After a well-deserved summer break, the new season opened with a bang. Fat Bastard Promotions and Asgaard managed to book 1914, one of the most interesting bands of the last decade. Bokkerijders was chosen as support. No wonder the tickets flew out the door. After a few days, the event was hopelessly sold out.

The kick-off of the evening was given by Bokkerijders, a thrash/black metal band with sometimes some influences of death and maybe even some other genres. Bokkerijders stormed the stage at with an intensity and raw energy that can only be described as electrifying. The crowd responded instantly, drawn into the band’s dark and heavy atmosphere. The instrumental pieces in the songs are technically very challenging, but were performed impeccably and with a lot of power. The combination of the raging drum and the groovy bass play with the aggressive riffs was a feast for the audience. Frontman Laurens Oostrom was a commanding presence. His raw, visceral energy was palpable as he fed off the crowd’s growing excitement, occasionally locking eyes with audience members and pulling them deeper into the void. By the time Bokkerijders closed their set, the crowd was exhausted but euphoric. They left the stage as they had entered it—ferocious and enigmatic, leaving behind an audience that was buzzing with adrenaline and awe. In an era where metal can feel overproduced and polished, Bokkerijders’ raw, unrelenting performance was a reminder of the power of live music at its most primal. For fans of heavy music with a rebellious edge, this is a band not to be missed.

And then it was time for 1914, the moment the public was eagerly awaiting. Ukrainian blackened death-doom outfit 1914 delivered a soul-crushing performance, dragging the audience deep into the horrors of the First World War with a sound as intense and brutal as the subject matter they channel. Known for their conceptually driven music, which blends historical themes with punishing sonic landscapes, 1914 proved why they’ve become one of the most respected names in extreme metal. From the moment the band took the stage, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Dressed in period-inspired military garb, the band members looked more like soldiers than musicians, immediately setting the tone for the night. The haunting intro quickly gave way to a barrage of blast beats and sludgy, doom-laden riffs, dragging the audience into the grim trenches of war. Frontman Dmytro Kumar was an imposing figure on stage, his deep, harrowing growls cutting through the dense instrumentation like a commanding officer barking orders. His presence is magnetic; he doesn’t just perform these songs—he seems to live them, channeling the anguish and devastation of a century-old conflict. At a certain moment, he walked into the audience to interact with crowd members, to share his despair about war. The guitar work was especially powerful, alternating between atmospheric, haunting leads and crushing, down-tuned riffs that felt like the earth shaking under heavy artillery fire. 1914‘s live performance is not just a concert—it’s an immersive, visceral experience that leaves you reeling. Their ability to blend history with such punishing and emotional music is truly unmatched, and last night’s gig was a testament to their unique power as a band. For those who appreciate extreme metal with depth, intensity, and meaning, 1914 is an essential live act.