Blind Guardian @ The Vic, Chicago (US)

BLIND GUARDIAN / ENSIFERUM / SEVEN KINGDOMS

Date: 02nd December, 2025
Venue: The Vic Theatre
Ticket Price: $59/€50 - $82/€70
Promoter: Jam Productions

It has been ten years since the bards of BLIND GUARDIAN last visited Chicago. That is far too long for a band that is beloved around the world. Their fantasy-inspired Power Metal and the impossible-to-resist sing-alongs make them an incredible band to witness live. This explains why The Vic Theatre began filling the moment the doors opened, and why the line in front of the merch table began snaking through the venue. Honestly, it might have made sense to have two merch stands just to keep things moving.

SEVEN KINGDOMS opened the night, complete with their two plush burgers flanking the stage. The last time the band played Chicago, vocalist Sabrina Valentine was battling strep throat but still delivered a strong performance. This time around, the band was at full strength and Sabrina sounded fantastic.

“Chicago, how are you doing tonight?” she asked, before the fast “Diamond Handed” kicked off a high-energy set. The lighting was not ideal, mostly monochromatic with occasional flashes of white, but the band sounded excellent. Guitarists Kevin Byrd and Camden Cruz were clearly determined to warm up an audience that had just come in from unseasonably cold and snowy weather.

SEVEN KINGDOMS performs without a dedicated bassist, and drummer Keith Byrd also handles the samples used to recreate the rich studio textures, such as the galloping parts in “The Serpent And The Lotus”. Hearing Sabrina absolutely nail those melodies made me appreciate her even more, especially remembering how she pushed through illness the previous time. She also recalled the 2010 BLIND GUARDIAN show at Bottom Lounge, where SEVEN KINGDOMS had also served as openers. Time flies.

“Turn your phone lights on, like shooting stars,” Sabrina asked, and moments later the Vic Theatre glowed beautifully. This was one of the rare moments where the use of phones at concerts felt fitting. With the venue lit, the band delivered the emotional “Valonqar”, and Sabrina wore her crown at the end. She is the burger queen after all, complete with her usual cheeseburger slippers.

The ‘80s-styled “Wilted Pieces” shifted the atmosphere but fit perfectly with Sabrina’s dedication to “the person in the room with a broken heart”. Sadly, there is always more than one. “Sometimes life feels heavy and this is why I wear these cheeseburgers,” she added, explaining her own coping mechanism of not taking things too seriously. I hope the riff-driven “Through These Waves” reached anyone who needed it. The fast “In The Walls” closed their set, which felt too short, but set the tone for the rest of the evening perfectly. Do yourself a favor and check out SEVEN KINGDOMS. They are absolutely worth your time.

SEVEN KINGDOMS setlist:

01. "Diamond Handed"
02. "A Silent Remedy"
03. "The Serpent And The Lotus"
04. "Valonqar"
05. "Wilted Pieces"
06. "Through These Waves"
07. "In the Walls"

SEVEN KINGDOMS

I was happy to see ENSIFERUM on the bill, especially since I missed their most recent Chicago appearance. Their epic Folk Metal pairs beautifully with BLIND GUARDIAN’s Power Metal. Unfortunately, my hope for more dynamic lighting was crushed by mostly blue and red tones. I doubt this was the band’s choice, but the lighting did not diminish their impact.

The recorded intro “Aurora” blasted through the PA and the Finnish five-piece stormed the stage, faces painted in blue warpaint. They started their set with “Winter Storm Vigilantes”, and I am grateful the real-life winter storm had arrived two days earlier, or this would have been a little too literal. Bassist Sami Hinkka, sporting a battle skirt, was all over the stage and immediately connected with the crowd. Petri Lindroos, with one foot on the monitor, delivered his harsh vocals with precision. The BLIND GUARDIAN drums forced keyboardist Pekka Montin and drummer Janne Parviainen to the sides, yet the band’s energy remained unaffected. The “hey, hey” crowd participation during “Way Of The Warrior” proved ENSIFERUM had the room in their hands. “Andromeda” from their latest album followed, showcasing their signature blend of anthemic riffs and harsh-clean vocal interplay.

“Make some action for us to watch,” Petri said right before “Fatherland”, and the crowd responded with a lively pit. I had forgotten just how powerful ENSIFERUM are live. The collective “oooh, ooh” chants were the icing on the Viking cake. With momentum already building, the band kept pushing with the groovy “Heathen Horde”. The pit was active, although the multi-level venue layout restricted its size, something that probably relieved fans who prefer to spectate from a safe distance.

“Into The Battle” kept bodies moving, but much like SEVEN KINGDOMS, ENSIFERUM’s set felt too short. “Thank you so much, Chicago, for showing up on a Tuesday – We have one more song for you,” Petri announced, noticing some disappointment in the crowd. He promised they would return soon, and I hope they do.

The pounding and anthemic “In My Sword I Trust” closed their set perfectly.

ENSIFERUM setlist:

01. "Winter Storm Vigilantes"
02. "Way Of The Warrior"
03. "Andromeda"
04. "Fatherland"
05. "Heathen Horde"
06. "Guardians Of Fate"
07. "Into Battle"
08. "In My Sword I Trust"

ENSIFERUM

It’s amusing that I had been complaining about the first two sets being shorter than I wanted, because then I remembered: I had waited ten years to see BLIND GUARDIAN again. My excitement was already high but seeing the massive backdrop of “Somewhere Far Beyond” sent it into overdrive. The band would be performing this monumental album in full, transporting me back thirty-three years to the era when BLIND GUARDIAN introduced me to Tolkien and the Dark Tower universe. I remain grateful for that.

Back then, all I needed was a good book and good music to create a safe world for myself. In truth, that has not changed. Music and books remain my refuge. That is why the emotions built up rapidly when the lights dimmed, and the recorded “War Of Wrath” took me back to their ‘Nightfall In Middle-Earth’ tour. I can still remember rumors that BLIND GUARDIAN would write the soundtrack for “The Lord Of The Rings” movie. I wish they had.

The Vic Theatre erupted as the band opened with “Into The Storm”. It felt incredible hearing Hansi Kürsch’s voice narrating the role of Ungoliant from “The Silmarillion”. This time, the lighting was excellent and matched the level of performance. The band knew it had been far too long since their last Chicago visit, and there was a lot to make up for.

“You are in a pretty good mood. We are very happy to be back here. It has been a while,” Hansi said before “Blood Of The Elves”. The audience participation was immediate and strong. “We are getting an idea of what we’ve missed,” Hansi admitted, and in a very sneaky way, he asked for even more. “Nightfall” and “Violent Shadows” sounded fantastic, proving that band and audience were perfectly in sync.

“You think this was fun?” Hansi joked, clearly in a great mood and ready to tease anyone who dared talk while he spoke. His humor and warmth are part of why he is one of the most likable frontmen in Metal. His smile alone can turn the sourest mood around. With a mention of Fingolfin, everyone knew what was next: “Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)”. The crowd roared as the first notes rang out.

The clean guitars and audience claps ushered in “Time What Is Time”, and hearing the entire venue sing the line “When the moonchild is crying” was magical. “We are all here for a mission, and that mission is to celebrate an album,” Hansi said while introducing the first track of “Somewhere Far Beyond”. And celebrate we did.

It would be unfair not to mention André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, who flawlessly executed every finger-melting riff, especially in the fast “Journey Through The Dark”. The pit kept moving, but the sing-along sections were the highlight. Everyone had clearly understood the mission. “Make yourself comfortable”, Hansi joked before “Black Chamber”, which lasts barely a minute but still provided a charming collective singing moment. Yes, everyone in the venue became a bard that night.

“Theatre Of Pain” added a dramatic flair with its mid-tempo flow leading into the second half of the album. I had forgotten how BLIND GUARDIAN guided me toward another universe, although CIRITH UNGOL deserve credit for first pointing me to Michael Moorcock’s The Eternal Champion. “The Quest For Tanelorn” belongs to that universe and raised the room’s temperature even higher. Remembering that Kai Hansen recorded some guitar leads for the studio version made me wonder how incredible it would have been to have GAMMA RAY on the same bill.

A dark intro and Frederik Ehmke’s drumming launched the headbanger “Ashes To Ashes”, with the crowd nailing the difficult “Hallowed be the game” passage. Hansi handled the challenging chorus with a slightly lower pitch but with great power. Knowing what comes next may reduce surprise, but in this case it only amplified excitement. “This is about the gathering of the bards,” Hansi said, before “The Bard’s Song - In The Forest”. The audience handled nearly the entire song, and it was pure magic. Few songs in Metal create such unity. The recorded “The Piper’s Calling” arrived sooner than I thought it would, and it felt like the album had just flown by. Thankfully, there were seven glorious minutes of “Somewhere Far Beyond” left to enjoy. Singing “I am the narrator, and now I’ll tell you” brought a wave of nostalgia, and the Dark Tower references still hit emotionally. “The man in black he waits” gave me instant goosebumps.

“You have been a fantastic audience. It has been too long. Have a great night,” Hansi said as the band briefly left the stage. Of course nobody moved. There was no way BLIND GUARDIAN would be allowed to leave without an encore. BLIND GUARDIAN returned to “see how the story ends.” “And The Story Ends” sounded huge, while the transition into the epic “Valhalla” was the perfect climax. I could not help imagining Kai Hansen sharing the mic with Hansi. The “Valhalla, deliverance, why’ve you ever forgotten me” sing-along was long, loud and perfect.

I would have exploded with joy if “Majesty” had made the setlist, but I could never remove “Mirror, Mirror” from the encore. Hopefully it will not take another decade for BLIND GUARDIAN to return to Chicago. I am certain the band heard the message loud and clear.

This show became one of the highlights of the 2025 concert season. Thank you, gentlemen!

BLIND GUARDIAN setlist:

01. "Into The Storm"
02. "Blood Of The Elves"
03. "Nightfall"
04. "Violent Shadows"
05. "Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)"
06. "Time What Is Time"
07. "Journey Through The Dark"
08. "Black Chamber"
09. "Theatre Of Pain"
10. "The Quest For Tanelorn"
11. "Ashes To Ashes"
12. "The Bard's Song - In The Forest"
13. "The Bard's Song - The Hobbit"
14. "The Piper's Calling"
15. "Somewhere Far Beyond"
16. "And The Story Ends"
17. "Valhalla"
18. "Mirror Mirror"

BLIND GUARDIAN