourites (Kreuzfeuer, We Drink Your Blood).
Frontman Karsten Brill, under the guise of terrifying lycanthrope Attila Dorn, had the Wembley crowd in the palm of his grey-skinned hands. Indeed, I’ve never seen an artist engage in so much crowdwork, teasing the audience into louder howls and grander ovations. This was clearly a band who wrung all the worship they could from their fans, and in turn made no bones about just how grateful they were to be there. Halfway through the set, Dorn addressed the holy metal mass before him, “My friends, we bow to you”.
There were particular high points from the show, like new cuts 1589 and Joan of Arc, the latter of which takes a little melodic influence from fellow power metal group Sabaton. Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone, the ballad piece of the set, was a moment I will never forget as long as I live. Incense and Iron, from the group’s beloved 2018 album The Sacrament of Sin, packs one of the catchiest openings put to song, with a fairground organ straight out of Hell.
Powerwolf’s show at Wembley Arena was their biggest headliner in the UK to date, and everything about it was meticulously slaved over. The mix was incredible; celestial choral arrangements complemented the crisp, epic boom of Dorn’s ferocious vocals, the pyrotechnics were hot and plentiful, and the songs came alive. The show was refined, honed and wound to the level of Paley’s Watch; as theatrical as metal gets. It was quite possibly the greatest live event I’ve ever witnessed. Sanctified with dynamite indeed.
