Rhapsody of Fire - Munich

This Sunday evening starts early: the Motocultor Across Europe Tour kicks off at the Backstage Halle at 6 pm on 31 January. Rhapsody of Fire top a five-band bill. The occasion for their announced anniversary show is the album that laid the foundation for their international career in 1997: "Legendary Tales".

The band's history goes back a little further. In 1993, Alex Staropoli and Luca Turilli founded Thundercross in Trieste, Italy, which later became Rhapsody. Since 2006, the band has carried the suffix "of Fire" for legal reasons relating to the name.

Orchestral arrangements, fast guitars and sweeping fantasy narratives define their symphonic power metal. Between "Legendary Tales" and 2011's "From Chaos to Eternity", a musical world of its own took shape across two connected sagas. A special setlist has been announced for the anniversary tour, drawing on well-known songs from this long history.

Serious Black with a new album in tow

With Serious Black, another established name in European power metal is on the bill. Formed in 2014 around bassist and producer Mario Lochert, the band released their debut "As Daylight Breaks" in 2015 and have since carved out their own place in the scene with melodic power metal, punchy guitars and catchy choruses.

Serbian singer Nikola Mijić has been at the microphone since 2021. With the 2024 album "Rise Of Akhenaton", the band reconnected more strongly with their musical roots. Songs such as "Silent Angel" and "Metalized" show the mix of pace, melody and powerful vocals that Serious Black stand for.

Fittingly, their new studio album "Keeper Of The Light" is due on 29 January 2027, just two days before the Munich show. The band have already released two songs from it, "Last Man Standing" and "Party In The Sun". For Serious Black, the tour is also a chance to bring their new material to the stage.

Alongside the two main acts, Switzerland's Silver Dust, Germany's Aeon Gods and Melodius Deite from Thailand complete the line-up. Munich gets an extensive international tour package that starts well before the usual concert time.

I'll be covering the evening for Rock'n'Pics with my camera. The photo gallery and my review of the Munich tour stop will follow afterwards.