OCCULT SABBATH V

27-11-2015 - Oberhausen, Resonanzwerk

With less than a week to go until Nidrosian Black Mass V, an evening with NIGHTBRINGER is a welcome preparation for those who will make it to Brussels and a good way to see one of the nowaday’s Black Metal’s finest for those who won’t. At least, that’s what I was thinking before I entered the venue around 8:30 pm. The first band (Blakk old blood) was supposed to start at 6 but to my surprisal, at my time of arrival the second band of the night, N’CH’SH is still soundchecking and for some reason there are no more than about 30 people in the audience - a fact that won’t change for the rest of the night.

However, after endless discussions regarding the monitor sound, N’CH’SH finally start their set.

Tonight is the first show of the german band fronted by Felix from Deaf Forever magazine - thus their rather shy and not really charismatic performance is forgiven. There’s not even slight hint of fanaticism and bestiality in their appearance and the music doesn’t do anything for me either, but hey, they’re a young band so let’s wait what the future will bring.

Next are Switzerland’s ANTIVERSUM. I’m not familiar with their material but what I witness throughout their 40 minute set is a pretty standard incarnation of contemporary black metal, flawless in performance and atmosphere but without any remarkable highlights despite some cool riffs here and there. I can listen to this - but I could just as well listen to something else I guess.

I’m afraid I just don’t understand what LYCHGATE are doing. Seriously, following and endless fight with the sample machine and the on-stage sound, the englishmen unleash can audio-visual tornado of off-time beats, atonal-sounding melodies, harsh vocals, black-and-white visuals and a synth organ sound reminding of Castlevania soundtracks at best. I can’t say any more than: Definitely not my cup of tea.

It’s way after midnight when NIGHTBRINGER enter the stage and it’s quite a strange experience to see this incredible band performing their epochal music in front of an almost empty room. Luckily, the band is professional and dedicated enough to celebrate their live ritual just as intensely as always, making up for the ridiculous circumstances of the night (almost no audience, a time delay of 90 minutes at least, technical fuck-ups everywhere). NIGHTBRINGER  are one of the very few bands who still seem to know that good Black Metal is not just about stage props and an overkill of occult symbols and references but first and foremost about great music - and NIGHTBRINGER’s Music is plain incredible. Haunting melodies, furious riffing, memorable and complex at the same time, drenched in an otherworldly atmosphere. It’s damn hard to turn a fucking empty, freezing cold concert hall into a temple of blackness by just playing music. NIGHTBRINGER did just that tonight. 

When the band leaves the stage I’m thrown back into this ugly world where I’m just tired, cold and pissed of so I head back home as fast as I can. See you soon, Occult Sabbath, and I hope the next edition (featuring Archgoat and Acherontas) will see a few more visitors.

Vernichtungsschmerz