NEW YORK< NY- If you regularly find yourself pining for the days when Iron Maiden and The Scorpions ruled supreme then it’s time you scrape the wax outta yer damn ears. Case in point, Germany’s Edguy, who currently are leading the pack of Europe’s thriving powerful metal scene and whose epic metal sounds have won them loyal fans the world over. Somewhat of a new convert, I stumbled across the band’s website last summer, I was instantly intrigued be the over-the-top photo pf the band rocking out in flames complete with lead singer Tobias Sammet doing a scissor kick mid-air a la David Lee Roth. I immediately ran out and picked up ‘04’s metal masterpiece Hellfire Club. A month later in September they played B.B. King’s, but unfortunately I was a week too late at reading the ad. Luckily for me and fellow Edguy converts they made their way back to B.B.’s a little less than 12 months later, this time sharing the bill with Sweden’s reigning medieval metal shredders HammerFall.

Now although B.B. King’s is not ye average jersey style metal/rock club, with its Time Square locale and Disney vibe outside, don’t let that deter you from checking out a show. In fact for those of you who haven’t caught a show there yet, I gotta tell ya it’s a great venue. Not only is it the perfect size space but the sound is amazing and they actually let you leave the building once you’re stamped, not holding you captive like so many other clubs do.

Now, opening act Into Eternity, I missed, but from what I heard they put on a good show and were in the same realm musically as Edguy and HammerFall. I walked in just as Edguy were just taking the stage, you could feel the anticipation in the air and with that the band kicked into the into to “Mysteria” then went straight into “Under The Moon.”

What really sets this band apart from many of the countless Euro metal bands is singer Tobias Sammet’s boundless charisma and wisenheimer stage presence. In many ways he’s the quintessential front man, not only can he sing his ass ff but he also has the comedic timing of a well-seasoned stand up, putting the audience in stitches at the drop of a hat. The whole band in general have their tongues planted firmly planted in their cheeks half the time, which in today’s heavy metal landscape is totally refreshing. Hell at one point Tobias had the entire audience divided in tow, engaged in a screaming match of who could yell the F word, T word, and P word louder, then the band proceeded to tear into “Lavatory Love Machine,” their soon-to-be cock-rock classic. The Edguys also treated the crowd to “Babylon,” “Land Of The Miracle,” “Navigator,” “Vain Glory Opera,” and “Mysteria.” For the encore they offered up “Tears Of A Mandrake” and ended their scorching set with “King Of Fools.”

Next up were Sweden’s HammerFall who wasted no time in blasting the crowd with powerful molten riffs with their Priest meet Maiden style anthems. And although these Viking rockers had many a fist pumping in the air I couldn’t help but think they should be the opening act. Don’t get me wrong, their set was as tight as it gets but for sheer energy and a good time they didn’t hold a candle to Edguy. And for those of you who missed the show, Edguy promised to be back before the end of the year with their brand of Germanic bic-flicking arena metal, or to quote Tobias Sammet, “Gay power metal.”