POWERWOLF WITH SPECIAL GUEST UNLEASH THE ARCHERS: THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2024 AT JANNUS LIVE IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2024
September 7th, 2024
Concert Review
By Maggie Martinez: Photographer / Writer
On a muggy September evening at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida, I found myself among a crowd teeming with anticipation, eager for a night of epic power metal. The line stretched around the block, buzzing with excitement. Fans, many of whom donned wolf costumes and intricate face paint, had been waiting all day and were finally readying themselves for the spectacle that was about to unfold. The show was sold out, and it was clear that this wasn’t just another concert – it was what Powerwolf calls a “Heavy Metal Mass.”
After retrieving my photo pass and ticket, I entered the venue and made my way to the pit, heart pounding with anticipation. The stage lights flickered as the Canadian power metal band Unleash the Archers took the stage, with the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon.
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS
This was my first time seeing them live, and the energy in the air was electric. Their fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and traditional heavy metal created an atmosphere that was both intense and captivating. They kicked off the night with “Abyss,” a six-minute powerhouse that sent the crowd into an immediate frenzy. Brittney Slayes’ vocals soared through the venue, each note resonating with the crowd, while the band’s rapid-fire riffs and rhythmic pulse commanded attention. Heads banged in unison, and fans roared in approval.
As the set progressed, Unleash the Archers treated us to new tracks from their latest album Phantoma, including “Ghosts in the Mist” and “Green & Glass.” These songs were a rollercoaster of sound, shifting from slower, ethereal melodies to aggressive, riff-heavy breakdowns. “Ghosts in the Mist” offered a moment of reprieve with its 80s-inspired electronic elements, while “Green & Glass” injected the crowd with new energy through its fantasy-driven vocals and explosive guitar solos.
Unleash the Archers didn’t hold back, delivering fan favorites like “Tonight We Ride,” “The Matriarch,” and the anthemic “Awakening.” Each track was a journey in itself, but it was their fan-favorite cover of “Northwest Passage” that drove their set home. As the final chords echoed through the venue, the audience erupted into deafening cheers. Unleash the Archers left the stage triumphant, setting a high bar for the night.
Brittney Slayes – Vocals
Scott Buchanan – Drums
Grant Truesdell – Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley – Guitar, Vocals
Nick Miller – Bass
YOUTUBE VIDEO
SETLIST:
Abyss
Ghosts in the Mist
Green & Glass
Gods in Decay
Tonight We Ride
The Matriarch
Awakening
Northwest Passage
POWERWOLF
As the minutes ticked by, the crowd’s anticipation for Powerwolf grew louder and more restless. The venue was packed to the brim, and every inch of space was filled with eager fans chanting the band’s name. I made my way through the packed venue back to the photo pit, squeezing through the sea of metalheads who were all clamoring for a glimpse of the German powerhouse. Then, the lights went black, and the night took a wild turn.
The crowd erupted in howls – yes, literal howls – as Powerwolf’s members began to emerge, bathed in deep red lighting. They kicked off their set with “Bless ’em With the Blade”, an explosive opener that was over in a flash, leaving the crowd begging for more. Attila Dorn, Powerwolf’s enigmatic frontman, greeted the audience, his booming voice carrying over the roars of approval as he teased the next track. When “Incense and Iron” began, the crowd was clapping in perfect rhythm, and the band launched into the song with incredible energy.
But it was “Army of the Night” that truly lit the place up. With each chorus, the crowd chanted back the words “Mater Maria!” as if in a trance, creating a moment of pure heavy metal communion. It felt as though the entire downtown St. Pete area was vibrating with the raw energy of the performance.
The sheer intensity of Powerwolf’s performance was only matched by their theatrical stage presence. Attila commanded the stage like a metal preacher, while keyboardist Falk Maria Schlegel engaged the crowd with playful banter and energetic dancing, matching the ferocity of the Greywolf brothers as they shredded their way through duel-like riffs. And then there was drummer Roel van Helden, who seemed to be having the time of his life, his facial expressions as captivating as his beats.
Powerwolf blessed the crowd with thirteen more songs, ranging from classic favorites to new hits off of their recent album Wake Up the Wicked, and even came back out to do three encore songs, for a whopping total of nineteen songs.
Karsten “Attila Dorn” Brill – Vocals
David “Charles Greywolf” Vogt – Bass / Rhythm Guitar
Benjamin “Matthew Greywolf” Buss – Lead Guitar
Christian “Falk Maria Schlegel” Jost – Keyboards
Roel Van Helden – Drums
Setlist:
Bless ’em With the Blade
Incense & Iron
Army of the Night
Sinners of the Seven Seas
Amen & Attack
Dancing with the Dead
Armata Strigoi
1589
Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend
Stossgebet
Fire and Forgive
We Don’t Wanna Be No Saints
Alive or Undead
Heretic Hunters
Sainted by the Storm
Blood for Blood (Faoladh)
Sanctified with Dynamite
We Drink Your Blood
Werewolves of Armenia
By the end of the night, drenched in sweat and adrenaline, I knew this was a show that would stick with me for a long time. It was clear: Powerwolf had not just performed; they had conducted a Heavy Metal Mass. It was a show that transcended the music, becoming an immersive experience for everyone lucky enough to witness it. If you missed this, start planning for the next one.
Unleash the Archers:
Powerwolf:
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