5.9.2011 - SABATON, Skull Fist - Piano Club, Trencin, Slovakia

Not a year passed from last Sabaton headline show in Slovakia and fans were once again heading for show of that rising star from Sweden. For sure, we were one of those and this time we go to great club in Trencin. But let´s not advance too much. After a little roaming in Trencin we finally get in front of club and parked without problems not hour before show. From outside – nice club, from inside – perfect as well. Sadly, when we look on organisation – it was bad. Next to entrance, there was only one man standing and he is trying to give band to every one of those hundreds of people. Well, it was trying to make heroic performance but in the end, we were helping him to band those people. After all, why not?! 

Concert started a bit late as well, but Canadian Skull Fist made that I really don’t care about it. I don’t wait support act like that nor in my wildest dreams. Heavy metal full of energy was unleashed in brutal way on crowd. Songs played by that young band were glorified by applause, chanting and everybody enjoyed awesome show. Musicians – pretty chocked of what was happening under stage were just staring on each other and succeeded to warm up crowd in great way before what would happen in a short time. I have to mention one moment as well – guitarist climbed on singers shoulders and they finished song and show as well in this way. 

After a short break, first tones of traditional The Final Countdown could be heard and next was introduction of band – “We are Sabaton and this is Ghost Division!”. It started sound of battle that should storm the Piano Club and destroy it to the pieces. All because of what succeeded to done about 300 fans – it sounded like sold out hall for few thousands. In back of whole performance was visualisation of album covers, music videos or of concert itself instead of traditional banner. It made whole concert a bit more special and it made atmosphere of that music experience even better. Uncommon was setlist as well – it contains traditional songs along with pieces like Into the Fire, Purple Heart, The Art of War or (and that surprised me the most) Metal Ripper. Another surprise was that Joakim wasn’t wearing his typical armour – reportedly, it was lost somewhere on airport in Germany. 

Crowd that is normally jumping only when Primo Victoria is playing was jumping nearly whole concert and few times – Joakim has to ask for word to say a thing because he couldn’t be heard in noise made by chanting crowd. 

One could say that I only say positive things, but really … it´s hard to find mistakes where they aren’t. Maybe the only one was that visualisations for music won´t correspondent to what band played. Except of thar – it was amazing performance and although there were too many fans, atmosphere made by them was admirable and my devotion is theirs because of that – mainly when I remember to that hot like in hell that reign in club since the start of concert.

What else could I say? Concert ended and I lurch off the crowd tired, sweat in unbelievable way and I can´t hear nor my own words. Skull Fist started this whole thing off and Sabaton crashed us. People made atmosphere that can be described only with a word perfect and same could be said about whole concert. Well, except of those turmoil with organisation …