November 28th, 2025
Blind Guardian enchants Montreal
Early on, Blind Guardian’s lead singer Hansi Kürsch, had warned us.
Ominously, he had explained to the gathered crowd that they would be syphoning our energy, and using it throughout the night. It was quite the declaration!
However, after letting slip this slightly disturbing idea, Hansi had quickly added, with his usual, ”débonnaire” manner, that this vampirical trade of sorts between band and crowd, could very well go both ways. In which case, it would be the crowd that would leech the band of its precious life force.
See Also: Endless Swarm at Lopez, Montreal
But instead of standing in opposition, the Montreal crowd and Blind Guardian would end up collaborating, in a way that only acquaintances might, after being parted for a significant amount of time.
Somewhere far beyond
After playing five songs from Nightfall in the Middle Earth and The God Machine, the time had arrived to launch into the 1992 album, Somewhere far beyond. They played it in it’s entirety.
Musically, it was quite the journey. From the streams of time, they had plucked the intensity of their future, concept album masterpiece, Nightfall in the Middle Earth, and used it’s almost symphonic power to craft and assemble many, epic tales. This was felt in The quest for Tanelorn, as well as and the title track itself, Somewhere far beyond. The songs Black Chamber and Theater of Pain had brought the band into an emotional realm seldom traveled; a more personal space, it felt like. Grounded, even, despite the symphonic grandeur present in Theater of Pain.
Also played, was The Bard’s song, a two part, Lord of the Rings inspired combo that seems ripped straight from the pages of a Tolkien novel. It’s a crowd favorite and gets everyone in the room singing louder than anything you’ve ever witnessed.
What’s more, is that all throughout the set, the entire band looked as though they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The feeling of celebration suffused the crowd. The ambiance could not be beat.
Blind Guardian had returned in force, to enchant Montreal.
A master of ceremony
Hansi has been an expert crowd manipulator for several decades.
Expertly, he deftly extracts the precious pools of energy that the crowd possesses. Instead of relentlessly pummeling through songs back to back, the charismatic vocalist and storyteller takes the required time to properly prepare the crowd for what is to come.
A master of suspense, he delicately weaves mystery and anticipation with well delivered tales, patiently building up song after song, with sly humor and casual bits of conversation.
But before Blind Guardian took to the stage and brought us somewhere far beyond our mundane reality, we had ridden with others.
And those worthy guides, Seven Kingdoms and Ensiferum, did an incredible job of carrying us towards the final act.
Seven Kingdoms
I’ll be perfectly honest; I had never seen Seven kingdoms and hadn’t heard much of them. But I won’t soon forget the relentless musical pace of this Florida based, force of power metal.
They were exciting to watch and electrified the venue with their lightning fast melodies.
I was genuinely impressed by Sabrina Valentine’s ability as a vocalist. Constantly in motion, playing to the crowd, strutting around the stage in hamburger shaped slippers- yes, hamburger shaped slippers- she really was a top tier front woman.
The band itself, composed of brothers Kevin and Keith Byrd on guitar and drums respectively, mesh with the imposing guitarist prowess and stage presence of Camden Cruz, to form the musical backbone of the group. Together, they perfectly supported Sabrina’s singing with soaring and adventurous solos and rhythms. And though I consider myself a picky power metal listener, I was thrilled by their performance and very glad I got to see them.
Then, the lights went out. It was time for a change of scenery.
It was time to visit the frostbitten forests of nordic legend. To witness the song of steel on steel.
Ensiferum was up next.
Tales of might and myth
Ensiferum are always great to see.
Their grim, solitary tales are delivered with just the right balance of melody and bitter darkness. They are usually referred to as folk metal, but I feel their style is quite their own.
During their performance, Ensiferum proved they can still make you feel as though you’ve been forcibly taken away from your home during a shoreline viking raid, shoved onto a ship with an oar pressed against your chest, only to row towards your final showdown with the sacred Gods of your newfound world. With unyielding courage and mythological might, you bang your head to Ensiferum’s battle beats.
Though it’s been a while, I’ll always remember the first time I saw them in 2008, alongside Turisas and Tyr, during the Paganfest tour. The show had taken place in Montreal’s legendary, but now defunct venue, Le Medley. This was shortly after the release of Victory songs. At the time, they had worn togas on stage, while calling for circle pits and walls of death, if I remember correctly.
Now, in 2025, they’ve yet again converged others of their own ilk on a superbly curated tour.
During their set, they mostly put forward music from the last decade and from their most recent album, Winter Storm. Sprinkled in among the new material was a couple of old classics from the earlier albums. Such classic Ensiferum songs as Guardians of Fate and Into Battle really, predictably ignited the crowd. Those two were from the first and second albums, respectively.
When they introduced their anthemic track In my sword I trust, I could see throngs of people advancing towards the stage. That was definitely one of the highlights of their set.
As they struck their final note, I felt, with no small sense of anticipation, that the final act was nearly upon us.
It was time to be led deep into into the depths of our imagination, by our old friends, Blind Guardian.
Majesty, the Montreal tradition
The man working the Blind Guardian merch table seemed to me, slightly excited, as he fumbled through the box of shirts.
Around us, the song Majesty infused the air with it’s head banging speed and blistering guitar work. Back in 1985, it was the first track on Blind Guardian’s debut album, Battalions of Fear. But in Montreal, it was than just a song, it was manifest destiny. A tradition spanning an entire generation of time.
The peddler of fine and fantastical retail items had returned from his boxes. Wide eyed, he told me Blind Guardian hadn’t played Majesty yet on this tour. Montreal was the the first, he said, with an excited grin on his face. Montreal was also, it seemed, the only sold out show on the band’s north american journey thus far.
With a knowing smile, I told him it was to to be expected, after all. We have a ritual. Majesty is always played, despite it’s rarity, despite it’s state of antiquity.
It is one of these moments that comes without summoning, without the requirement of prior petitioning. It is a ritual between friends. One that has been repeated for many, many years.
And I would hate to see this fine tradition come to an end.
Because, it’s more than just a song; it’s an unspoken bond between a city and the band it holds dear to its heart.
So, next time Blind Guardian comes to town, be sure to chant until the walls tremble.
Be sure to stamp your foot until the floorboards crack.
Read More:
>> The Damned at Beanfield Theatre, Montreal
>> Bruce Dickinson at Mtelus, Montreal
>> Castle Rat at Piranha bar, Montreal
And be sure to sing louder than all those who’ve come before you.
Because Time is finite and there are only so many Blind Guardian shows left to see.
