1349 (****1/2)

All right! Now it’s Ravn & Co.’s turn to take the stage and unleash hell. You could almost instantly tell everyone was here for 1349. And rightfully so. After the killer album they put out last year, one would expect nothing less but quality. And these Norwegian ghouls know how to put on an infernal black metal party. The only thing I missed here were the pyrotechnics. Don’t know if it was simply not part of their set or if the venue didn’t allow for it, but it would have made an already epic show even better.

The crowd didn’t really mind though as, when drummer Frost launched the explosive blast beat at the very start of ‘I Am Abomination‘, the crowd erupted in a mosh pit which took aback most of the surrounding audience. I don’t think people expected the scuffle, but it suited the musical mayhem perfectly. 1349 played more aggressive than I anticipated, and which I found captivating until the very last song. When it was over, I thought the band would leave the stage without saying a word, as they limited their interaction with us during the set. Yet they took the time to shake hands and bump fists with the front row. Best band of the night? I certainly thought so.

Set list:

1. Sculptor of Flesh
2. Through Eyes of Stone
3. Slaves
4. I Am Abomination
5. Striding the Chasm
6. Golem
7. Atomic Chapel
8. Dødskamp
9. Abyssos Antithesis

Abbath (****1/2)

Well, well. Rumors were jokingly going around about whether or not Abbath would be able to embark on this tour. After the cancellation of last year’s tour due to him checking into rehab and getting rid of his alcohol abuse, I kinda see where everyone was coming from. But man, once Abbath and his musicians took the stage, there was no denying he was back once and for all. The man was simply majestic. What a powerful show this was. I’d seen goofy Abbath before, but this time it was deadly serious. This guy is no joke. The songs, which are in themselves awesome black metal compositions, were played with such epic honesty and conviction I was just blown away. I know it’s not for us to judge, yet may I say “well fucking done, man!”. If Abbath cutting alcohol is what it takes to make his shows this great, than that’s how he should go on.

I have to say I was kind of surprised to see Rusty Cornell return on bass, as I was expecting the killer Mia Wallace to swing the axe. But then a few days ago the mystery solved itself. She explained on social media that her services to the band were no longer required. The reasons why are still somewhat unclear. This took a strange turn, for sure. The show fortunately did not suffer from it.

Set list:

1. Hecate
2. Count the Dead
3. Bridge of Spasms
4. Harvest Pyre
5. The Artifex
6. Mountains of Might (Immortal cover)
7. Ashes of the Damned
8. Against the Tide (In the Arctic World) (Immortal cover)
9. Calm in Ire (Of Hurricane)
10. Outstrider
11. One by One (Immortal cover)
12. Winterbane
13. To War!