Live | Brothers Of Metal (& Grailknights)-Parkstad Limburg Theater-Heerlen [NL]

22 November 2024

Recently Brothers Of Metal performed at the Parkstad Limburg Theater, Heerlen. This show was added to the European ‘FimBulWinTour 2024’ because the show in 013 Tilburg sold out in no time. This was also the last show of the tour. As singer Mats Ove Nilsson stated before the show, it was a great first headline tour for the band, but also a tough one, as there were only 4 off days during this 22 show rollercoaster. Consequently, singer Ylva Eriksson was quite sick and even went to the hospital for a check-up.’

GRAILKNIGHTS

But before we go to the performance of the evening’s main act, we first take a look at support act Grailknights! And well, what to say about that. Let me start with the fact that I found it impressive that the band manages to get over 900 people roaring, dancing and arm waving during their show. This band has adopted a sort of superhero theme and I must say that they convey it convincingly. From the optical “superhero” stage clothes to the names of the gentlemen like vocalist Sir Optimus Prime or guitarist Count Cranium to songs dedicated to superheroes. Such as ,,Laser Raptor 3D” or ,,Superhero Medley”. Fans of action-figures like He-Man are sure to savor this act. Including the evil Dr. Skull, who is mercilessly slaughtered during the performance during a light-sword slow motion act.

All wonderful, but not for me unfortunately. I felt like I was watching a Disney+ production. Musically I didn’t think it was bad, but it wasn’t exactly like I was blown over by this act either. Again, judging from the reactions from the audience, most people could definitely appreciate Grailknights and that’s what it’s all about in the end. In any case, the lighting and sound were fine.

BROTHERS OF METAL

And so was headliner Brothers Of Metal. This band is a rising star within the metal world. Their performance at noon at Graspop earlier this year ensured a packed tent and this tour is also a success. So I think we will hear from them more often.

Unfortunately, for most of the show we have to make do with just the male singer of the band. Since singer Ylva was quite sick. In the end she would still appear on stage for two songs, and that just in her comfortable clothes and not in her usual Viking related stage outfit. By the way, the rest of the band was decked out in full glory. Consequently, Ylva‘s vocals ran from tape throughout the performance.

SKOL

However, it was clear that the rest of the band was up for a nice party in Heerlen. In any case, little could be seen or heard of fatigue on stage. From opening number ,,Fimbulvinter” to the last song ,,One” the band managed to captivate the audience. This was in large part also due to the highly entertaining way vocalist Mats managed to address the audience between songs. I didn’t count the beers he downed between songs, but I think there were more than the number of songs on the set list. Every time the audience challenged him with SKOL, he worked off another beer. Fortunately, that didn’t greatly affect his performance.

Singer Joakim Lindbäck Eriksson and Mats alternated the vocals nicely. Still, I would have liked to have seen the performance complete with vocalist Ylva, because the two songs she joined in were, despite the fact that she was not 100% fine, the most impressive for me. At least this lady knows how to take the dynamics between the 3 vocalists to the next level. The songs where her vocals came off tape couldn’t match that. The rest of the band just played a fat and solid set.

DIGITAL AMPS

As is often the case these days, there were no amps on stage blowing at volume 11, but the sound of the guitarists and bassist was neatly generated through digital amps. That in turn had some impact on the overall sound which was fine, but no more than that. ‘Das gewisse etwas’ unfortunately did not have it.

Despite these minor handycaps, however, it was a very entertaining show and, as mentioned, if singer Mats doesn’t want to do anything more in music, he can always work as a stand-up comedian. Brothers Of Metal did not let themselves be known and ended the tour in Heerlen in a nice way. And yes, the Grailknights and evil Dr. Skull also experienced a second round of slow motion light-sword action during the Brothers Of Metal performance. With the same outcome for Dr.Skull.

Highlights of the show for me personally were the wonderful performance of ,,Yggdrasil”, ,,Beserkir” and the setlist closer ,,One”. Brothers Of Metal leaves me eager to see the band in full force again.

BROTHERS OF METAL SETLIST

Fimbulvinter
Prophecy of Ragnarök
Njord
Ride Of The Valkyries
Fire Blood And Steel
The Death Of The God Of Light
Brood Of The Trickster
Powersnake
Hel
Chain Breaker
Ratatosk
Concerning Norns
Yggdrasil

Encore:

Berserkir
Defenders Of Valhalla
One

All photos by Raymond Helebrand