Back from this adventurous journey I want to share some memories with you.

19.02., Pratteln, Z7

The tour started with one of the biggest shows of the entire tour.

The Z7 was sold-out and thus crammed with people. Soon we were certain that this very tour would turn out to be a memorable one as for the fact that all the people involved in the tour seemed to be both friendly and professional.  We all were lucky to have a brilliant crew with us. These guys really knew what they were doing and consequently the change-overs were in time every day.

In spite of the fact that we had not played live for some months our show in Pratteln was a fantastic experience due to the enthousiastic audience. We shared the bus with the tour-managers and the crew and headed out to the next show in a very good mood.

20.02., Linz, Posthof

The first night in a tourbus tends to be one with few hours of sleep for one has to become familiar with the bed on wheels from scratch on every single tour. Moreover the big distance Pratteln – Linz made this first night an even harder first night … However, we arrived in time and more or less relaxed. We were very curious about the first show in our home-country Austria – and our fans did not disappoint us. Looking back I’d say that this show was one of the best of the whole tour for us as for the mutual cycle of energy among band and audience.

27.02., Vienna, Gasometer

The first week of the tour had led us to many different venues convincing us via their individual charm. However, we were looking forward to Vienna as for the fact that many friends of ours would come to see the show. Besides the whole Gasometer is a truly great place to stay. Not only the stage but also the backstage-rooms provided travelling musicians with all they needed.

The concert itself turned out to be a big success for all the bands and we experienced intense aftershow-hours in a Metal-Bar called “Escape”.

In the morning I shared a cab with some of the Trolls in order to reach the busses in time.

01.03., Graz, Seifenfabrik

After the experience of a truly passionate audience in Bratislava we did not expect that much from a Monday-Show in Graz, but this very show turned out to be one of our best experiences of the tour. The stage wasn’t that big and there were not that many people (400), but the stage-sound was great and the audience dived into our expression absolutely.

02.03., Bologna, Estragon

As we had expected it it was quite warm in Italy and it was a chance to get rid of the hoodies for one day. Without exaggeration the audience in Bologna seemed to be the most enthousiastic and dedicated one of the whole tour when it comes to screams. The screams were incredibly loud when a band entered the stage and all the bands had to take loads of photographs with fans.  Very nice, doubtlessly.

05.03., Leipzig, Hellraiser

Our last show in this club took place back in 2001, but even now in 2010 this club provided us all with the coldest backstage-rooms of the whole tour. Therefore we decided to go to the city by cab together with Arkona.

In spite of a broken guitar-string our concert was a good one and the reactions were encouraging, indeed. After the show we had some time to speak to our old friends of Neun Welten. Unfortunately, Winter came back all of a sudden, so, our busdrivers had to face snow and ice.

Around 3 am we were just about to go to bed when our bus slipped off the street and crashed into a garden gate due to icy streets. Luckily, nobody was injured, however, the bus was damaged too badly to drive any further. Therefore we had to wait for a new bus, whereas the other two busses (including all other bands) made their tracks for Stuttgart. Around 9 am we left Leipzig with the new bus, but we had lost a lot of precious time. Consequently, we arrived in Stuttgart fourty minutes before our show. Well, I tuned the guitars, put on my stage-clothes, ate a quick banana and entered the stage.

06.03., Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn

Considering the circumstances we still managed to get across passion and energy to the audience;  at least that is what many people told me after the show and that’s what I felt on stage. To be honest I was very angry when we arrived in Stuttgart lacking sleep and food for I was looking forward this very show, but I guess I was able to turn this anger into an intense performance after all.

After the concert we had a good time talking to both members of other bands and fans.

08.03., London, O2 Islington Academy

As usual it was cold in London, so we reduced the tourist-duties to a minimum.  However, the club itself was a good place to be and the transparent stage-sound was very helpful during the concert.

The reactions of the audience were great and the only real drawback of this short trip to the UK was that we had to travel  by means of a ferry two times within 24 hours. In general it’s a memorable experience to travel with a ship, but it turns to a nightmare when you want to sleep while one more or less  is forced to be on deck  around 5 am after a long, long day.

10.03., Paris, Elysee Montmartre

The first three bands (including us) had to use the balcony in the rear area of the hall as backstage, which turned out to be a big joy. Not only we all were given the opportunity to see all the shows from the best perspective, but we also felt like a horde of vampires in this place of blackness and dim lights. Spooky and apt - according to our pale faces scarred from the tour. The concert itself was good as well. No broken strings, no bad monitor-sound, no lethargic audience. Especially for us it seemed to be an interesting evening for our friend Neige from Alcest had come to say hello. Consequently, the hours passed by far too quickly …

14.03., Antwerpen, Hof Ter Loo

The final day. The circumstances were really good. The venue offered everything that one could hope for on the last day. The catering was tasty, the stage was in a good and professional shape and the pre-sales were high. Farewell was in our minds and we all seemed to be in the mood for a memorable final night. And memorable it was, indeed. During the Finntroll-Set nearly the whole staff of the tour came on stage and celebrated the end in a carnivlaesque way.

Around 2 am the three busses made tracks for different destinations and the Paganfest 2010 was over, but I am pretty sure that this special journey will be treasured in the memory of all the people who  made this tour happen. So, in the end I would like to thank - on behalf of Dornenreich - all the people involved in this adventure. All the best to you!

Eviga / DORNENREICH

Link: www.dornenreich.com

Fotos: natureofmusic.net, photopit.com & hammerworld.hu