A place that is almost like a home to you… and then, all of a sudden, you cannot go back to this place for what feels like an eternity. And then, oh wonder, you finally HAVE the opportunity to go back! And when you eventually arrive, you feel like you could float! That is how I felt when I finally went to my first live show since October 2020.
I drove about 250 km to Nuremberg, Germany. The Club Hirsch hosted a show with a band I had on my agenda for “ages”; Visionatica, a Symphonic Metal Band from Germany, formed in 2013 by Tamara, who is not only a musician but also a book author, and guitarist Manuel, called Manu. Gerhard, the drummer, joined in 2014 and their current bassist, Tim, joined the band in 2018. Their debut album “Force of Luna” was released in May 2016, with their sophomore album “Enigma Fire” being released in July 2019. If you are into bands like Within Temptation, with crystal clear soprano vocals, then I highly recommend to check them out if you don’t know them yet.
I took my seat (yes, I know… a metal show where you have to sit), and it didn’t take long until the bassist Tim and guitarist Manu entered the stage and the music started to play. “Amari Sudbina Kali”, the introduction title of their second album, “Enigma Fire”, opened it up. Gerhard, the drummer, took his seat, and a few seconds later, Tamara followed, wearing what appeared like a golden cloak over her clothes. And as the intro transitioned into “The Pharaoh”, it all clicked suddenly. It was not an ordinary cloak, as I assumed. Tamara raised her arms, and she lordly spread her wings like an eagle. Or an Egyptian goddess, if you like.
It was such an awesome feeling to finally be at a live show again and to see a band I wanted to see live for so long! With songs like “The Pharaoh”, “Dance of Fire”, “Fear”, “Roxana the Great”, “Rise from the Ashes”, “Certainty of Benevolence”, “To The Fallen Roma”, “Lilith” and “She Wolf” the setlist was a very well balanced mix of both albums.
Softer songs were intertwined with heavier songs. Epic orchestration combined with a crystal clear soprano voice, I had goosebumps. And here and there, Tamara showed not only her vocal capabilities but also some belly dancing. The audience obviously enjoyed it too, but it was a strange sight to see somebody headbang while sitting, indeed. As the show was coming to its end, I could hear some “one more song” shouts, and I do not mean my own ones. Luckily, we got what we asked for: one more song. With “Secrets of the Ancestors”, the show came to its end.
All in all, it was a beautiful evening, and I hope the next time will not be too far ahead in the future. Meeting Tamara and Manu afterwards, with my pockets full of merch, I finally had the feeling that despite all the odds, a piece of normality had returned.
Metal Goddesses 