Willemeen, Arnhem (NL), 04-06-2016

There’s no way I will miss the mighty ACHERONTAS on their first ever full tour, even less with a package like this to support them. Unfortunately, their show in my area coincides with one of the even rarer appearances of SUNN O))) at Bochum (expect coverage on your favorite website soon) so I have to take the journey to Arnhem to catch the „Dimensional Nomads“ tour the day after.

The drive goes smoothly and parking near the club isn’t a problem. „Willemeen“ is a nice, underground style venue perfectly fitted for a show like this. A small room housing a stage, the merch stand and a bar - everything you need.

First up are Germany’s SHRINE OF INSANABILIS, whose debut record „Disciples of the Void“ was  a really excellent slice of wild, yet fairly melodic Black Metal. Seeing them play, it’s obvious that they are not the most experienced performers yet, but the musical presentation is flawless. The only band bringing their own banners to the tastefully candle-lit stage, SHRINE OF INSANABILIS remind me of how many memorable riffs and melodies their compositions contain. If they will to work on the energy of their performance in the future, I’m sure these guys will be a force to be reckoned with sooner than later. So far, I’m not afraid of them yet, but they sure convinced me to buy their freshly released new EP at the merch stand. 

I’m not really familiar with SLIDHR’s material, which may be one of the reasons why their show leaves the least impression on me tonight. Without gimmicks or any real interaction with the audience, the Irish project hammers through 45 minutes of Black Metal that seems a little static and poor in highlights to me but as mentioned, this may also be caused by my lack of occupation with their work. I’ll give them a try on record again I think.

I use the time before the next band to have a beer and check out the merchant offering CD’s and vinyl on the side of the room. Always a good way to complete the own collection, but today I’m unlucky: When I open the Throne of Katarsis Live DVD case at home, i find it empty. Probably not an intended rip-off by the guy but I must say I have spent 10 Euros better before.

Anyway, SINMARA are next and become the surprise of the night for me. Compared to their appearance at Nidrosian Black Mass V, the five men from Iceland have become a far more confident live act and rip through the material of their stunning debut with ferocious dedication. Hell, frontman Ólafur Guðjónsson even greets the audience and announces a song name! Should the age of fully choreographed occult rituals with zero crowd contact come to an end? Who knows? Who cares, actually? SINMARA’s show is infectious and powerful, the only drop of bitterness being the slightly washy sound, leaving some of the strong guitar work unheard. If I wasn’t stoked for their upcoming split with Misþyrming already, now I am.

Afterwards, ritual ambient sounds herald the arrival of the one and only ACHERONTAS. I’ve sung praise to this band countless times on these pages already, so what’s left to say? Shaved heads, masked faces, a ceremonial dignity in every movement and some of the most exalted Black Metal hymns to be found in the whole genre make up one of the most rewarding live experiences you will ever make - time and time again. One of the striking things about ACHERONTAS is that their music is awesome all the way through. There’s hardly any mediocre or uninspired parts in their set, instead you can feel the dark energy flowing constantly, making it easy to completely lose yourself in the aural landscapes the coven paints. Today, the whole performance seems a little out-of-round though, with the pauses between songs being slightly to long and the band’s members discussing stuff on stage. Anyway, this doesn’t really impair the experience for me. Time flies by and when ACHERONTAS suddenly leave the stage after little more than 40 minutes, everyone seems a little puzzled. 

But fine, it’s a Sunday evening and we’ve a got a good hour of driving back home in front of us. Altogether, a memorable evening in Arnhem. If you’ve got a chance to catch the „Dimensional Nomads“ tour anywhere near you - do so. You won’t regret!

00 Void