A brief look back
I clearly remember the first time I saw Britta Görtz. It was at the Summer Breeze Open Air in 2014. She was the vocalist in the band Cripper and her growling voice made a big impression on me. I also remember when she and her new band, Hiraes, co-headlined the Rock & Metal Day’z in 2024. I also clearly remember last year’s Rockharz Festival, when Britta stood in for Marcus Bischoff of Heaven Shall Burn, who was unable to perform due to laryngitis. It was a stunning performance by a true musician.
Van and ferry instead of Nightflight
Today, Hiraes are performing a full show at Café Central in Weinheim as part of their Nightflight Tour. Hiraes played two small clubs in Manchester and London the previous days, but sadly they did not take a nightflight, but instead travelled by van and ferry, which was an exhausting eighteen-hour journey. As the band’s drummer, Mathias Blässe, told me when I met him by chance in the car park behind the venue, both shows were a good investment for the future, helping them to get a foothold in the UK market. Nevertheless, today is today, and Café Central is sold out.
Horrizon
Two additional bands will play tonight. One is the permanent support band for the Nightflight tour: Nopreachers from south-west Bavaria. The other is local Palatinate band Horrizon who will open the show at 20:00 sharp. Their melodic death metal set is short and crisp. Sadly, Horrizon are facing some technical issues with one of their guitars, which can only be resolved by borrowing a guitar from one of the other bands.
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Nopreachers
After a short break, Nopreachers will take to the stage, crank up the volume and get the mosh pit started! They are the youngest band of the trio, formed in 2023, but that doesn’t make them inexperienced – quite the opposite. Fast, precise and aggressive riffs dominate Nopreachers‘ melodic metalcore for the next 30-plus minutes.
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Hiraes
At 22:00, Lukas Kerk and Oliver Kirchner on guitars, Christian Wösten on bass, Mathias Blässe on drums and, of course, vocalist Britta Görtz will start Hiraes‘ melodic death metal Nightflight, from Osnabrück “Through the Storm”. Not everything is “About Lies”, even when you turn your “Eyes Over Black”.
.A Nightflight with Hiraes
A Nightflight with Hiraes
Take the stage by storm
Even if there were “1000 Lights” instead of the few headlights above the stage, “We Owe No One”. Welcome to the “Nightflight”, my little “Strangers”. It’s almost midnight, and it’s time for you to “Come Alive”.
.A Nightflight with Hiraes
A Nightflight with Hiraes
And create the perfect vibe
With this bunch of people, you definitely won’t feel “Solitary” but rather like a “Grain of Sand” on a sunny beach, “Dormant” without the fear of “Running Out of Time”. But that’s what happens when you begin to come “Under Fire”. Beware the “Undercurrent” or you’ll get lost in the ocean with no escape. The only escape is good music, lovely bands and a great metal vibe, like we enjoyed today.
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Ups and Downs
I loved that the venue was sold out — that means around 350 people squeezed in! It was airtight in the middle, while the front of the stage was reserved for serious mosh pits and headbanging — it was hot and steamy! There was a little more space next to the bar at the back, but of course your view was quite limited. The sound and lighting could have been better; it was very loud, more of a dull rumble than a clear, nuanced sound. Both support bands lacked a good light show. Maybe give them two more headlights next time – they deserve it!
Metality is everywhere
Nevertheless, it was a great show by all three bands. I accidentally ran into the local chapter of Metality, a charity in the truest sense of the word. They are nice people – keep an eye on them. It is a worldwide association of metalheads.
Please keep an eye on the remaining tour dates and watch out for forthcoming festival dates:
Online:
Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands official sources and don’t stream it for free because it steals your artists’ income.
All pics by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep during the show at Café Central, 24.04.2026