Asgaard and Return Bookings kicked off the new year with performances by Gravekvlt, Bokkerijders and Traquenard, who started their Turbo Evil Tour. Fans of black and extreme would certainly get their money’s worth. After a dark, chilly day, there was a nice attendance in Asgaard for the first event of 2024.

The event was opened by Traquenard, a metal punk trio based in Lille, France. They combine 80s thrash metal and its delirious solos with hardcore punk flavoured with a touch of black metal. Some describe it as Darkthrone at the beach. It’s an interesting mix of styles. Mostly punk, a pinch of hardcore and a some metal riffs, Traquenard produces complex-free music with a je ne sais quoi-attitude. They made a solid impression and showed talent.

Then it was Bokkerijders’ turn, founded in 2021 and in the process of gaining a real cult status. The members of Bokkerijders have played in bands like Ordigort, Bones, Ishtembashtock, Witch Trail, Caducity, Chalice and Kuar Nhial, among others. Bokkerijders explores the boundaries of black metal with a mix of raging drums, trash-like guitars and raw grunts combined with atmospheric-black passages and this combination works really well. The audience was captivated by the thundering drums and the gloomy grunts. At the closing song “Bokkerijders” the heads of the audience nodded in sync. We’re looking forward to the release of a full length album of this unknown gem on the Belgian metal crown.

The last band of the evening was Gravekvlt, a French band from Nantes formed in 2021, consisting of four musicians who play ‘evil speed metal punk’ together. Their main influences are Venom, Toxic Holocaust and… Motörhead. There’s no denying that their music is influenced by Motörhead. As soon as the performance starts, we get a giant blow to the head. We’re washed away by a tsunami of sound. Fast and hard, as it should be. It sometimes seems a bit kitschy, but it’s also a lot of fun. Lemmy would have enjoyed the show whilst sipping a Lemmy.