Burning Witches & Hammer King / The Asylum / Birmingham
A short trip across the midlands and to the brilliant Asylum in Birmingham, host to so many great alternative and metal bands for years. Tonight, we’re here to catch the Witches and Kings tour, a co-headline tour from Burning Witches and Hammer King..
With no support, first up on stage are Hammer King, the German power metal band, formed in Kaiserslautern in 2015. They released their debut album “Kingdom of the Hammer King” in 2015 and have released seven album sin total, the most recent being 2025’s “Make Metal Royal Again”.
As they step on the stage, Hammer King are met with cheers from the eager Birmingham crowd, and they power into the opening track King for a Day. Lef by Titan Fox, stood atop a riser at the front of the stage, dressed in long blue gown, his size and the low gurders mean he dominates the space in front of us. It’s power metal at its finest, delivering a set wrapped around the imaginary Hammer Kingdom led by Titan Fox. The beats are fast and hard and the guitar riffs are exceptional throughout.
Titan King, talks to the audience between every song, expressing their joy at playing at the home of heavy metal to the crowds delight. The whole band, all with face paint play their part too, pulling poses with the guitars, and with fists raised, pumping the air at every opportunity. Through the set, the lord of the Hammer Kingdom is served a goblet by a maiden, and a hooded serf or servant brings forth the mighty power hammer (who we’re told is the only other person allowed to touch Titan Foxes’ hammer in public – ooh eer !). A mighty weapon (snigger), which Titan Fox raises high above his head in striking Masters of the Universe style.
Hammer King walk a fine line between classic power metal, fun fantasy and crowd interaction, and they do it sublimely well and it never feels over theatrical, or frivolous.
But at its core, the songs deliver in style. Packed with powerful riffs and mesmerising melodies, they deliver tales of adventure, such as Kingdom of Hammers and Kings.
Make Metal Royal Again is an anthem track to which the audience pump their fists high in the air, whilst Hammerschlag ups the tempo another notch giving us some with a good old fashioned thrash.
As the set draws to a close, we get a cover of Kenny Login’s ‘80’s classic hit Danger Zone. Despite being very different from their own music, it sits well in the set, a bright moment, which has the crowd singing along. We go right back to the start, and the title track of thewir 2015 debut Kingdom of the Hammer King, before the set rounds off with The Last Kingdom from the latest album “Make Metal Royal Again” which has some great duelling guitars, Maiden-like breakdowns and a classic long scream.
The band line up and are introduced one at a time, bowing and taking the applause of the crowd. A great set
Setlist
King for a Day
Make Metal Royal Again
Kingdom of Hammers and Kings
Pariah Is My Name
König und Kaiser
Hoheitsgebiet
Hammerschlag
Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins cover)
Kingdom of the Hammer King
The Last Kingdom
The stage is stripped, and re-dressed and the smoke billows, ready for the arrival of power metal Swiss band Burning Witches, formed by guitarist Romana Kalkuhl. They released their debut self-titled album in 2017 and have released six albums so far, the latest “Inquisition” in 2025.
The band are Romana Kalkuhl (guitar), Jeanine Grob (bass), Lala Frischknecht (drums), Laura Guldemond (vocals) and Courtney Cox (guitar) who was previously in the Iron Maidens.
As the band step out onto the stage, with an intro section from Sanguini Hominum playing in the background, they open with two tracks from the new album “Inquisition” in Soul Eater and Shame. Its fast and furious and with four across the front (two guitars, bass and vocalist) it feels close and intimate.
The crowd are soon well into it, singing along and chanting with fists raised, and Romana, Jeanie and Courtenay are constantly flicking their long hair back out of their eyes in true metal style.
Laura is a great front woman, packing a powerful voice that resonates round the Asylum with controlled power and emotion. She’s mobile, moving round the stage, up on the riser and foot on the monitors at every opportunity, reaching out into the crowd and smiling at every opportunity. The band are clearly loving it up there. The two guitarists Courtenay and Romana, play off each other so well, doubling up to create rich powerful tones, and battling back and forth.
The set is packed with great songs, especially the likes of epic power of The Dark Tower the title track of their 2023 album with it’s fast tempo and also Slayer like intro, and the classic Black Widow the opening track on 2019’s “Burning Witches & Burning Alive” which has a distinct Metallica feel to it – rich and raw.
One of my highlights was a stunning version of Release Me a slow and intricate ballad where Laura’s vocals really shine, which also includes a stunning guitar solo in the middle from Courtenay. It’s a stunning moment that holds the crowds attention with its emotion and power as it builds and builds to a crescendo.
As the night draws to a close, Hexenhammer (the title track from 2018’a album of the same name) hits us like a brick with some ridiculously good duel guitars and it’s Maiden-like vocals.
Then it’s back to 2019’s “Burning Witches & Burning Alive” for the final song Burning Witches packed with raw energy and intensity, there’s no better way to close out the set. The crowd are going wild, heads banging, arms raised, singing along. It’s a fantastic atnostphere, and a shame the night has to come to an end.
Hammer King and Burning Witches, brought the hammer down with a. rash tonight, delivering two top notch performances, showing just why power metal is as rich, and diverse and relevant today as ever…. And long may it continue !
Setlist
Soul Eater
Shame
Dance With the Devil
Maiden of Steel
The Dark Tower
Sea of Lies
Inquisition
Release Me
Black Widow
Evil Witch
Lucid Nightmare
The Witch Circle
Hexenhammer
Wings of Steel
Burning Witches
