On Friday May 11th one of the most special shows hit Club Red in Mesa, Arizona. The co-headlining tour with Hammerfall and Delain was incredibly special because it had been about 7 years since Hammerfall played the states. I had been fortunate to have seen them the last time they came to town 7 years ago.
The night kicked off with the local band Sanitation Squad and everyone was pleasantly surprised with their performance. All the guys did a really good job and their vocals were impressive.They warmed up the crowd and got everyone excited.
Up next we had Insatia. I have had the opportunity to see them play a few shows recently and I must say they are very talented. Zoe has a very beautiful voice and the band has amazing stage presence. Every song was better than the last.
Finally after a 7 year long wait it was time for Hammerfall to hit the stage. You could feel the energy shift in the venue and everybody’s eyes were glued to the stage. The whole set was the perfect mix of old and new tracks. The crowd sang along and it was truly mesmerizing. The guys have a very special energy to them and it was nothing less than epic. Joacim’s voice sounded incredibly heroic and on point. Even though it took the guys way too many years to return they left their mark on Arizona. I don’t think you could ever replicate the feeling lots of fans experienced. It was a very special performance.
The show closed with Delain. This was the second time I was able to catch them live and they did a phenomenal job. The guys and girls really put a lot of heart and passion into their set. There wasn’t a second any of them stood still. From synchronized headbanging to jumping in the air and trying to interact with the crowd, their energy radiated from all corners of the stage. The vocal ranges that Charlotte Wessels hit were marvelous. She has amazing control over her voice. Every single song they played was marvelous.
Over all every band did amazing. It took 7 years for Hammerfall to return but it was worth every minute of it. Delain was absolutely astounding. It was a show no one could forget.