“I know it’s been a hot day, but let’s make it a little hotter!”
- Stu Block (vocals)

So far, the day hadn’t been much of a hit, so hopes were high that Iced Earth would change the trend for the better. Only time would tell if they were up for the task...

“Slovenia, you are heavy fucking metal!”
- Block (vocals)

While no one had yet entered the stage, a pre-recorded drum track blasted the hillside and quickly changed for a fully manned stage and the opening (and title) track from the 2011 release simply known as Dystopia. In my humble opinion this is also the best track off that album, and thus my mood was already rising.
The sound wasn’t exactly on the bands side, but on the other hand they were giving it an arm and a leg with the performance, especially so Stuart ‘Stu’ Block who despite his short time in the band was very comfortable in the role as the frontman and gave both an active and impressive physical performance as well as holding the connection between band and fans strong. Iced Earth didn’t waste much time on chit-chat between songs, instead they concentrated on running the show fast and smooth, but this still allowed for several well-received sing-along sessions throughout the gig during the songs – Pure Evil had the typical “oh oh” choir going, Anthem got choired with real words and in A Question Of Heaven Block activated all who sat on the hill by demanding their arms in the air. He got what he asked for, and that in itself was quite impressive as many bands tried their strength in activating the hill people but few succeeded.

“We love singing for you, and we love to hear you sing for us!”
- Block (vocals)

Even with the band moving as fast as they were through the set, they still had time to surprise us. In I Died For You for example, they had a young boy in doing guest vocals – without finding out who he was, I was still mightily impressed with him, especially his knack for throwing confident metal poses left and right, and so was the rest of the crowd judging from the massive cheers he got on his way.
Another, less auditory but still mention-worthy example came with the song V, in which Block had put on a Guy Fawkes mask from the film of the same name.
Iced Earth took a short break after Anthem, but shortly returned to the introductory sound of In Sacred Flames which unfolded into Boiling Point – the sound sadly took a turn for the worse here, but still the capability of this metal crew as performers managed to turn things round enough to get called back on after their final song. The plan was obviously just to take a bow, but on popular demand they agreed to do one more song, a real unprepared encore in My Own Saviour.
This supreme act of fan pleasing thus concluded Iced Earth’s participation in Metaldays 2013, proving beyond a doubt that the best gigs arise from a mutual respect and participation between fan and star. This was truly the pick-me-up the day so sorely needed, and after this we could walk content into the rest of the night.

Setlist:

Dystopia
Dark Saga
Pure Evil
Burning Times
I Died For You
V
A Question Of Heaven
Dracula
Prophecy
Anthem
In Sacred Flames
Boiling Point
Watching Over Me
Iced Earth
My Own Saviour