Photo Reports
Recently, As The Sun Falls has been coming on our radar with them releasing new singles from their upcoming new album, and we liked what we heard! The melancholic sounding melodeath somewhat reminded us of Finnish melodeath greats Insomnium, and we’re all there for it. And since we were going to get a visit of these Finnish lads at our venue Asgaard back in Belgium, we thought it to be a good plan to send out one of our people in Finland to go and scope out what’s up with this band. Additional to that, the Finnish Blackment and Czech Innersphere showed up as support for the night, and what a night for good metal music it was!
Atlanta is the origin of THE BLACK CROWES. Founded in 1984 they are celebrating 40 years of rock’n roll and more than 15 million sold albums on their current ‘Happiness Bastards’ tour. Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson are the driving force behind it all and are the only constant members. After disbanding in 2001 and reuniting in 2005 they did a da capo of disbanding again in 2015 and reuniting in 2019. In March 2024 they did release their latest phenomenal long-player ‘Happiness Bastards’; and this summer they bring the new material live to the stage.
Opening up and warming the crowd is JIM JONES ALL STARS: a UK rock’n roll band with two sax players in the line-up. Some of you may know the JIM JONES REVUE, which is somehow the germ cell of the current band, and its line up. The style is hard to describe since it is a genre mash-up of rock, gospel, soul, garage, and a touch of blues, making it the perfect match for the main act.
Sharp at 9pm, THE BLACK CROWES enter the stage and the audience at once. Remarkably, the stage set-up is a classic one. These guys do not need pyro, lasers or large screens. A screen design full of love to rock’n roll and precious details. From each side piling up a wild mix of amplifiers, a large banner and curtains to the stage sides. On top of it all the drum kit, to the right still above the main of the stage the keyboard section and on the left two fantastic backing vocalists. Their performance is outstanding, great musicians giving a mix of old and new songs. This is the high class of rock’n roll performance. Lead and orchestrated by Chris Robinson and his incredible voice. He is dripping the rock star sweat out of every pore. Rich Robinson is changing his guitar for almost every song; the guitar world on this tour is a planet on its own!
For all fans of pure, heavily blues-infused rock’n roll, this event was a must-see! Enjoy our photos of this fabulous event!
Music lovers were transported into a trance during King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s (KGATLW) psychedelic rock adventure at Vorst Nationaal on May 15, 2024. The Australian band, notorious for their energetic live shows and experimental sounds, took the audience on a whirlwind tour of genres, from garage rock to metal and funk.
Before KGATLW took the stage, Australian band Grace Cummings warmed up the crowd. With their unique energy and captivating live performance, they provided the perfect introduction for the main act.
From the get-go, KGATLW grabbed the audience with tracks like “Rattlesnake” and “Head On/Pill,” setting the tone for an evening of exhilaration. The band alternated between mesmerizing jams and hard-hitting riffs, with songs like “Crumbling Castle” and “KGLW” sending the venue into a frenzy.
The boundaries of psychedelic rock were pushed in the second half of the set, with tracks like “Boogieman Sam” and “Robot Stop.” KGATLW left it all on stage, delivering an unforgettable night of pure energy and musical magic.
Fans were definitely ready to “FACE IT”, the show with Nothing More, Veil Of Maya and Of Virtue, that is! Concert-goers were lined down the sidewalk and around the block in anticipation of the concert at Kemba Live in Columbus, Ohio.
Of Virtue got the party started for the evening! Hailing from that “state up north” as Ohio State Buckeye fans like to say, the four piece metal band is from Lansing, MI. The band is composed of Tyler Ennis [vocals], Damon Tate [guitar/vocals], Michael Valadez [guitar] and Ryan Trinh [drums]. I had been wanting to catch these guys for awhile and was happy to see they hopped on this stop of the tour while Wage War and Sleep Theory stepped away for the evening due to festivals. They came on stage hard hitting and didn’t let up during their entire set. The singer even sang the hit song “Cannibals” from the crowd. They had lots of energy and they seemed to have a lot of fans in the crowd, which is always great to see!
Second in the lineup was Veil Of Maya, a metalcore outfit formed in Chicago, Illinois in 2004. They are made up of Lukas Magyar [vocals], Marc Okubo [guitar], Sam Applebaum [drums] and Danny Hauser [bass]. They came out and rocked their set from start to finish. A pretty consistent flow of crowd surfers began to come over the barricade by this point, which included the bands photographer, Meredith [drummer in the band VCTMS]. I looked up and realized she had her camera in hand and just got the biggest kick out of that! I was very impressed overall and I will definitely be adding them into my regular rotation of listening. I live for the breakdown and they check that box 100 percent!
After Of Virtue and Veil Of Maya, the crowd was totally amped up at this point and more than ready for Nothing More to take to the stage. The band originated in Texas and the current lineup consists of Jonny Hawkins [vocals], Mark Vollelunga [guitar], Daniel Oliver [bass] and Ben Anderson [drums]. I had high hopes for seeing Nothing More, and it was beyond what I had expected. Music can be a therapeutic and an emotional experience, and this was one of those cases. They are an energetic band, they connect with their fans during the set. Both Jonny and Mark sang/played at the barricade right in front of me during the first 3 songs that I got to photograph. Again, a steady stream of crowd surfers was going on during their set. The circle pit (which I stay away from!) was pretty crazy! There is a balcony at Kemba, and I was able to observe from above and it was gnarly! The one thing I love about this band is that their lyrics do provoke you emotionally. I knew I would cry at some point and it was during Fadein/Fadeout. I didn’t even try to stop it! That’s the great thing about music and that healing piece of it, even at a metal show, we can allow it to heal us a little bit at a time. I was blown away like I had fully anticipated, which means I am looking forward to seeing these guys again!!
Back in April on a very rainy day the gothic-western-blues group Me And That Man led by Nergal, better known from the black metal band Behemoth, flanked by the American rock ‘n’ roll group Frank The Baptist took over the seemingly sold out Korjaamo venue in Helsinki. From all the times I’ve seen Nergal performing with Behemoth with massive stage production and pyro, it was nice to see him playing in an intimate club setting with no barriers, no special stage production, just a band playing rock ‘n’ roll and having fun doing it. This was by far one of the better shows I’ve seen all year, check out the pics down below!
It’s Friday night and the party begins for many young people at the Neue Theaterfabrik in Munich, a beautiful room with friendly people and a very healthy atmosphere. On stage, after nine years and with a much bigger crowd than the first time the band performed in Munich, is the Welsh project Novo Amor. The simplicity and sincerity of the songs is a perfect match for the authors. On stage, there is no cynicism and a complete openness that makes the show authentic and enjoyable to savor. This new European tour is to present their latest album, “Colapse List”, released on the All Points Label this April. The popularity and acceptance of Ali Lacey’s songs seems to be reaching a wider audience, the result of hard work and love for the art he makes. In the midst of so many questions and answers during the show, one doubt remains in my mind: why “Novo Amor”, a Portuguese name that means, “new love”!
It was a beautiful evening and let’s hope it doesn’t take them so long to return to Munich again.
Anneke van Giersbergen, the talented Dutch singer, guitarist and songwriter, has been captivating audiences with her unique blend of rock, metal, and folk music for quite some years. At current, she is on the road exploring new musical territories with her ‘Heavy Strings’ tour in 2024.
While being on stage, her performances are accompanied by string quartet and a piano. In the program, heavy metal and rock classics are interpreted in a new way of semi-classical formats.
Some power ballads are in as well to round up the set-list. Besides her past in metal and speed-metal bands as well as her musical roots in classic and jazz: this approach is not a complete surprise but more like a potentially expectable fusion. The idea was actually already born in 2021 when she performed Metallica’s ‘Nothing else matters’ in a similar arrangement.
Her wide areas of metal genres covering set includes songs like ‘Still Loving You’ (Scorpions), ‘Run To The Hills’ (Iron Maiden), ‘November Rain’ (Guns & Roses), ‘Thunderstruck’ (ACDC) and many more. Probably the most outstanding arrangement is ‘South Of Heaven’ (SLAYER), which was just stunningly amazing. A song you usually would not expect to be arranged like this at all.
With Anneke‘s flawless singing and the ensemble’s performance, each appearance creates an unforgettable experience on stage.
On the 3rd of February Catharsis, Noord and Despite Us performed at Asgaard in an event hosted by Fly Productions.
Despite Us opened the evening. This is a 5 piece Hardcore/Deathcore band straight out of Belgium’s finest shithole, i.e. Menen. The idea is to create hardcore with a dark side. They recorded two singles last year, of which ‘In Cold Blood’ has been released in October. The band includes ex-members of Pisseblomme and For Less and is seen as a promising player in the Hardcore scene. From the first song forward they gave no quarter and and slammed us right to the canvas. The frustrations of the working week were quickly washed away and the energy was immediately restored. It was hard and dirty, but invigorating.
The next band was Noord. Noord is a trio, hailing out of Antwerp. This band brings something different into the world of heavy music. To put Noord in one particular musical box would be dishonoring the band so that we stick to “modern metal”. In September 2023, Noord released their first full album called ‘Cryptosis’. Noord’s sound was intense and the vocalist’s screaming vocals felt natural and helped to make the set even more hard-hitting. As the final chords faded into the night, it was evident that Noord had left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. With their unique sound, dynamic performance, and undeniable talent, Noord is a band on the rise. The band is recording new material at this moment. On the 25th of May, their new song ‘Pilgrim’ will be released with a bang. Stay tuned…
Then it was Catharsis’ turn. Catharsis is a term from Greek narratology and means emotional purification. through the creation of art or music. Catharsis is a Belgian Death Metal band born in the chaos a global pandemic. They’re scene-veterans hailing from 90’s bands like Death’s bride, Solipsist, Body of Christ & Signs of Cain. Catharis had something to celebrate, namely the long anticpated re-release of their debut EP “I” including 6 extra tracks from the Radio Benelux Durango Session live performance. Catharsis took the stage, delivering a performance that left the audience both stunned and exhilarated. From the moment they launched into their set, it was clear that this was going to be a night to remember. One of the most impressive aspects of Catharsis’s performance was their musicianship. Each member of the band demonstrated incredible skill and precision, executing complex arrangements with ease. But perhaps the most striking element of Catharsis’s performance was their stage presence. The band exuded a commanding presence, commanding the attention of everyone in the room with their intense energy. In the end, Catharsis delivered a performance that was as powerful as it was unforgettable. For fans of Belgian death metal, seeing Catharsis live is an experience not to be missed.
Vended is a band that holds enough promise and intriguing talent that it very much feels like a fresh breath of air for the heavy music scene and one that will keep the future of said scene very strong. While some people might still get stuck on saying that they only got where they are because of nepotism and because of the names of their dads famous for the behemoth that is Slipknot, at last year’s Tuska festival they proved to us that they are definitely their own thing. Yes, Griffin Taylor sounds like a Corey clone, and yes, some of their music and hard-hitting grooves are not unfamiliar, but this is not a mere clone or watered down spin-off of Slipknot. On the contrary, the level of hunger, grittiness and sheer ferocity these 5 dudes from Des Moines, Iowa bring with them reminds us of a band that is ready to take over the world by storm all on their own and individuality, much like the very beginning of said heavy metal icons. And they confirmed this all over again with a raging show at the legendary Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. And with them, they brought a couple of bands that are much like them building their way up with their own unique take on the heavy music they grew up with: direct support Australian The Gloom In The Corner takes metalcore to spots we haven’t seen it all too often, from time to time even reminding us of the legendary System Of A Down, and with a solid concept and image. And opener Profiler from the UK is part of the nu-metal reawakening that is in full force moving towards becoming one of the more popular genres within the metal scene! A great night that was basically a showcase of where the world of modern metal is heading towards, and we’re all the more pleased with it!
VIERNULVIER was in a frenzy the last weekend of April as the radio station Studio Brussel hosted “De 41 uur van Studio Brussel”, a 41-hour music marathon featuring a lot of concerts to celebrate their birthday. Among the highlights was the sold out metal evening with performances of Crouch, Slow Crush and Amenra.
Crouch, a sludge/post-metal band formed in 2021, kicked off the night with an explosive set. The band’s energy and enthusiasm won over the crowd. Frontman Levy Seynaeve also revealed that the band is working on a new album.
Belgian-British shoegaze band Slow Crush captivated the audience with their dreamy and atmospheric performance. The band’s lush soundscapes and Isa Holliday’s enchanting vocals created a mesmerizing experience. Slow Crush will join Amenra on their upcoming US tour.
Amenra, the Belgian sludge metal legends, took the stage to a packed Concertzaal. The band delivered a powerful and cathartic performance that left the audience spellbound. Frontman Colin van Eeckhout’s impassioned screams and anguished cries perfectly complemented the band’s heavy and atmospheric music. The band’s set was a true testament to their reputation as one of the most intense and captivating live acts in the world.
Studio Brussel’s night of music was a resounding success, with each band delivering a memorable performance that showcased their unique sound and stage presence. The audience was left wanting more, and the bands are sure to have gained many new fans from the night’s events.
