Due to restrictions from Powerwolf’s team, no media were allowed to photograph their concert, so we have brought you a selection of photos from earlier shows of theirs that we have attended. We hope that this, combined with your own imagination, will satisfy your visual hunger in this review.

Stagewise, we were in a very similar territory as the one they had brought for Copenhell on their last visit; this being less than a year ago, that’s probably not too surprising. There were differences however, or should I say refinements. At first, the whole stage was wrapped in a floor to ceiling curtain, which was first let fall the moment the music started. At this point we could see the gothic cathedral ruin that fits the theme of the band to a T. I remember them having video screens behind the windows at Copenhell as well, but I don’t remember them being used this much, or for that sake this well. It looked super cool when they had a moving werewolf standing outside, looking like it was trying to push in! The whole backdrop was a video screen as well, which displayed different versions of werewolves, each fitting in style to the song it was shown off to. The fact that they were animated was quite fun, although in some few cases it shone through that the animation wasn’t particularly exact, possibly made or enhanced by AI - what I’m getting at is that limited arm and leg movement was ok, but when it came to minor movements in per example the face, like snarls and such, the effect was at times disturbingly distorting, taking away from the cool factor of it all. But who am I to complain? This was still fresh and fun, and I’m sure it will only become better with time.

Apart from the digital treats, Powerwolf had also incorporated some good old fashioned mechanics into the stage! Thus, singer Attila Dorn (Karsten Brill) started alone on stage, raised high up on a pillar which then proceeded to lower down into the stage to a point where Dorn could walk right off it, something that happened shortly before he was joined by the rest of the band.
Or, not exactly the band. Or, not exactly the band as we know it. You see, for reasons unknown to this reporter, Matthew Greywolf (Benjamin Buss) was sitting most of this tour out, only joining for select guest appearances later on. In his stead, the band had picked up Dom R. Cray (Nothgard, ex-Equilibrium), and I must say, if this was truly his first show with the band, he didn’t let it show. He played wild and free, and looked like he belonged on stage with his fellow night creatures - no hesitation, just full power ahead!

If the stage had similarities with the Copenhell show, so did the setlist, equally unsurprising. This too had gotten an overhaul though, and had been padded out. This was a headlining tour, after all, and while there were of course several new songs, I do believe they managed to play pretty much every single old live favourite as well, which was very impressive. Safe to say, we didn’t feel cheated for anything when the night finally came to a close much, much later. I was pleased to hear Armata Strigoi had been pushed up to the position of second song, this really helped kick things off for me, and it also laid the track for the evening in that there was a good back and forth mix between newer and older tracks. Powerwolf mainly delivers uptempo songs, but they did manage to sneak some lower tempo tracks in as well that gave a nice change of pace. Kreuzfeuer has a doomier vibe than the average speed devil, and then there was of course the grandiose power ballad Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone, where a piano was rolled out front and centre for Falk Maria Schlegel (Christian Jost).
I’ve talked at length about older songs, but let’s not forget that we were also given a live debut this evening in Joan Of Arc, also off the Wake Up The Wicked album. It’s an interesting track, as it sticks out fairly much from the band’s oeuvre, and sounds more like a Sabaton track than a Powerwolf one, especially so in the chorus.

Overall though, this was unmistakingly a Powerwolf show, and it was a top tier Powerwolf show at that. The band was full of vigour, the bromance between Dorn and Schlegel was in full bloom as they waltzed across the stage in each other’s arms, and there were even undead female dancers joining the show at one point. The crowd participation was in full effect the whole way through, singing, shouting and howling along. The set was loaded with hits, and the show was loaded with effects - no fires though, this was at KB Hallen after all!
Powerwolf delivered a powerful show, and gave us a great ending to an already highly enjoyable evening.

Setlist:

Bless ‘Em With The Blade
Armata Strigoi
Sinners Of The Seven Seas
Amen & Attack
Army Of The Night
Dancing With The Dead
Incense And Iron
1589
Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend
Kreuzfeuer
Fire And Forgive
Resurrection By Erection
Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone
Heretic Hunters
Joan Of Arc
We Drink Your Blood
Agnus Dei
Sanctified With Dynamite
Blood For Blood (Faoladh)
Werewolves Of Armenia
Wolves Against The World