Straight rhythms, loud sounds and lots of feeling: a therapeutic encounter with Imagine Dragons

Shortly before the hit "Radioactive" on Thursday evening, a man-sized drum is wheeled onto the stage at the Letzigrund Stadium. Then the beefy, muscular singer Dan Reynolds stands in front of the gigantic drum, baring his torso, to pound the audience with a powerful beat: boom, boom, boom, boom!

The pop-rock band Imagine Dragons transforms the stadium into a galley. The four musicians lead the 50,000 listeners into battle. However, they're not fighting against an enemy; rather, they're fighting for their own emotions – the psychological fuel of our meritocratic society. The emotional calcifications and nervous tension of the audience are washed away with sounds, beats, and lyrics about natural disasters or heated relationships, so that they can feel better again.

People in the 21st century are detached and disillusioned; they hardly believe in true love, world peace, or the power of art anymore. But they know what's good for their physical and mental fitness. And in this regard, the four colleagues from Las Vegas have a lot to offer as therapists and trainers (they'll be performing again at Letzigrund on Saturday).

Imagine Dragons utilize almost the entire history of pop music to animate souls and muscles. Whether it's hard rock, blues, gospel, hip-hop, Coldplay-style melodies, or boy band choruses—everyone should find something in their repertoire that appeals to them. This also explains the diversity of the audience: generations from A to Z are represented on this mild early summer evening.

Those who want to criticize the band's lavish eclecticism, their over-the-top sound mixes, or their constant pathos certainly have their reasons. But aesthetic judgment is probably misplaced here. It's not about stylistic profile, nor about originality. This music is almost as much a sporting affair as it is an artistic one. The rhythm encourages muscle training rather than dancing. Thus, Imagine Dragons' hits are perfectly suited to the gym—but even better to the stadium.

The tension is sometimes written all over Dan Reynolds' face when he sings. Like a weightlifter, worry lines appear on his forehead. But when he launches into the chorus of hits like "Bones," "Thunder," or "Enemy," and his strained voice fills the entire stadium, he smiles mischievously like a winner.

Reynolds constantly has to prove himself as a leader—sometimes playing piano, sometimes competing with the drummer. Only rarely are the accompanying musicians allowed to perform solos. This is especially true for guitarist Daniel Wayne Sermon, who distinguishes himself as a rock virtuoso in the intro to the work song "I'm So Sorry." Indeed, Imagine Dragons' repertoire seems more earthy and human live, because the band ensures a rock-like directness.

But the atmosphere reaches its peak when the audience is allowed to sing along—or rather, shout along—to songs like "Demons," "Natural," and "Enemy." Then you can see how good it feels to vent all of their frustration.

After almost two hours, the concert culminates in the band's biggest hit, "Believer." Dan Reynolds now waves a Ukrainian flag, which can be interpreted as a gesture for peace. Speaking of flags: At one point, you see the colors black, red, and gold flashing on the gigantic screens framing the stage. It looks very beautiful, but also seems strange. Oh, the Americans! Do they perhaps think Zurich is a German city?