This show is a special one, designed to not only highlight some of the best black metal that the UK has to offer, but also to act as a new release showcase, with special sets from many of the bands. It’s sold out too, which is great to see.
Imperial Demonic
I was unfamiliar with Imperial Demonic prior to them being added to this bill, but when I checked out their debut EP Beneath the Crimson Eclipse I was seriously impressed.
Despite a somewhat tinny sound initially Imperial Demonic recreate the fire and fury of their recorded work well; there’s no stopping those fiery melodies or the infectious vocal patterns of their snarling singer. The band have some murderous riffs too. The singer seems very comfortable in his role as frontman, and does his best to get the, (surprisingly sizeable), crowd engaged, despite the early hour.
The sound quickly improves, and the songs only get more powerful as a result. The crowd swells in size too, and the band definitely deserve the attention. They end up playing all of Beneath the Crimson Eclipse, alongside debuting a brand new song, which gets a solid response.
I very much enjoyed Imperial Demonic. I look forward to their first album, whenever that might appear, as the potential that have already shown is huge.
Andracca
This is the album release show for Andracca’s very enjoyable To Bare the Weight of Death, and today they are playing it in full. If you’ve heard the album then you know it opens with one Helluva riff, and the moment it starts today, it sounds immense.
The place is packed for Andracca, and they deliver To Bare the Weight of Death with an accomplished energy. Bathed in infernal red light, there is an esoteric air to the music and consequently the performance, and the mix of old and new components in their style is compelling. The band certainly know their instruments well, and one of the standout aspects of the album for me – its expressive and rich guitar solos – is well-rendered live. This all works a treat for Andracca, and the crowd give them a good response.
Also, random observation; all of the band are wearing Emperor shirts.
Andracca do their album justice, and I like what I hear, as do many others.
The Sun’s Journey Through the Night
Since seeing The Sun’s Journey Through the Night at Reaper Festival last year, I have become acquainted with Worldless, which they are playing in full today.
The band’s ambient-edged modern black metal assault is very effective. Live, Worldless‘ blend of dark ambience, harsh sonic violence, and atmospheric immensity moves me in more ways than one. Opening, as you would expect, with the first song off the album, (and my favourite) – Abolishing Consciousness, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night sound huge. All of the songs are well-represented, but I’ll also pick the album’s title track as another highlight.
The masked band members have a good stage presence – particularly their horned singer – and they put on a damn good performance. ending with the colossal Orion, I am once again impressed by The Sun’s Journey Through the Night. Great stuff.
Abduction
Unlike the previous bands, I’ve never heard anything by Abduction. They are playing their new album in full too, but as far as I can tell they haven’t yet announced a release date nor the record’s title. Due to this, I thought I’d approach their set without expectation, so haven’t yet checked out their previous work.
Abduction reveal themselves to play a charismatic form of black metal; a mix of scathing intensity, the occasional burst of powerful clean vocals, headbangingly good riffs, and grim atmosphere. It’s potent stuff, and gets a good reaction. Considering I didn’t know a single song, they succeed in blowing me away – definitely the biggest find of the day for me.
I really enjoyed Abduction’s set, and I like what I’ve heard a great deal. The songs aired seem potent, and the music really makes a strong impression on me. I look forward to getting to know the album properly once it’s out. Until then, I definitely need to check out their existing stuff.
Devastator
Devastator’s Conjurers of Cruelty is a infectiously killer record, full of good songs and meaty riffs. As with the previous bands, we’re treated to a full run through of the entire thing, and I have to say it really hits the spot.
Devastator are riotously good fun and go down a storm. Their blackthrash assault is tailor-made for the live arena, and the band are clearly having a blast. The riffs fly around like missiles and the pit is rarely still. One of my favourite two songs on the album – Deathspell Defloration – has the singer of Abduction come to the stage to perform vocals too, and it’s all viciously good stuff. I was wondering if Devastator would perform the album’s two bonus tracks, but they do not, instead ending with the fantastic Rabid Morbid Death, which is a great way to end the show.
If you get a chance to go and see Devastator, you should definitely do so.
The Infernal Sea
Now here’s a band I’ve really been looking forward to, and have wanted to see for ages. Hellfenlic is such a ridiculously strong album, and hearing it in full tonight was something I just couldn’t miss. It’s a record that pretty much gets better every time I hear it, and tonight it’s delivered with passionate and charismatic energy. The Infernal Sea’s mysterious presence works well, as does the extra set dressing them come with, and they put on professional show throughout.
Live, it’s easy to appreciate how diverse and well-rounded Hellfenlic is, and just how impactful many of the songs are. The second half of the album, starting with the hideously catchy Bastard of the East, is even stronger than the the first. The final two songs are especially devastating, starting with the malevolent Frozen Fen, before moving on to the simply stunning Messenger of God. I was hoping that The Infernal Sea would have a live violinist for this masterful final song, and they do, so I’m over the moon. It’s a work of art, and after it I’m totally spent. Honestly, The Infernal Sea were just brilliant.
Ninkharsag
Ninkharsag put on a good set when I saw them last, playing with Stormkeep last year. Judging by the reaction to that show, I’m not surprised that they’re now back and headlining the same venue in their own right.
Tonight’s headline set is the release show for their new EP The Black Swords of Winter. There’s no release date yet, but Ninkharsag don’t let that get in the way of delivering a raw and barbed black metal live experience.
Unfortunately the band don’t have the best sound for the first few songs – the worst of the evening, for some reason – and this hinders my enjoyment of their set somewhat. A massive shame, as they have some good songs, if only I could make them out properly. However, it gradually improves – notably during Lunar Hex: The Art of Mighty Lycanthropy – letting the band’s music shine with melodic might. By the following song, (standout track The Necromanteion), they sound much more like they should do.
The next three songs are off their upcoming EP, (which was apparently meant to be out by now), starting with the title track. Blisteringly fast and destructive, it makes me look forward to whenever the EP is eventually unleashed. Later on, Discipline Through Black Sorcery briefly closes the set, before the band return for a triumphant encore of Spectres of the Ancient World, in all of its intense and unfettered fury.
Ninkharsag put on a good performance, and their new material sounds very promising. The mixture of older and newer songs hits the spot nicely, and Ninkharsag’s set has been a solid and enjoyable one.
Overall, this event has been a great showcase for UK black metal, and it’s credit to the ever-reliably Reaper Agency for once again putting on great show.
Wonderbox Metal 
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