Live | DORO – Metal Cruise 2025 [support: Vlad In Tears] – Rhein River – Cologne [DE]

31 May & 1 June 2025

Saturday, May 31, I was invited to the DORO Metal Cruise. Since the first day sold out in no time, the Queen of Metal even managed to add a second day. I believe there were quite a few people eager to board this boat. Especially since just before boarding time the heavens broke open and a heavy shower descended on the patiently waiting visitors. But that didn’t spoil the fun, because they were the ones allowed to attend this party.

Around 6:15 p.m. all about 1700 sailors were present on the boat to spread out over the decks. Food and drinks were plentiful and the stage looked slick. There was a view from the first and second (balcony floor) and if you wanted to get some fresh air you could go to the upper deck.

VLAD IN TEARS – THE SUPPORT ACT

Vlad In Tears had the honor of traveling with the Queen as support for two days. These Italian alternative dark rockers warmed up the crowd for just under an hour. The sound was fine and the band tried to make a splash. Unfortunately, both guitarists in particular were in the dark for almost the entire show. Could it be the lights weren’t aligned quite right?

An excellent warm-up and the band managed to rake in some fans this way.

DORO – THE HEADLINER

After a brief change over, it was time for DORO and the show starts around the 8:30 p.m. mark. As you could expect, the lady did everything she could to make it a special event and not just a regular show on a boat. The set list includes plenty of songs that hadn’t been played in a long time and even songs that had never been played live before.

Kicking off with ,,Unholy Love” and the live debut of ,,Warriors Of The Sea”. The band is partly dressed in a pirate look. Drummer Johnny Dee is even covered in complete face make–up. The band is energetic and veteran bassist Nick Douglas is back in his familiar spot. We continue with ,,I Rule The Ruins” and ,,Burning The Witches”.

LOYAL FANS

Frau Pesch is in supreme condition and mood and she has a lot of interaction with her loyal fans. The sound is good and the light show features the colors we have come to know from DORO shows. Many shades of blue and purple adorn the stage. The song ,,Save My Soul” is played live for the first time since 2014. The appropriate ,,Seelied”,sung entirely in German, makes its first live performance since 2018. This is of course especially the build-up to the, for many, anthem of the DORO oeuvre. ,,Für Immer”, which is then also loudly sung along by the audience.

After some 19 classics it is almost time to close the show curtains, but first of course the encores have to be performed. These are by request of the fans. They could let know in advance which songs they would like to hear. The highest scoring songs would make the set list.

DORO – THE CONCLUSION

These were ,,All For Metal”, ,,Love Me In Black” and the Warlock classic ,,True As Steel”. After these 3 songs, after almost 2 hours it is really over and the boat can quietly moor again at the dock in Cologne. Were it not for the fact that the Judas Priest classic pops through the boxes and DORO almost turns it into a kind of Karaoke act by delightfully singing along with this song. The frontwoman clearly felt like it and also stays on stage for a while to greet fans.

All in all, this was a fine show, with highlights for the loyal fans, nicely done and unique in its nature. DORO and her team managed to make it a nice cruise. At least as far as I am concerned, the concept is worth repeating. So, who knows we will sail again in 2026 on one or another river in Germany with DORO and her pirates.

SETLIST DORO

– Unholy Love
– Warriors Of The Sea
– I Rule The Ruins
– Burning The Witches
– Fight For The Rock
– Time For Justice
– Save My Soul
– Fire In The Sky
– Hellbound
– Seelied
– Für Immer
– Raise Your Fist
– Drum Solo
– Out Of Control
– Children Of The Dawn
– Rare Diamond
– Evil
– Revenge
– All We Are

ENCORE

– All For Metal
– Love Me In Black
– True As Steel

All photos by Raymond Helebrand