CONCERT REVIEW: Helloween - Hammerfall Live at The Worcester Palladium

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this show for months since its announcement. Helloween and Hammerfall: two staples of the Power Metal movement invaded the Worcester Palladium on a warm clear night. When I arrived, enthusiastic metal heads were wrapped around the building and down the block. After I got my credentials and ventured inside and waited for the show to start.

Hailing from Gothenburg Sweden, Hammerfall kicked off the night in an epic fashion with the first track called Brotherhood. Led by a twin guitar attack by Oscar Dronjak and Pontus Norgren, Hammerfall found their groove earlier and played many fan favorites including “Any Means Necessary,” “Blood Bound,” “Let the Hammer Fall” and “Hearts on Fire.” Vocalist Joacim Cans had a commanding stage presence and uncanny ability to engage everyone in the near-capacity crowd during the hour-long set.

Up next was the legendary Helloween hailing from Hamburg Germany. The group attacked the stage with a three-guitar assault consisting of Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, and Sasha Gerstner. The band’s set was over two hours long and included a vast array of the band’s most loved songs. Watching singers Micheal Kiske and Andy Deris trade off vocals every other song was amazing. The group was on fire and the metalheads in the audience loved every second of it